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25 Years of Heart and Soul

A special message from President/CEO Siobhan M. Greene

Above: The original Hospice House in Carmel Valley, Circa 1980.

If you are anything like me, there are times when you marvel at how time flies. Do you find yourself saying, ‘it’s been that long?’ when it comes to acknowledging the good parts of life – like births, careers, marriages? Of course, reality means the good things include struggles and challenges. But at the end of the day, it’s the pride we have in our life accomplishments that fills our hearts.

 

Well, Hospice Giving Foundation is beaming with pride this month. July 2022 marks our 25th anniversary of investing in our community with resources for care, information for community members, and support for a system of care that is as important as any in the spectrum of a good life. And we could not have done any of it without the community at our side. The individuals who provided leadership, the Board who oversaw our growth and growing pains, people like you who have steadfastly supported this work, and the clinicians who provided the care make up the intricate network of those who value compassion and dignity at the end of life.

 

As we mark this milestone, we want to thank all our donors, supporters, staff, and Board Directors. I have deep gratitude for the impressive roster of people who have served on our Board of Directors, with a special thanks to those who served as Board Chairs and officers. I thank my predecessor Alice Kinsler for her excellent leadership that laid the foundation for our success. To our current staff and those who have been part of our team in the past, you are the anchors of our journey, day in and out ensuring we stay true to our mission.

Board Chairs

Brian Kelly Founding Board Member
Ralph (Trey) B. Busch, III 1997-1999
Elizabeth (Libby) Downey 1999-2001
Jean Duff 2001-2003
Roy Robbins 2003-2005
David Green 2005-2007
Suzie Johnson 2007-2009
Larry Daniels 2009-2011
Ralph W. Thompson 2011-2013
Kelly V. Vasquez 2013-2015
Nancy Markey 2015-2017
Bill Tebbe 2017-2019
Sarah Hills 2019-2021
Kim DiBenedetto 2021-present

Above: Past Board Chairs at the 2022 Scramble. Left to right: Ralph Thompson, Sarah Hills, Bill Tebbe, Emeritus, Nanci Markey, and Jean Duff, Emeritus.

We are incredibly proud to have funded so many worthy organizations over the years. In our 25 years, we will have invested over $30MM into this community. Every spring we meet personally with the agencies we fund to learn more about their work and impact. This year, we heard from a woman whose daughter passed away in 2021- making her the sole caregiver of her medically fragile granddaughter. She was so filled with gratitude for the basic needs, transportation, and support the grantee provided. Nurses talked with us about caring for mothers and fathers who have lost an infant at birth or moments later and the need to teach their colleagues about how to offer those parents the most thoughtful, compassionate care. Another agency shared its vision for hospice beds in a home-like setting to be able to care for our most vulnerable citizens in their final days.

At the heart of this work is a desire to make difficult times better, with a commitment to treating the dying process as a part of life that deserves dignity and love. Hospice Giving Foundation can only do this work because you invest in us and trust us. We hope the community joins us to celebrate this milestone. 

With much gratitude,

Funded Agencies

Alliance on Aging
Alzheimer’s Association
California State University at Monterey Bay
Caregiver: Hospice Provider Training
Catholic Charities
Compassionate Care Alliance
Central Coast VNA & Hospice
Coastal Kids Home Care
Hazel Hawkins Hospital
Heal Together
Hospice of Santa Cruz County
Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Services
John XXIII AIDS Ministry/Central Coast AIDS Service
Legal Services for Seniors
Montage Health (Hospice of the Central Coast)
Monterey County AIDS Project
Monterey County Palliative Care Collaborative
Natividad Medical Center
National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
Papillion Center for Grief and Transitions
Partnership for Children (formerly Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition)
Story Corps
Suicide Prevention
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital
Teddy Bears with Heart
The Dinner Party