San Diego Hospice Volunteer Honored as a 2012 Combined Health Agencies (CHAD) “Volunteer of the Year”
North County resident and honoree Lisa Espiritu is an eight-year volunteer with San Diego Hospice
San Diego, California – San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine [2] congratulates Lisa Espiritu, a volunteer with the nonprofit organization for eight years, for being selected as a Combined Health Agencies (CHAD) 2012 Volunteer of the Year. Each year, organizations that are part of CHAD select an outstanding volunteer who has given freely of their time, talent, and resources to improve the health and well being of the clients they serve. Lisa and other awardees were honored at a special event held at the Hall of Champions in Balboa Park.
“Lisa’s dedication to San Diego Hospice is truly inspiring,” said Kim Heinrichs, Executive Director of San Diego Hospice’s Volunteer Resources [3]. “After the death of her husband twelve years ago, Lisa and her two sons participated in San Diego Hospice’s bereavement services. Lisa credits the grief support [4] programs in helping her and her sons carve out a healthy path for grieving and she has pledged to give back to our organization through volunteering, which she has done for the past eight years.”
As a patient care volunteer, Lisa provides companionship and relief to patients and their family caregivers. While she primarily visits patients in the Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, and the Scripps Ranch area, she has visited patients throughout the county, including at San Diego Hospice’s Inpatient Care Center, the only specially licensed hospice-hospital in California.
“I’ve treasured the life stories that I’ve heard, the dedication and love shown by the patients with their families,” said Lisa Espiritu [5], San Diego Hospice volunteer. “Most importantly, I treasure every hand I have had the privilege of holding.”
“Because of our amazing volunteers like Lisa, patients and their loved ones do not have to go through this journey alone,” said Kathleen Pacurar, President and CEO of San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine. “Lisa is a great source of comfort and support to those whose lives she has touched. It is because of Lisa’s commitment and dedication that San Diego Hospice can carry out its mission.”
About San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine
San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine is one of the largest community-owned, not-for-profit hospices in the country, bringing compassionate, expert medical care to more than 1,000 seriously ill adults and children each day throughout San Diego County. In addition, more than 12,000 individuals annually receive grief and loss support through the Center for Grief Care and Education at San Diego Hospice. For more information, visit www.sdhospice.org [2] or call toll-free 866-688-1600. Join our online communities on Facebook [6], Twitter [7], Pinterest [8], Google+ [9], YouTube [10] and The Caregiver’s Corner blog [11].