Wendy Hopfensperger founded Petals for Patients last fall. The business is dedicated to providing a flower bouquet for every bouquet purchased for hospice patients in the area. Hopfensperger was inspired after a trip she took with the CEO of TOMS Shoes to Argentina. TOMS donates a pair of shoes to a needy child for every pair of shoes they sell, and Hopfensperger adopted the same business model for Petals for Patients, she said.
“I really fell in love with his business model that incorporates giving on the onset,” Hopfensperger said. “I was inspired and wanted to do something similar here in the states that could impact our local community.”
Petals for Patients recently formed a partnership with 1-800-Flowers. For every bouquet of flowers purchased from a special link on the Petal for Patient’s website, a bouquet will be donated to patients at Horizon Home Care and Hospice here in Milwaukee.
“Petals for Patients is really just the beginning of it,” she said. “My vision is to get as many flowers at the bedside of patients as possible.”
Hopfensperger has also created a second division of the company that repurposes flowers from weddings and corporate events, she said.
“I’ve really gotten into the luxury wedding market,” she said. “People can hire me to pick up their flowers after their ceremony or event and I’ll break down their arrangements and create smaller bouquets for patients in the area.”
Brides or event coordinators can pay a pickup and delivery fee and receive a tax deduction receipt in return, she said.
Hopfensperger does all her own pickups in the area, and will hire a crew of workers if the order is larger, she said. She also has employees in the Chicago area who can do pickups and deliveries there.
Horizon Home Care and Hospice has about 120 hospice patients and an additional 2000 or so homecare patients, Hopfensperger said.
“Their demand is so great,” she said. “Eventually if I have enough supplies I’ll expand to additional hospice facilities, but for now my goal is to service the patients there. I hope to expand the relationship with 1-800-Flowers as well.”
To order flowers or for more information visit www.petalsforpatients.com.
Actually if I had enough supplies- they have such great demand- just great demand- just got out of a meeting current census- 120 hospice patients and over 2000 homecare patients- hip replacement surgery- cook clean and take care of them
