Hospice of Southern West Virginia is giving away a house to pay the mortgage on its own.

Because Hospice of Southern West Virginia is a nonprofit organization, it depends on community sponsors, donations and volunteers to be able to meet the needs of the terminally ill.

Lisa McMillion, director of public relations for Hospice, said, “We have to do fundraisers to care for our patients. One big expense that we have right now is the Bowers House, which is our in-patient hospice facility.”

The Bowers Hospice House came with a $3.5 million price tag, and while a Capital Campaign raised nearly $1 million, McMillion said they still have $300,000 to go before the mortgage is paid off.

“We would like to retire that debt so that we can focus those funds, and any future funds that we have, on direct patient care.”

The group started a fund-raising committee and realized that in order to raise $300,000, they needed to do something big. That is when Hospice of Southern West Virginia’s board decided to raffle off a house.

“In other metropolitan areas, places like the Ronald McDonald House and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have done similar things, but they give away a dream home,” McMillion said. “We just wanted an average home for the average family.”

R.J. Burgess of Discount Tile in Beckley heard about the raffle and wanted to help. He agreed to give Hospice a lot in his subdivision in Stone Creek, off 4-H Lake Road.

McMillion added, “At that point, he donated all tile, hardwood floors and all paint. So when someone gives you a gift that large, you are going to have to follow up and commit to doing it.”

Since then, Hospice has been in touch with many sponsors, including Ramey Ford, Jones & Jordan Engineering, Eastern Concrete, Arndt Masonry Construction, Graham Excavating, AEP, David Hill Concrete, The Pinnacle Group Inc., Williams Excavation, American Block and Brick, Allegheny Insurance Services, Shoney’s of Beckley, and Central Printing. These phase one project sponsors are helping with the excavation and laying the foundation.

At 1:30 p.m. Friday at Stone Creek Subdivision, Hospice will welcome its sponsors and the community to a “From Our House to Your House” groundbreaking ceremony in celebration of the 1,831-square-foot, one-story, three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath home that will be raffled upon completion.

“We want our sponsors to know we are really doing this,” McMillion said. “That it’s not just an idea, but it is actually happening.”

By the time of the ceremony or shortly after, Hospice will begin selling tickets for $100 each.

“Anyone who buys a chance will have a 1 in 4,000 chance of winning a home that is completely finished, including interior design services and personal landscaping,” McMillion said.

Although the raffle is going to begin very soon, the house will take about a year to finish. McMillion said the construction will be done on volunteer time and must be done correctly in order to meet Stone Creek Subdivision’s specific covenants. Therefore, the drawing will be no later than Sept. 6, 2010.

The “From Our House to Your House” groundbreaking will offer refreshments to people who gave donations or have an interest in Hospice in general.

“We continue to be amazed by the support of the community with this project,” McMillion said. “We expect to spend some of our own money on this, but at this point we have had to spend nothing. Everything has been donated, so all proceeds will go straight to paying off the mortgage and helping us meet our daily operations with Hospice. It is such a blessing.”

— E-mail:

cclark@register-herald.com