Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre Foundation is pleased to announce the outstanding success of the Handbags for Hospice 2025 event, which raised an incredible $121,000 to support Community Care Northumberland’s Hospice Services offered at Ed’s House.
On April 10, over 270 guests gathered for an unforgettable evening of fashion, fun, and fundraising in support of hospice care in Northumberland. The night was packed with excitement as attendees bid on more than 150 luxury handbags, tried their luck with mystery bags for a chance to win amazing prizes, picked a tote from the “Purse of Possibilities” wall to discover their treasure, and participated in the golden ticket draw. The event also featured a live auction, showcasing five thrilling packages that brought even more energy and excitement to the evening. Guests had the exclusive opportunity to snap a photo with a real Birkin Bag, making the night even more memorable.
The Handbags for Hospice Committee extends heartfelt gratitude to all sponsors, with special recognition to the esteemed Signature Sponsor, Tony Pulla, and Pearl Sponsor, Jacqueline Pennington of Re/Max Hallmark. Their invaluable support played a key role in achieving this remarkable result.
Co-Chairs Jan Rosamond and Pam Trumper expressed, “The success of this year’s Handbags for Hospice event is a testament to the incredible support we have received from our community. It’s heartwarming to see everyone come together for such a meaningful cause. We are immensely proud of what we have accomplished together as a committee, and we look forward to continuing our work to support hospice care in Northumberland.”
The overwhelming support from sponsors and the community has been essential to this success. The funds will be used to support clients in Northumberland County with health system navigation, volunteer in home visiting, supportive care and grief and bereavement support along with 24/7 end-of-life care provided at Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre at no cost to individuals and their families.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the overwhelming support from our sponsors, volunteers, and community. Many thanks also to the Handbags for Hospice Committee who were able to deliver a fun, entertaining and memorable evening for all,” said Trish Baird, CEO of Community Care Northumberland.
This year, the Give a Gift from the Heart Campaign played a special role in reaching our fundraising goal. Local ‘Physicians with Heart’ pledged $15,000 in matching donations, which helped raise $31,915. This money will go directly to providing compassionate care for families at Ed’s House, ensuring that those in need receive the care they deserve during life’s most difficult moments.
The Handbags for Hospice Committee would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre for hosting the event, with special thanks to Brad and Jessica for their outstanding support. They also extend their heartfelt appreciation to Wendy Ito, who served as the Compassionate Speaker, sharing a moving and personal story about her father’s end-of-life care at Ed’s House.
To view all the photos from this unforgettable evening, please visit the Ed’s House Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/northumberlandhospice/. For more information about Ed’s House Northumberland Hospice Care Centre, please visit https://edshouse.northumberlandhospice.ca/.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
