Center for Hospice Care honored Drs. Holly and Jim Harris with the 41st Helping Hands Award

Holly and Jim have made a career of helping the community they call home. Holly, board certified in dermatology and surgery, and Jim, board certified in alergy and pulmonary medicine, moved to South Bend in 1986 and joined the South Bend Clinic. Since then they have wove their lives and careers into the fabric of the healthcare industry and philanthropy in the area. 

Throughout their time here, Holly and Jim have served on many boards, chaired a variety of fundraising events and been on the front lines of creating new events as well as establishing foundations and creating new pathways for indiduals interested iin a career in medicine. Jim is also the co-founder of Vyagra Falls – the docs of rock – a band of physicians that has played for multiple charitable events over the years, helping raise millions of dollars for organizations such as Center for the Homeless, Pet Refuge and the South Bend Symphony Orchestra.

Professionally, Holly and Jim have not only been tireless advocates for their patients, but have directed over 300 clinical reserarch trials at the South Bend Clinic for new medications, many that have come to market and are now helping people in our community and across the world.

Holly and Jim were also instrumental in initiating and organizing the South Bend Clinic Foundation that supports the training of students in healthcare-related fields at Ivy Tech Community College. Along these lines, they were also part of the initial group that organized the Indiana University South Bend Medical School’s first Medicine Ball to support the school.

During all of these activities, Holly and Jim somehow found the time to raise a family of three children – Dr. Ashlynne Clark, a surgical dermatologist in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Dr. Rachael Harris Sprunger, a pain interventionist now with the South Bend Clinic; and David Harris, an entrepreneur who built the largest clinic in the country for underserved medical conditions like long covid.

Over 300 attendees joined us in honoring Holly and Jim, helping raise nearly $500,000 for Center for Hospice Care. Over $330,000 in sponsorships and donations will go towards keeping CHC’s promise that nobody eligible for hospice care will be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay. The paddle up portion of the evening raised another $150,000+ to help expand CHC’s pediatric hospice and palliative care program to create a more comprehensive and specialized regional program for young people facing a serious advance illness.

Thank you to all of our sponsors! Your support allows us to keep our promise that no one who is eligible for and wants hospice care will ever be turned away, regardless of their ability to pay.

Dinner Guardian

Janette Burkhart-Miller

Dinner Champions

Catherine and John Hiler

Dinner Presenters

Dinner Benefactors

Reception Benefactors

Dinner Patrons

Dinner Committee

Honorary Chairs

Catherine and John Hiler

Committee Chairs

Jill and James Hillman

Elle Schultz and Kyle Everett

Committee Members

If you would still like to make a donation towards the 41st Helping Hands Award Dinner in honor of Drs. Holly and Jim Harris, please do so below.