The 40th Helping Hands Award Dinner will take place on Wednesday, May 7th at the Hilton Garden Inn's Gillespie Center. This year's honoree is Dan Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Quality Dining, Inc. in Mishawaka. A diversified restaurant holding company, Quality Dining operates over 157 restaurants including franchised concepts Burger King and Slims Chicken, and operates full-service restaurants Papa Vino's Italian Kitchen and Uptown Kitchen. Dan and Quality Dining have been active in over two dozen civic groups and organizations throughout northern Indiana, including leadership positions at Madison Center and Hospital, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph Care Foundation, the Morris Performing Arts Center, LOGAN Center. Presently, Fitzpatrick serves as a member of the Holy Cross Collee board of Trustees and on the board of directors and lead director of 1^st Source Corporation. Learn more

Each year on the first Tuesday of June, Center for Hospice Care hosts the Gardens of Remembrance and Renewal Dedication Ceremony at their Elkhart Campus. At this event tribute items donated in memory or honor of loved ones in the past year are dedicated.

The third Circle of Caring Award Dinner will take place on Wednesday, November 7 at the Lerner Theater. This year we will posthumously honor Cindy Hawkins in recognition of her lifelong service and commitment to her community. Cindy cherished her family and community and had a strong passion for working with youth. Having friends and family in the home was a true blessing for her. While battling cancer, she would regularly reach out to many of her "people" just to make sure they knew they were loved. Her commitment to giving back to her community through supporting family and youth-focused programs strongly align with Center for Hospice Care's mission to improve the quality of living. Learn more about or sponsor the dinner the dinner here.