AMOREM increases capital campaign goal
After a building inspection conducted by the state last fall, AMOREM has increased its fundraising goal to open a hospice patient care unit from $8.1 million to $8.3 million.
AMOREM held an open house for the AMOREM SECU Patient Care Unit of the High Country back in July 2025. Shortly after representatives from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Division of Health Service Regulation inspected the building.
Upon inspection, some issues were noted that would require additional construction to ensure the facility was to code. Construction on those items is set to be completed by March 6 at the estimated cost of an additional $200k to the organization’s original $8.1 million budget.
AMOREM has been actively fundraising for the patient care unit since fall of 2021. The building is named after the State Employees Credit Union, who gifted $1.5 million toward the project from its foundation.
Through community support, corporate gifts and grants, AMOREM has raised right at $6.5 million toward its goal, which has increased from $8.1 million to $8.3 million due to the unexpected expenses that occurred after the facility’s initial inspection.
“As a nonprofit hospice provider, AMOREM needs the community’s help to reach its $8.3 million goal,” says AMOREM’s Chief Growth and Development Officer Kerri L. McFalls. “We have come so far with reaching the goal and are incredibly grateful for the support we have received. But we can’t stop now. AMOREM needs everyone’s help to raise the remaining $1.8 million of the goal.”
McFalls said an anonymous donor pledged $250k last summer and has challenged the High Country community to match their gift, dollar for dollar. Since the challenge started, more than $129k has been raised toward the match.
“No gift amount is too small,” McFalls said. “Can you imagine if every person in the High Country gave $20 – we would surpass our goal.”
The Caldwell Hospice Foundation recently made a gift to the capital campaign of $200k to assist with the unexpected expenses. This is the second gift from the Foundation, which contributed $1.3 million to the project in March of 2022.
“We are so grateful for both the community support and the support from the Foundation,” McFalls said.
Once construction is completed, AMOREM will request a follow-up inspection with the state. If no issues are identified, then AMOREM will receive a facility license from the state.
A second need before the facility can officially open is staffing. AMOREM is actively recruiting positions in nursing, certified nursing assistants, dietary and housekeeping. The onboarding process for the clinical positions is 90 days.
“This is an opportunity for someone to be a part of history,” McFalls said. “To have the opportunity to work in the first and only hospice inpatient facility in the high country would be a true honor.”
To see the full list of job openings at the patient care unit, visit AMOREM’s career page at www.amoremsupport.org/careers
To make a gift toward the match challenge or learn about naming opportunities at the campus, visit www.amoremsupport.org/donate/high-country-capital-campaign or contact McFalls directly at kmcfalls@amoremsupport.org
AMOREM is your non-profit hospice provider that has proudly served the High Country since 2014 – first as Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care and now as AMOREM.