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We compassionately enter the lives of individuals faced with the realities of suffering, loss, death and grief to offer expert care and education while respecting each person’s choices, values and beliefs.
Dedicated Hospice Suites Provide Comfort to Patients and Families Thanks to Providence TrinityCare Hospice’s continuing efforts to enhance care, many of our patients and their families are benefiting from a new, innovative service: three dedicated hospice suites at Providence Little Company of Mary Transitional Care Center (TCC). The suites were made possible thanks to the generosity of Jacky Sister Terrence Landini and Jacky Glass. Glass, former chair of the Hospice Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and the close collaboration between Hospice and Little Company of Mary administrators and health-care professionals. The suites, opened in the summer of 2009, meet the needs of Hospice patients who require a higher level of care to manage pain and symptoms, and they offer a warm, comfortable and caring environment for both patients and their families. Each suite, a freshly remodeled private room, features a sleeping sofa so that loved ones wishing to remain with patients throughout the night may do so. “It has been a privilege to partner with Hospice on this very important service – the only one of its kind in the community,” says Jennifer Bellucci, RN, Little Company of Mary Torrance’s Director of Nursing for Post Acute Services, who oversees the medical center’s TCC. “Every staff member at the TCC has received special training in end-of-life care, and now the entire team embraces the concept. Offering this service has become our calling.” Approximately 50 patients, along with their families, have used the suites. “They are fully utilized,” adds Jennifer, “and only rarely is there a room open.” “We see these suites as an integral part of providing the very best care to Hospice patients and their families,” says Terri Warren, chief executive of Providence TrinityCare Hospice, “and we are now determining how we can expand this service to meet the growing need.”
Rotary Clubs Provide New Courtyard Lomita-Torrance Airport Rotary, in partnership with Torrance Del Amo Rotary, Torrance Sunshine Rotary and Torrance Rotary, has graciously agreed to redesign and landscape the courtyard directly outside the Hospice Suites. For involvement opportunities, contact Peggy Buker, 310-257-3564 or peggy.buker@providence.org.
Thank you Rotary for taking on this project.
“We see these suites as an integral part of providing the very best care to Hospice patients and their families.”
– Terri Warren, Chief Executive, Providence TrinityCare Hospice
A Gift in Memory A gentleman of strong constitution and independent mind, John Stotler knows what he likes when he sees it. For John, a 79-year-old motorcycle enthusiast, the new Providence TrinityCare Hospice suites at Providence Little Company of Mary Transitional Care Center top the list. John was so grateful for the care that his late wife, Shirley, received there this past year that he has made a significant gift so that other patients and their families can avail themselves of this new Hospice service. “I was very impressed by the staff,” says John, a retired aeronautical engineer. “They took care of Shirley perfectly. They made sure that she stayed clean and comfortable and performed tasks that most people would consider unpleasant.” Shirley was not the only beneficiary of exemplary care, John comments. The staff at the Hospice suites paid attention to him, too. “There was a nurse on the unit who insisted that I eat,” he recalls. “She said, ‘You’re going to have a meal whether you like it or not.’” Shirley Stotler arrived at the Hospice suites after suffering a massive stroke following surgery for a nonmalignant tumor. While John was saddened that his wife of 52 years would never recover, he was comforted in the knowledge that her last two weeks of life were spent in a warm, caring and dignified environment. At the Hospice suites, Shirley’s name is now listed on a newly installed memorial plaque that invites friends and relatives to honor or memorialize loved ones. “I want people to know that she was there,” says John. Equally important, he adds, is knowing that Hospice care will be there for future patients and families. “It could be anyone in that position,” he concludes. “No one should be overlooked.”
Foundation Board of Trustees Scott Sharpe Chair Kitty Edler Vice Chair Althea Halchuck Secretary Gary S. Kuwahara, CPA Treasurer Bruce Brusavich, Esq. Noreen Miller Neil Siegel Tom Sullivan Terri Warren Mildred Marx Emeritus Trustee Providence TrinityCare Hospice Senior Management Terri Warren, MSW Chief Executive Michael Y. Kawada, MHA Director of Operations and Finance Glen Komatsu, MD Chief Medical Officer, Hospice & Palliative Services Peggy L. Hopkins, RN, BSN, MBA Director of Clinical Services Barbara J. Roberts, MBA Executive Director, TrinityCare Hospice Foundation Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation Barbara J. Roberts, MBA Executive Director Peggy Buker Director of Annual Giving Robin Steen Director of Individual Giving Stephanie Turner Manager of Special Events Cathy Pearlman Administrative Assistant COMPASSION Newsletter Robert Nagler Miller Writer/Editor Dave Gregerson, Gregerson Photography; Brendan Simmons, Simmons Photos Photography Ann Lee, S’Pacific Image Graphic Design
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Message from the Chair of the Board As the new Chair of Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation’s Board of Trustees, I want to take the opportunity at the outset to recognize an exceptional human being, role model, philanthropist and community leader: Jacky Glass, the Foundation’s former Chair. More than demonstrating a phenomenal commitment to Hospice and our mission, Jacky has inspired all of us to reflect upon the meaning of Hospice in our lives and to work in the community to raise awareness about and support for Hospice. Thank you, Jacky, for all that you have done – and continue to do – on behalf of the Foundation. I know that I speak for the entire Board when I say that you have provided us with the strength, motivation and wherewithal to continue to meet our goals, to manage successfully the challenges ahead and to keep in mind those whose lives are uppermost in our minds: our patients and their families. While ambitious and formidable, the goals and challenges for 2010 and beyond are completely realistic. I have every confidence that partnering with you – our friends and supporters in the community – TrinityCare Hospice Foundation’s Board and staff members will be able to meet our expectations… and then some. Over the coming months, we need to: • Meet the growing need in Los Angeles and Orange counties for our programs and services. • Raise funds to assist the increasing number of patients and families without the resources to afford needed care. • Continue to educate friends, neighbors, business associates and others about Hospice’s mission to enhance significantly the lives of our patients and families. • Remain committed to serving as a leader among hospice organizations, offering the highest levels of compassionate, innovative and effective care and sharing our expertise with others. Providence TrinityCare Hospice was among the first organizations of its kind in the country. Many decades down the road, we are still a model agency that others – medical leaders, as well as patients and families – turn to for guidance and inspiration. We have been able to retain our leadership role thanks to our friends’ generosity and appreciation of our services. Thanks so much for your continued support. Over the coming years, I look forward to your active interest, engagement and participation in TrinityCare Hospice’s affairs. Feel free to contact me with your ideas. I welcome your thoughts.
Scott Sharpe Chair of the Board of Trustees Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation
A Graceful Transition:
Former Foundation Board Chair Jacky Glass Assumes New Role After serving many years as Chair of the Board of Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation, Jacky Glass has, with the grace and graciousness for which she is known, seamlessly transitioned into another important position: Community Ambassador. In her new role, Jacky will, among other tasks, serve as a speaker, educator, fundraiser and messenger of goodwill. She will be talking to community, professional and other groups throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties about Hospice’s critical work and continuing to heighten awareness about our vital programs and services. “I was ready for a different challenge,” says Jacky, “and I am starting my new job happily.” ‘Happily’ is perhaps an understatement. Jacky relishes sharing her knowledge about Hospice with everyone she meets. And she infuses her messages about Hospice with a passion and conviction that her audiences – whether they are a physician group in Orange County or a few close friends – find moving and compelling. Only on the job for a few months, Jacky has succeeded in reaching out to people she thought unreachable.
and her late husband, Jerry, had to be enlightened about Hospice. “A friend came to us and asked, ‘Will you have a fundraiser for Hospice?’ We said yes, and then we asked, ‘What’s Hospice?’ Now, not so many people ask that question. It has touched so many lives.” Hospice has touched Jacky and her family personally, having enhanced the final months of her mother’s life. “That’s part of my message,” Jacky explains. “You never think, ‘I’m going to use it’ or ‘My loved ones will need it,’ but it is there for us when we need it.” That message has particular resonance for Jacky’s family. She notes that her immediate family is involved in one way or another with Hospice. “They see how much I care about it,” Jacky notes. “Jacky is an overwhelmingly positive force at Providence TrinityCare Hospice and our Foundation, as well as throughout the community,” says Barbara J. Roberts, Foundation executive director, “and we feel honored and fortunate that she will continue to play a very meaningful role in our organization. We all – particularly our patients and their families – benefit from her work and her philanthropy.”
While she is known these days for her powers of persuasion, Jacky recalls the time – some two decades ago – when she
And the Winner Is... Providence Health & Services President and CEO Dr. John Koster recently presented the Mission Leadership Award recognizing the most outstanding program in the Providence Health & Services system to TrinityKids Care. The reception and award ceremony also included a proclamation by the City of Torrance on behalf of the Mayor, Frank Scotto, in honor of Jacky Glass for her service and dedication to philanthropy in the South Bay and, in particular, to Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation. On hand to celebrate the Mission Leadership Award are from left: Barbara J. Roberts, Executive Director, Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation; Sister Terrence Landini; John Cameron, Chair, Providence TrinityCare Hospice Board of Directors; Dr. Glen Komatsu, Chief Medical Officer, Providence TrinityCare Hospice and TrinityKids Care; Matt Gerlach, former Regional Chief Administrative Officer, Providence Health & Services, California; Dr. John Koster, Chief Executive Officer, Providence Health & Services; Jacky Glass; Michael Hunn, Chief Executive, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, Torrance; Terri Warren, Chief Executive, Providence TrinityCare Hospice; and Arnold Schaffer, Chief Executive and Senior Vice President, Providence Health & Services, California.
Following the award presentation, John Cameron, Chair of Providence TrinityCare Hospice Board of Directors, and Jacky unveiled the new Donor Wall, which is located in Hospice’s lobby. The wall recognizes our friends who, over the course of their giving, have supported the programs of TrinityCare Hospice at the $10,000 level and above. 3
Providence TrinityCare Hospice (PTCH) Foundation is working hard to raise necessary support so that our patients and their families can benefit from the programs and services that they need and that we are honored to provide to them. This season has been even busier than usual. Thanks to the thoughtfulness, generosity and active engagement of many of our friends and supporters throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties, we have held many successful events that have garnered significant donations, attracted both new and longtime friends, and heightened the public’s awareness of the care we provide to thousands of Southern Californians with life-limiting conditions – from newborns to centenarians – as well as to their families. We are happy to offer you snapshots of these most recent events, we thank all who participated in them, and we invite all of you to join us for upcoming PTCH programs. Embassy Dinner Honors Family and Friends Each year, Providence TrinityCare Hospice hosts its Embassy Dinner to recognize our friends for their support throughout the year. This year’s dinner, to be held in April at the Westin Long Beach, will honor the Simmons family: Jack and Wendy, Brendan, Katie and son-in-law, Sal. This caring and dynamic family will be specially recognized for its involvement with and support of Providence TrinityCare Hospice and, specifically, TrinityKids Care. Our keynote speaker is noted author, entertainer and Foundation Trustee Tom Sullivan.
Notes of Hope Renowned vocalist Jeralyn Glass Refeld dazzled an audience of hundreds at her Songs for a Sunday concert this past January at the James Armstrong Theatre in Torrance. Her performance of songs of hope and inspiration was interspersed with narratives from PTCH staff members, who shared first-person accounts of their work at Hospice.
A Giving Tree PTCH staff, friends and corporate sponsors gathered at the Westin Long Beach in December for our annual Light up a Life tree-lighting ceremony and a special performance by the band, Adam’s Attic. Hosted by the Westin Long Beach, many guests enjoyed fabulous wine and appetizers and placed stars on the tree in memory of loved ones.
Cristophe Cares for Families Last November, Beverly Hills-based Cristophe Salon sponsored a day of beauty for TrinityKids Care. Mothers and other family members whose children receive Hospice services enjoyed complimentary makeovers by Cristophe’s stylists, colorists, manicurists and other beauty experts. Thank you, Cristophe, for providing this thoughtful and generous service.
Photos top to bottom: 1. Jack and Wendy Simmons, 2010 Embassy Dinner honorees 2. Jeralyn Glass Refeld 3. Jacky Glass, Jamie and Randy Born and Ann La Franchi at Light Up A Life 4. A day of beauty at Cristophe Salon
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Glorious Food and Fabulous Wine Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation’s 19th annual fine-food-and-wine event, Sunday by the Sea, was held this past September at the lovely seaside home of Carolyn and Julian Elliott. More than 700 guests enjoyed the best in gourmet edibles and libations, bid on fabulous live and silent auction items, listened to live music and enjoyed the company of friends and neighbors. More than 60 restaurants and wineries took part, and approximately $200,000 was raised to support PTCH programs and services. Mark your calendars for our very special 20th Annual Sunday by the Sea on September 26, 2:00 - 5:00 pm.
Night of Art and Hope PTCH friends enjoyed hands-on art activities, good food and live entertainment at our Night of Art and Hope, a partnership between TrinityKids Care and Fox Sports’ FOXy Ladies. The August event, hosted by the Los Angeles Art Association’s Gallery 825, benefited the youngsters served by TrinityKids Care and their families.
Good Time Had by All This past November, giddy girls, mothers, fathers, grandparents and friends had a blast at the TrinityKids Care FUNdraiser at American Girl PlaceLos Angeles chaired by Trustees Noreen Miller and Kitty Edler and sponsored by City National Bank. Everyone enjoyed crafts, food, informal modeling, shopping and other fun activities. American Girl Place-Los Angeles donated a portion of the shopping proceeds to TrinityKids Care.
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A New Face at Providence TrinityCare Hospice
Peggy L. Hopkins, RN, BSN, MBA Director of Clinical Services Providence TrinityCare Hospice welcomes to our senior management team longtime home health and hospice administrator Peggy L. Hopkins, who became our Director of Clinical Services this past January. Peggy brings to our organization vast experience in the home care and hospice sectors, having served as the executive director of the Hospice of the North Coast in Carlsbad, Calif.; the vice president of operations of Amedisys Home Care, Inc. in Baton Rouge, La.; the administrator of CareSouth Home Health in Augusta, Ga.; and the area administrator of home health/hospice for Kaiser Permanente in Pasadena, Calif. “Providence TrinityCare Hospice is a wonderful cultural fit for me,” observes Peggy. “The staff here is amazing. We care about people and how they live their lives, irrespective of their ability to pay for services. Our Foundation works hard to help those who have less.”
“We care about people and how they live their lives, irrespective of their ability to pay for services.”
Beyond the high level of compassion, Peggy was drawn to Providence TrinityCare Hospice by our superior standard of care. She notes that the organization has consistently received high grades from accrediting agencies, as well as from patients, families and referring physicians, and she says that one of her goals is to ensure that “we continue to exceed the expectations set forth by the state.” Peggy says that her professional success was largely informed by her upbringing. “I come from a large Montana family,” she recounts. “My dad acted as a coach, and my siblings and I were always a part of a team. I learned how to lead and to follow.” Peggy is now passing on her family’s values to the next generation. Her only child, a daughter, is currently completing her nursing studies. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Montana State University, Peggy earned her MBA from the University of Redlands. She first entered the home health and hospice field 15 years ago, when she began working for the Hemet, California-based Ramona Visiting Nurses Association and Hospice – first as a program development manager, later as its president/chief executive officer. A Montanan through and through, Peggy loves the great outdoors, including kayaking and canoeing. She also enjoys oil painting, and is active in the Episcopal Church. “Peggy is an incredibly accomplished professional, and we are most fortunate to have her as a member of our team,” says Terri Warren, executive director of Providence TrinityCare Hospice. “We look forward to working with her to advance our mission and to ensure that our patients and families continue to enjoy the very highest levels of care.”
Precious Silver to Benefit Precious Ones The TrinityCare Hospice Angel and TrinityCare Hospice Bear, two exquisite pieces of pure silver jewelry, were unveiled at a recent reception at Colleen Berg Jewelry in Hermosa Beach. Inspired by renderings from artist Vivien Nguyen, Colleen has created these unique pendants, which can be ordered as necklaces, pins or charms at $95 each. Each pendant can be personalized and more than half of each sale – $50 – will directly benefit TrinityKids Care. To order online, go to www.colleenberg.com. 6 compassion | SPRING 2010
Community and Hospice Leader
ScOTT SHARPE Foundation Board Chair Scott Sharpe, who has given generously of his time, talent and resources to Providence TrinityCare Hospice for almost two decades, has assumed the chairmanship of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. First a Board member in the early 1990s, Scott left to take a company assignment out of Los Angeles. He returned to the Board in 2006 and is now in his second term. Scott credits his involvement with Hospice to his and his wife’s association with outgoing Board chair, Jacky Glass, and her late husband, Jerry. His wife, Janet, is also a former Board member, and both Sharpes have taken an active role in Providence TrinityCare Hospice’s affairs. Among recent activities, Scott has served as committee chair of the Providence Little Company of Mary golf tournament. As an ambassador for Hospice in the greater community, Scott says, “I always keep the organization in mind, wherever I go, to whomever I speak.” In his capacity as a civic leader in the Peninsula and South Bay communities – Scott has also served on the boards of Providence Little Company of Mary Health Foundation and the El Segundo Educational Foundation – he always seeks opportunities to talk about the significant role that Providence TrinityCare Hospice plays in the lives of many individuals and families. He is often invited to local organizations, such as the Rotary Club, to share his expertise about Hospice, and he is always eager to do so. “I tell people that TrinityCare Hospice is a unique organization,” Scott remarks. “I emphasize life and living, not death and dying, and our ability to make people comfortable in their final days.” Scott’s messages to his audiences come from a deeply personal place. His mother, who died in 2005, benefited from TrinityCare Hospice’s care for about six months. His mother-in-law, who lived in Florida, also received local hospice care toward the end of her life. Scott and Janet have lived on the Peninsula for more than three decades. Their two daughters attended Palos Verdes High School. A native of West Hempstead, N.Y., on Long Island, Scott graduated from the University of Maryland and enjoyed a productive career in computer technology for 36 years. In 2001, he retired from Computer Sciences Corporation, where he served in many management roles, including corporate vice president of human resources.
“I emphasize life and living, not death and dying, and our ability to make people comfortable in their final days.”
“I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Scott,” says Barbara J. Roberts, executive director of Providence TrinityCare Hospice Foundation, “and I, along with the entire Foundation Board, look forward to the leadership he will bring to his new Board role.”
Thank You
Rotary Club Del Amo... For selecting TrinityKids Care as its charity of choice to receive proceeds from the Charity Comedy Show and Dinner, held on Friday, March 27, 2009, at The Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach. The event raised $10,000 for TrinityKids Care, the only dedicated pediatric hospice program for infants, children and adolescents with life-limiting illnesses and their families in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Dancing on the Wings of Nature
Thursday, April 29, and Saturday, May 1 Each year, Las Candalistas selects charities to benefit from its spring festival. Last year’s festival raised $10,000 for TrinityKids Care and another $2,500 for The Gathering Place. For the second year in a row, TrinityKids Care was chosen as one of the beneficiaries. The 41st Annual Walk on the Wild Side Spring Festival, Dancing on the Wings of Nature, will be held at the Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall Grounds. For tickets or more information, contact Las Candalistas at www.lascandalistas.org or 310-798-7499. 7
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Whole Foods Provides Generous Bounty On February 10, Providence TrinityCare Hospice received a cornucopia of sorts from a local grocery store. Whole Foods Market, Torrance, donated five percent of its entire day’s net sales to Hospice to benefit our patients and their families. We appreciate Whole Foods’ thoughtful and generous gift. “Whole Foods Market in Torrance is extremely proud to have partnered with TrinityCare Hospice in one of our 5% Community Giving Days. We strive to make a difference in our community and having TrinityCare Hospice as the recipient of our 5% Day seemed like a natural fit!” stated Sandra Hepworth, Marketing Supervisor, Whole Foods Market, Torrance.
TrinityKids Care Thanks Providence Health & Services 1st Annual Providence Cup Golf Tournament Honors TrinityKids Care
Providence Little Company of Mary Torrance Honors Physicians
The five hospitals in the Providence Southern California region teamed together last fall for their first annual Providence Cup Golf Tournament. Holy Cross Medical Center, Saint Joseph Medical Center, Tarzana Medical Center, and Little Company of Mary Medical Centers in Torrance and San Pedro each donated $2,000 to play and sent a foursome of executives, physicians and trustees for a fun day on the links. A total of $10,000 was given to TrinityKids Care, the only dedicated pediatric hospice program serving all of Los Angeles and Orange counties.
In celebration of Doctor’s Day and in gratitude to its physicians for their dedicated care of their patients, Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center, Torrance, has donated $10,000 in their names to TrinityKids Care. A special thanks to Michael Hunn, Chief Executive Officer; Dr. Lanny Eason, Chief Medical Officer; and our own Jacky Glass for spearheading this effort.