Community Care & Legacy Giving Through WYCF
Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions
What is the last sound you want to hear? The last memory you want to make? Who do you want to be with, or what music do you want played? Knowing these things should make death feel less scary, and Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions (CWHT) works to give people the end-of-life experience they want.
“People are scared of the ‘H’ word because they’re afraid of the ‘D’ word,” says Kilty Brown, Executive Director of CWHT. “People don’t realize the depth of what we’re doing here because they avoid talking about hospice. It’s always going to be sad, but hospice is about making the end of life as meaningful and peaceful as possible for patients and their families.”
While many think hospice is just about medical care, CWHT’s holistic approach is different. “We provide care wherever someone calls home,” Kilty explains, “Whether it’s a ranch, an RV, or one of our hospice homes.” Their team of nurses, social workers, therapists, chaplains, and volunteers cares for patients and their families. They offer grief counseling and support groups. Their team provides guidance, support, and care every step of the way, even after a loved one has passed.
“We walk alongside you and let you make the choices that empower you to have a good death, and then support your family afterwards,” says Kilty.
A Legacy Helps Hospice
The need for professional hospice care is especially high in rural areas. In Platte County—Wyoming’s fastest-aging community—many people live without end-of-life care that hospice services provide. Churches and volunteers often step in, but CWHT provides much-needed consistency.
Support from the Wyoming Community Foundation (WYCF) has been key to CWHT’s growth. Grants and legacy gifts from WYCF have helped expand services into areas like Platte and Converse Counties. “The legacy gifts through WYCF provide financial stability we can count on. Without donations and philanthropy, we wouldn’t be able to sustain our hospice homes,” Kilty says.
The Woodrow & Glyda May Endowment Fund at WYCF helps make this work possible. Created by Glyda after her husband’s death, the fund supports charities in Platte County. Glyda made it clear the fund was named as a beneficiary in her estate, with help from her attorney. Sharon Utter, Glyda’s niece, explains how her aunt’s giving spirit continues to make a difference.
“My aunt was a very giving person. She didn’t have kids of her own, so this was a way she could give back to kids in her area,” says Sharon. “She supported 4-H, the museum board, and loved history. Those things were important to her.”
CWHT also is the beneficiary of another fund at WYCF, The Louise O. & Edward C. Classen Fund. This fund was created with a charitable bequest, and supports its volunteers, a vital part of their programs. CWHT also has an agency fund at WYCF, which any person can contribute to, that provides annual income to the nonprofit in support of their ongoing work
Thanks to gifts like these, CWHT can keep providing care where it’s needed most.
Looking ahead, CWHT is preparing to open Wyoming’s first dedicated grief care center, seeing the growing need for grief support across the state. They also plan to expand telehealth services, hire more counselors, and add to children’s grief camps to reach more families. “Hospice does not mean giving up—it’s about improving the quality of life for whatever time remains,” Kilty says. “And none of it would be possible without the incredible community support we receive; we couldn’t do this without you.”
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