Memphis, Tenn., Aug. 4, 2005 – The Baptist Memorial Health Care Foundation will host its annual Art of Caring benefit to support Baptist Trinity Hospice and the Baptist Trinity Center for Good Grief on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2005, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Perry Nicole Fine Art Gallery, 3092 Poplar Ave. This year’s theme is “The House that Love Built.”

The reception and silent art auction will feature artwork by Memphis-area artists who donated original work specially created for this year’s event, which is organized to raise awareness about hospice care and to raise the funds needed to support projects such as Camp Good Grief. The event is open to the community, and tickets are $15 per person.

Baptist Trinity Hospice provides care and services to terminally ill patients and their family members. Although cancer remains one of the primary diagnoses for hospice patients, others with terminal illnesses such as AIDS and congestive heart failure also receive care in the program.

The Baptist Trinity Center for Good Grief will become the first comprehensive bereavement center for children, adolescents and adults in the region when it opens in September 2005. The center will provide free support for individuals who are grieving the death of a loved one and will allow them to share their experience with others as they move through the healing process – all in a therapeutic environment.

Services provided by the center will include grief support groups, bereavement camps, holiday workshops and crisis counseling. The center also will expand Baptist Trinity’s library for children, teens and adults. All services will be offered free of charge, with Baptist Trinity Hospice serving as the entry point for the center.

In 1999, Baptist Trinity Hospice saw a need to extend its services and created Camp Good Grief, the Mid-South’s first children’s grief camp. The camp is free to children between the ages 7 and 12 who have suffered the loss of a loved one in the past two years. The camp is staffed by professional and caring bereavement volunteers who help the children communicate their feelings and explore grief through support groups and activities involving art, music, journaling and recreation. In 2001, Baptist opened Teen Camp Good Grief to address the special grief needs of area adolescents. To extend its services to adults experiencing grief, Baptist launched an adult grief camp in 2003. The first of its kind in the community, this weekend retreat addresses the needs of adults who have lost a spouse or child.

Art of Caring sponsors include the Junior League of Memphis, Lockton Companies Inc., March USA, Malco Theatres Inc., Medical Alternatives, Peoples Pharmacy, Office Max and Bank of America. A few of the featured artists include Mary Lawrence Allen, Michele G. Allen, Brin and Dale Baucum, Peter Bowman, Paul Edelstien, Peggy Felsenthal and Fred Rawlinson. To purchase tickets or for more information about Art of Caring, please call (901) 227-7125 or visit baptistonline.org.