Hospice of Queen Anne’s (HQA) is launching a new memorial and honorary brick program this month with the help of Kelsi Ronning, an ambassador of local Girl Scout Troop #399, who is on her way to achieving the prestigious Girl Scouts Gold Award. Ronning, a sophomore at Queen Anne’s High School, is working with HQA’s project team on “Paving the Way for Hope,” which when completed will be a stand-alone island displaying memorial and honorary names and messages.

“Kelsi is involved in all aspects of the project, from meeting with the project team, to marketing the project in the community, to helping place the bricks in the designated area.

“And along the way, she is becoming familiar with the Hospice Center and learning about hospice care,” said Kenda Leager, HQA’s development officer.

Bricks may be purchased in memory of or in honor of a loved one for $100 (4” x 8” brick) or $250 (8” x 8” brick) from now until February. The team hopes to sell 250 bricks before the island is constructed and revealed at a special ceremony in the spring of 2012.

Ronning is dedicating her Gold Award Project to the memory of her grandfather, Edward C. Adams.

“Pa Paw had loving care with the Johns Hopkins Home Hospice during his last three months of life in 1996 when I was just nine months old,” said Ronning. She is also honoring her two grandmothers, Linda Sue Adams and Rosemary Ronning, and her great-grandmother, Nellie Smith.

“We are excited to have Kelsi as part of the team helping us coordinate this creative project in which hospice families and the community can memorialize or honor a loved one while helping support Hospice of Queen Anne’s,” said Heather Guerieri, executive director of Hospice of Queen Anne’s.

For additional information or to purchase a brick, visit www.hospiceofqueenannes.org and click on “Ways to Give;” or contact Kenda Leager at 443-262-4106 or kleager@hospiceofqueenannes.org.

PHOTO provided by Kelli Ronning

In photo: Kenda Leager, left, development officer for Hospice of Queen Anne’s and Kelsi Ronning, girl scout ambassador of Troop 399, display a sample brick that will help “Pave the Way for Hope” at the Hospice Center in Centreville.