On August 1, 2019, the Compassion House Foundation Board of Directors and staff welcomed Michelle Okere as the new CEO. Michelle brings to the role extensive experience in fund development, marketing and communications; national, provincial and municipal advocacy and stakeholder relations; strategic and operations planning; and human resources.
On July 14, 2017 I found a lump on my left breast, and just two days later I met with my family physician, scheduled a mammogram, ultrasound and bone scan, and then waited for results.
With one night to go before my life would change forever, I sat in my garage, eyes blurred over with emotion, body numb and heart heavy. I noticed a pile of dirt that had been swept up. In the pile, a rubber wrist band. Stamped on the band…Drop Every Fear. In an instant my heart slowed down, my eyes cleared, and a smile fell upon my face. Things were going to be ok.
Every Sunday I step into Sorrentino’s Compassion House I am greeted by something that fills my heart with joy. Many afternoons it is the friendly housekeeping staff with the sweetest smile, some afternoons it is the ladies mingling over tea, and today it is the tranquility of a peaceful home.
Each year former guests are invited to attend Compassion House Foundation’s former guest retreat. The retreat serves as a reunion and a safe space for learning new ideas and tools to improve life after cancer.
With the generous support of Syncrude, we are able to offer a second retreat weekend this year. On the weekend of September 9 - 11, 2016 attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an arts focused retreat.
Fashion with Compassion 2016 – Public Relations/Media Support
The Opportunity Compassion House Foundation invites creative, resourceful, organized and connected companies to submit a proposal for the public relations and media aspects for Fashion with Compassion 2016.
About Compassion House Foundation & Fashion with Compassion
We’ve teamed up with 29 Second Cup locations in Edmonton, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and Grande Prarie to raise funds to support the operation of Sorrentino's Compassion House. Cup of Compassion made its debut in 2004 and the funds raised support the operation of Sorrentino's Compassion House, ensuring women who must travel to Edmonton for cancer treatment have a safe and affordable place to stay.
Each year Devon Energy offers grants to nonprofit organizations across Alberta to help build organizational capacity. We were grateful to receive a grant to support volunteer development.
Our vision was to host professionally facilitated volunteer development sessions as a way to build interpersonal skills in their roles but also in other parts of their lives. With the grant we hired Pat Casey Jurgens of Casey’s Wellness to offer a two-part session introducing volunteers to the Enneagram personality assessment and relating it to helping roles.
In February we will celebrate one year of our house volunteer program!
We are fortunate to have a dozen outstanding house volunteers who have contributed over a thousand hours collectively in the past year. Additionally, more than one hundred volunteers donated time to ensure our fundraising events were successful and a handful of corporate teams provided guest meals and house support.
How can I make a difference in the lives of people in our community? Is this a question you ever ask yourself? Or maybe the question for some is “Does my donation really matter”?
Making that difference and having your dollars make an impact doesn’t have to be complicated.
It can be something as simple as giving the gift of time as a volunteer. Or it could be a monetary gift to an organization that you feel passionate about.
Twelve years ago Sorrentino's Compassion House opened its doors to women traveling to Edmonton for breast cancer treatment. One year ago today we opened the doors to the renovated and expanded Sorrentino’s Compassion House. Like our founding members, we took a leap of faith by more than doubling the capacity of the original house.
Tonight, September 9, 2014 all 14 guest suites are full and friendships are being formed over mugs of coffee. More than 120 women have stayed at the house over the past year and since we opened in 2002, there have been over 1000 stays.
