Foundation Benefits Gilchrist Hospice Care’s County Facility

The River Hill/Clarksville community suffered a huge loss when Paul J. Kelley, Jr. died in June of 2009. A longtime River Hill resident and a fixture in the community, Paul coached River Hill High School and Howard Huskies ice hockey for many years, announced local high school football games, supported the Jim O’Malley Charitable Foundation, volunteered at church, and generously gave of his time to help others. As he was fighting his battle with cancer, Paul received excellent services from Gilchrist Hospice Care, a nonprofit organization, in his home and eventually at their facility in Towson. He wished Gilchrist had a local inpatient facility where superior end of life care could be provided.

In Paul’s memory, his family and friends established the Paul J. Kelley, Jr. Charitable Foundation. It was a natural decision for
them to select as the beneficiary Gilchrist Hospice Care and the establishment of a Howard County inpatient facility. To date, the Paul J. Kelley Foundation has raised over $100,000 in support of Gilchrist Center Howard County which opened its 10-bed unit in May 2011. The unit provides a home-like, care-driven environment for terminally-ill patients and their families and is conveniently located off of Cedar Lane in Columbia.

This year the Foundation expects to reach $120,000 in donations for the Howard County center. The community is invited to
celebrate Paul’s life and support “Gilchrist Howard County” at the Foundation’s sixth annual St. Paddy’s Day Bash. The  Sharin’ of the Green” event will be held at The Gathering Place, 6120 Day Long Lane, Clarksville on Tuesday, March 17 from 6 to 10  a.m. Guests will enjoy food, beer, wine, music and dancing, a basket raffle, and more. Individual tickets are $85. All tickets must be purchased by March 10.

Unable to attend the Bash? Plan to stop by the Twist and Turn Tavern, 13380 Clarksville Pike, Highland during Happy Hour February 9 through 14 and “Have a Heart for Hospice.” The tavern will be donating a percentage of their earnings to the Paul.
J. Kelley Foundation.

For more information on the Paul J. Kelley Foundation and purchasing tickets to the St. Paddy’s Day Bash, contact  PJKFoundation@mccabeins.com. For more information on Gilchrist Howard County, visit www.gilchristhospice.org.