Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County (HPCIC) is calling on the community to help cross the finish line of its $5 million capital campaign, Building Hope & Healing Hearts, to build the Brown Family Grief Center—a dedicated space where children, families, and individuals can find support, comfort, and hope after loss.

With more than $3 million already raised, the organization is entering the final phase of the campaign and working to secure the remaining $2 million needed to bring this vision to life.

“For many families, the hardest part begins after hospice care ends,” said Mike Smith, President/CEO of HPCIC. “Grief doesn’t go away—it changes lives. And right now, too many people in our community are navigating that journey without the support they truly need”.

Every day, HPCIC serves all ages, dealing with all kinds of loss, through our Bridges, adult grief program and Rainbow Kidz, our children’s grief program. A child may be dealing with the loss of a parent, grandparent or friend. A spouse might be learning to live alone, or a family may be working to rebuild after unimaginable loss. While these grief programs have grown significantly, the organization has outgrown its current space—often relying on borrowed rooms and limited resources to meet increasing demand.

“Children are meeting with counselors in conference rooms. Parents are missing support groups because they don’t have childcare,” said Mindy Rice, Director of Marketing & Development. “We are doing everything we can—but it’s not enough. This center will change that.”

The Brown Family Grief Center will provide a dedicated, welcoming environment designed specifically for healing. Services will be offered at no cost and will include grief counseling, support groups, and educational programs for individuals of all ages.

More than just a building, the center represents a promise: that no one in Iredell County has to grieve alone.

“The opening of the Brown Family Grief Center is deeply personal for me-it is truly a dream come true.” Said Leigh Ann Darty, LCSW, Director of Rainbow Kidz. “What began as hope in our hearts has become a reality-a place of healing, hope, and connection for anyone facing death in our community. They will find comfort, support, and hope within these walls. It is more than a building; it is a promise that no child or family will ever have to walk through grief alone.”

As the campaign enters its final phase, community leaders are inviting individuals, families, and businesses to be part of this lasting legacy. Opportunities remain for donors to be recognized within the center, including a permanent donor display honoring gifts of $5,000 and above.

“We are so close,” said Mindy Rice. “This project is within reach—but we need our community to help us finish. Together, we can create a place where hope is restored and healing begins.”

The Brown Family Grief Center is expected to open in late summer 2026. To learn more or make a gift, visit www.HOIC.org or call 704-873-4719.

About Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County
Hospice & Palliative Care of Iredell County has served the community for over 40 years, providing nationally recognized, compassionate end-of-life care and grief support to children, adults, and families. Through programs like Rainbow Kidz and Bridges, HPCIC is committed to ensuring that no one faces grief alone.