Hogs for Hospice reveals $1,134,357 raised in 2024

By Mark Ribble

About 400 people packed the Roma Club on Tuesday, October 15 as the Hogs for Hospice organization held their annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner.

In addition to feeding all the volunteers in attendance, the Hogs for Hospice committee also revealed the amount raised at the 2024 event —  a whopping $1,134,357.

The room was dotted with orange, red and black t-shirts, indicating which part of the volunteer army that people belonged to, as well as first responders and other organizations who have partnered with the H4H committee for the past number of years.

Committee spokesperson Joe Oswald gave a heartfelt speech to the crowd, expressing his sincere gratitude for their involvement in the “movement”.

“It’s a 365-day-a-year journey, but on that 364th day, we stop and we pause and we thank you,” he said. “It takes leadership and when you look at the team leads, these are the people that give 365 days a year to this event.”

Oswald talked about how other events and communities hold the H4H in high regard and want to emulate their success. He indicated that the “secret sauce” is love.

“This works because it’s a community coming together on all levels,” he said.

Committee member Donny Pacheco then took the microphone for the big reveal on the stage, saying that he’s sure most people in the room have had someone in their lives who has needed the local hospice.

When the reveal was made, the committee held a large banner with the amount printed on it — and held it up as the crowd gave them a standing ovation.