Center for Hospice Care hosts 41st Helping Hands Award Dinner

Community members from across Michiana gathered at South Bend’s Gillespie Conference Center for a night of celebration and fundraising at Center for Hospice Care’s 41st Helping Hands Award Dinner on Wednesday, May 6.

The event focused on two honorees, doctors Holly and Jim Harris, a dermatology physician and a retired allergy physician, respectively. The couple received recognition for their community involvement, with their efforts ranging from medical contributions to involvement with the arts, including service with the South Bend Symphony.

Chris Taelman, chief development officer for Hospice Foundation, spoke further on the nominees and their roles in the community.

“Center for Hospice Care’s Helping Hands Award honors people who align with our mission, which is to improve the quality of living. Holly and Jim Harris’s community service, support and leadership over the years have improved the quality of living for many of us in many ways, Taelman said. “The Harrises embody the concept of servant leadership and enhanced our community for many years.”

Throughout their time in the South Bend community, Holly and Jim Harris have aided many causes, including multiple clinical trials through the South Bend Clinic, fundraising efforts, and event organization. Their efforts extend from the founding of the Medicine Ball for Indiana University School of Medicine – South Bend to the Men in Kilts event, which raised money for Ronald McDonald House Charities. On top of this, Jim Harris co-founded a band composed of physicians, Vyagra Falls, that has become known for playing charity events in order to raise money for multiple organizations throughout the Michiana community.

Kevin Murphy, board chair for Center for Hospice Care, commended the couple on their extensive action towards community development.

“When they see an issue, they act,” Murphy said. “They’ve advocated for patients, and they’ve helped advance treatments that are now used around the world.”

Co-chair of the event, Kyle Everett, spoke of his admiration for the couple, especially regarding what the next generation can take away from the two.

“Jim and Holly really inspire other people to be involved in not-for-profits in our community. They make it a lot more approachable,” Everett said. “I think they really inspire the next generation to get involved and help support those worthwhile organizations in town.”

The event began with a brief cocktail hour, followed by dinner. The full conference center bustled with lively discussion, a catered dinner, floral displays and live music from members of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. The dinner culminated in the presentation of the award to the couple.

When it came time to accept the award, Jim Harris opened with a quip.

“I feel like we just won the Stanley Cup,” he said. “We’re so grateful for your generosity and for your support. We’re just amazed at this communion about us, and for us.”

While much of the event focused on the couple’s individual contributions to the community, Holly Harris wanted to stress the importance of the many community members around them who gave them the space to give so much back.

“The truth is, no one does this work alone. Community service is often about caring. It’s about neighbors helping neighbors, people showing up in many ways – big and small – and using time, talent, and even things in their back pockets to help others,” Holly Harris said. “We simply have had the privilege of often being one small part of something much larger.”

In a similar vein, Jim Harris extended his thanks to the patients that the Harrises have served in their time as physicians.

“Holly and I have been practicing here for nearly 40 years. In that time, we’ve seen over 40,000 different patients,” Jim Harris said. “To our patients, whatever we have done for you, you have given back to us so much more. We are forever grateful to serve all of you.”

Following the couple’s speech, their granddaughter sang a rendition of “Over the Rainbow” while Jim Harris played piano. The event wrapped up with fundraising for Center for Hospice Care, resulting in more than $500,000 raised for the organization.

For more information on the Center for Hospice Care, visit its website.