JOEANNA'S HOUSE UPDATE
‘WOOD’ YOU BELIEVE IT’S BEEN 5 YEARS?
Rooted and ready to grow...
On November 25, 2024, JoeAnna’s House marked five incredible years of providing comfort, connection, and a home for more than 2,700 families (to date) when they needed it most. The traditional five-year anniversary gift is wood, symbolizing strength, growth, and a solid foundation—qualities that resonate deeply with the expansion plans for JoeAnna’s House to help meet the growing demand for its services.
More than a building, JoeAnna’s House has become a home away from home for out-of-town families while their loved ones receive care at KGH. But demand has quickly outpaced its 20-room capacity. Over the last 15 months, the home has been operating with a constant waitlist, leaving over 1,000 families unable to access this vital resource.
The KGH Foundation is currently fundraising $5.3 million to grow JoeAnna’s House by 10 new guest family rooms to ensure more families can stay together when they need it most. This expansion represents the gift of growth, directly addressing the urgent need to reduce the waitlist and extend support to more families in crisis.
Families like Brad and Carol Howard…
Finding Sanctuary Cultivates Strength
When Carol first had to undergo a cancer operation at KGH, Brad applied to stay at JoeAnna’s House but unfortunately, he couldn’t get a room due to the waitlist. During Carol’s next hospital visit after experiencing complications, Brad was finally able to stay at JoeAnna’s House and got to experience firsthand the sanctuary it provides.
“There’s a lot of people here now, all of them with various stories and situations that are made so much better because they’re allowed to be here with their loved ones at JoeAnna’s House,” Brad shares.
Being steps away from KGH meant everything to Brad, giving him the ability to be at Carol’s side at a moment’s notice. More importantly, JoeAnna’s House provided Brad with a space to rest, recharge, and gather his strength during her recovery.
“You need a place to hide,” Brad explains. “Sometimes you hear or see something going sideways, and you need somewhere to go. This home allowed me to be the best and strongest version of myself when Carol needed me most.”
Winter Wonderland Finds a Larger Home
The expansion campaign has already inspired overwhelming community support of JoeAnna’s House. The largest fundraiser for the home, Winter Wonderland, was such a success in its first year that it outgrew the original venue and moved inside to MNP Place for 2024. The event raised an incredible $66,427 for the operation and expansion of the home.
The magic of the season was witnessed throughout the event this past December, which included ice skating, holiday crafts and games, cookie decorating, a seasonal market, and entertainment.
Media sponsor Pattison brought energy to the event, Save-On-Foods kept guests fueled for a day of festive fun, and vendors showcased a vibrant holiday market.
Volunteers hosted activities for all ages, while Santa and his elves delighted families with photo opportunities, and Rockets players joined in the skating excitement. Winter Wonderland’s success was made possible by generous sponsors and volunteers, including title sponsor Prestige Hotels and Resorts.
“I was over the moon to see so much joy, merry making, and generosity at Winter Wonderland,” shares Santa Claus. “Seeing the community come together to support JoeAnna’s House fills my heart, my spirit, and, of course, my nice list!”
Branching Out: Together, We Grow
As JoeAnna’s House celebrates five years of transforming lives, the need for growth has never been more pressing. We are calling on the community to join in giving the gift of wood and construction, helping to meet the urgent demand for more rooms. With continued generosity and the success of events like Winter Wonderland, this expansion will do more than add space—it will provide the capacity to offer comfort, connection, and hope to families facing their hardest moments.
At JoeAnna’s House, growth is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about expanding the compassion and care that make it a sanctuary. Together, we can ensure no family is left without the support they need when it matters most.
Together, we grow.
Ways to Give: To support the expansion project and to help more families in need access JoeAnna’s House, visit joeannashouse.com/expansion or contact us at info@kghfoundation.com or 250-862-4438.
