Fort Sanders Foundation

Covenant HomeCare and Hospice:Donors to Fort Sanders Foundation provide funding for a partnership between Covenant HomeCare and Knoxville Area Rescue Mission (KARM) to reduce frequent hospitalizations among the homeless community. In 2023, $213,958 was distributed to support that project which provides onsite medical care, clinic facilities, medication management and case management at the KARM shelter. Since opening in 2019, the program has served over 300 patients. Following participation in these services, patients show a 40% reduction in emergency department visits and the avoidance of 9,840 inpatient hospitalization days. As a result of these shelter-based services, the patients at KARM are leading healthier lives.Another $62,065 was distributed to underwrite professional education opportunities for staff, fund membership in the National Hospice and Palliative Care organization, provide medical/hospice housing for indigent patients, provide patient education materials, fund grief counseling services, and conduct the annual memorial service for families of deceased Hospice patients.Covenant Hospice's annual Katerpillar Kids Camp programming continued to be funded by the Foundation in 2023. Approximately $35,000 was distributed to support free weekend day camp experiences and grief support for some 80 children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Approximately 150 patients, guardians, and siblings were also impacted by camp services. The annual camp provides grieving children and teens a safe, understanding environment to express their grief and learn that they are not alone in their grief journey.Just under $8,800 was distributed from the HomeCare Hope fund which assisted 200 patients in crisis with emergency funds for housing, transportation, utilities, meals, medicines/medical supplies, and funeral expenses.

Employee and Patient Emergency Assistance:Each year funds are contributed, primarily through Covenant Health's annual WeCare Employee Giving Campaign, to assist employees and patients in times of crisis. Support includes assistance with housing, transportation, food, clothing, medicines/medical supplies, utilities, childcare, and unexpected funeral expenses. In 2023, assistance was distributed to assist 3,996 individuals at Claiborne Medical Center (10), Covenant parent company (107), Covenant HomeCare (200), Cumberland Medical Center (14), Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center (2,087), Fort Loudoun Medical Center (5), LeConte Medical Center (37), Methodist Medical Center (151), Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System (44), Parkwest Medical Center (70), Peninsula (51), Roane Medical Center (24), and Thompson Cancer Survival Center (1,196).