Transplant Families who stayed at Gift of Life Howie’s House know firsthand how much the resource means to so many. It is a place of respite, comfort and hope that opens its doors when families are most in need of support — regardless of their ability to pay.

Families are provided with lodging, a fully stocked pantry, warm meals, transportation to hospitals, as well as counseling and emotional support: all for a low $40 nightly fee per room, though our actual costs are now as much as $175 per night. To date, no family has ever been turned away due to inability to pay.

The Grateful Guest Alumni Fund is special subset of the Annual Fund where past guests of Gift of Life Howie’s House can make a gift to support yearly operations to keep the cost low for families and help other families who can’t afford the nightly fee.

Tom Fennell and his wife, Alice, embarked on a nearly 1,000-mile journey from Iowa to Philadelphia, filled with hope that Tom would receive a life-saving heart transplant. In their time of uncertainty and distance from home, Gift of Life Howie’s House provided them with much-needed comfort, dinners, and a sense of community. “Howie’s House gave us a safe place to stay, dinners, and camaraderie. It was the complete package. We were able to connect with other transplant families, and it helped us on our journey.” – Tom Fennell