A charitable initiative based in Flossmoor, Illinois, the Oasis Foundation is making significant strides to enhance the quality of life for hospice patients and their families. By addressing both immediate medical costs and emotional needs, the foundation aims to provide comfort during challenging times. Established in 2021, the foundation is dedicated to fulfilling patients’ last wishes while also investing in the education of future health care professionals.
The foundation’s Hearts Desires program is particularly noteworthy, as it focuses on granting patients’ final requests, which can vary widely. For some, like one adult patient, this may involve something as simple yet impactful as providing a doll for companionship. “Now she has it with her wherever she goes,” said Gabrielle Bello, director of the Oasis Foundation.
In addition to fulfilling last wishes, the Oasis Foundation also raises funds for various essential services, including community events and transportation. The foundation offers $2,500 Pathways to Purpose scholarships aimed at students from Cook, Will, and DuPage counties pursuing careers in health care or social work, with a focus on geriatrics or personal experience with hospice care. “We’re trying to invest in the future caregiver,” Bello noted.
Bello, whose parents Sade and Hakeem Bello founded Oasis and currently serve as CEO and CFO, respectively, became aware of the need for additional support services while volunteering for Oasis. “I realized there was a lot of need for wrap-around services that we couldn’t provide,” she said, reflecting on her inspiration to create the foundation.
The initiative has been met with appreciation from families who have benefitted from the services. Afrika Rouselle, a resident of Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood, whose mother received hospice care from Oasis, expressed gratitude for the compassion and expertise of the staff. “There’s a need out there,” she remarked. Rouselle also highlighted the importance of the scholarship program, stating, “It’s critical. I think it’s just as critical as having proper staffing and medication services.”
Rouselle further shared her experience with the foundation’s bereavement counseling and transportation assistance, which has allowed her to visit her mother more frequently. “It’s been very helpful to have the bereavement counseling because my mom is fading,” she said. “I’m an only child, so my mom is my best friend.”
Another family member, Bethy Beno, whose mother received hospice services from Oasis at home, has been a volunteer with the organization for three years. Following her mother’s passing, Beno requested that donations be made to the foundation in lieu of flowers. She expressed her confidence that funding scholarships for future hospice caregivers is a worthy cause. “The more experience they have when they come to us for employment, they know what to expect,” Beno stated.
The Oasis Foundation’s commitment to nurturing future caregivers is essential in a field that requires both skill and compassion. “The people who have been with Oasis for a long time really feel it is their calling to deal with very sick people,” Beno added. The foundation’s efforts not only provide immediate support but also ensure that the next generation of caregivers is well-prepared to meet the challenges of hospice care.
As the Oasis Foundation continues to grow, its dual mission of supporting hospice patients and fostering the education of future health care professionals reflects a comprehensive approach to care. Families facing the end-of-life journey find solace in the foundation’s resources, while aspiring caregivers gain invaluable assistance as they embark on their careers. For more information on the scholarships and services, interested individuals can visit the foundation’s website at www.oasisthefoundation.org/pathwaytopurposescholarship.