Now, the Otago Daily Times is challenging the region's corporates to do the same in our "Help the Hospice" campaign.
The hospice earlier this year announced it was closing four inpatient beds and day respite care services, and faced a $300,000 deficit in the next financial year.
The following year it expected a $500,000 deficit.
The hospice provides an essential health service - at no cost to the patients or their families - yet is funded only about 50% by government.
It is heavily reliant on the community to raise the remainder. And, each year, we do.
In the past financial year, the OCH raised $1.1 million from the community - the most it has raised.
Given cost pressures, and the economy, Otago hospice chief executive Ginny Green does not expect the community to contribute more - and is humbled that more than $200,000 has been raised since the service reduction announcement in July.
Of that, $45,000 came from the Southern Trust, $95,000 from the Bendigo Valley Sports and Charity Foundation, $50,000 from Pub Charities, $10,000 from the Classic Hits Radiothon fundraiser, $9000 from an auction, and a record $57,000 from the hospice's annual street appeal.
As a result, the four beds have been saved. Nevertheless, the hospice is still facing a significant shortfall in funding.
Today, Allied Press, the publisher of the ODT, is launching a campaign which aims to raise at least $200,000 for the hospice - while the push for additional government funding continues.
We are kick-starting the campaign by giving $20,000 in cash, plus promising to provide about $60,000 in space in the pages of the ODT and its sister community newspapers in Otago, The Star (in Dunedin) and The Lakes District and Central Otago News.
To encourage donations from other corporates, we'll use those pages to profile businesses which contribute more than $5000 to the campaign, as well as hospice staff and volunteers and individual donors who wish to participate.
Profiles will be published on page two of the ODT each Tuesday, and others weekly in The Star and The News.
Allied Press Ltd chairman and managing director Julian Smith sees the commitment as a recognition of the hospice's importance to, and special place in, the region.
"We see this campaign, which we are running in conjunction with the hospice itself, as part of our commitment to serve the people of Otago," Mr Smith said.
The campaign is also designed to send a message to the incoming government - whatever its make-up.
The National Party has promised to boost hospice funding nationally by $15 million a year if elected. That could mean an extra $500,000 a year for the Otago Community Hospice.
Hopefully, other parties will also see the need to provide more money for hospices throughout the country.
Until then, the Otago Community Hospice needs our help. And we challenge the businessmen and women of Otago to do their bit.
How? Contact Ginny Green on 473-6005, email her on ginny.green@otagohospice.co.nz, or deposit money directly at any ANZ bank by filling out a deposit form for the Otago Daily Times Otago Hospice appeal.
And, of course, donations from individuals are always welcome.
