News Release: March 5, 1999

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Signs of spring - bright yellow daffodils - will be abundant throughout the Albuquerque metropolitan area next week as hundreds of volunteers sell 130,000 of the flowers to benefit the Presbyterian Homecare and Hospice Patient Care Fund.

The public's 15-year tradition of buying daffodils to help Homecare and Hospice is continued by the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, which is putting on the sale with tremendous support from the community. More than 30 companies signed on as sponsors of the event, including NationsBank, the presenting sponsor.

More than 50 business locations agreed to allow the flowers to be sold on their premises during the three-day event.

And more than 350 individuals have volunteered to prepare flowers to sell on March 10 and 11, and to sell daffodils on the March 12, 13 and 14 sales dates.

All proceeds from Daffodil Days 1999 will support the Homecare and Hospice Patient Care Fund, which provides a finanical lifeline to patients and their families by offering help for a variety of costs related to hospice care. Last year, the fund helped 153 people, the majority of whom were either battling cancer themselves or had a loved one fighting the disease.

The Homecare and Hospice Patient Care Fund is held by the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation, a New Mexico not-for-profit corporation chartered in 1968 to support and advance the quality healthcare provided by Presbyterian Healthcare Services.