Vision Statement: Edmarc sees a community in which no child or family is denied pediatric hospice services and a society that wholeheartedly accepts and supports pediatric hospice care. History: Established in 1978, Edmarc was the first hospice in the nation designed specifically for children. Edmarc is the only pediatric hospice organization in Hampton Roads. Edmarc was founded by the members of Suffolk Presbyterian Church in Suffolk, Virginia, along with their minister who was dying of cancer, and a young couple whose only son was dying of a progressive neuromuscular disease. The minister's name was Edward; the boy's name was Marcus. The agency is named in their memory. In 1982, Edmarc Hospice for Children received a $300,000 grant from the Birthday Offering of the Presbyterian Women. This generous community gift funded the development and expansion of our hospice, home health care, and bereavement support services. Edmarc now serves a wide geographic area that includes the Virginia Peninsula and all of southside Hampton Roads. Edmarc Hospice for Children is a United Way agency, serving children with life-limiting illness and their families, without regard to their ability to pay for services.
