News

Community Hospice Foundation Announces New Board Members

April 6, 2023

MODESTO, CA (March 29, 2023) – Community Hospice, the oldest and largest nonprofit hospice provider serving the Central Valley, is pleased to announce its new Community Hospice and Community Hospice Foundation Board Members.

Joining the Community Hospice Board of Directors is Mr. David P. Benn. Mr. Benn retired in 2016 from Sutter Health where he most recently served as the Regional President for the Central Valley. Prior to his Regional President position, he served as the Chief Executive Officer, among other roles, for Memorial Medical Center in Modesto. During his healthcare career of nearly 40 years, he was accountable for operations, long range strategy, leading growth, affordability, quality, service integration and community responsiveness.

Joining the Community Hospice Foundation Board of Directors is Mrs. Deborah Kidwell-Grayson, retired Assistant Store Manager for JC Penney Co. and Ms. Veronica Napier, retired Hospital Compliance Officer for Tenet Healthcare and Memorial Medical Center. Mrs. Grayson worked at JC Penney Co. for 30 years demonstrating great leadership and customer service. She was honored several times for her dedication and leadership, receiving recognition on multiple occasions for top campaign performance. Ms. Napier has more than 25 years’ combined experience working with Medical Group, Hospital, Health Plan and Foundation entities. She has extensive experience in healthcare compliance, operations, finance and administration.

“We are very excited to welcome our recently appointed Community Hospice, Inc. and Community Hospice Foundation Board Members,” said Alisa Bettis, Community Hospice President/CEO. “As we continue to meet the evolving needs of those in our community, we look forward to working alongside our new Board Members that can lend their leadership and expertise in helping us provide compassionate and quality care to our community residents and their providers. We are very grateful they have chosen to share their time and talents with us.”

The Community Hospice and Community Hospice Foundation Board of Directors is comprised of community volunteers who provide strategic oversight and governance to the organization’s mission to embrace individuals and families facing life-changing journeys, enhancing quality of life for all.

About Community Hospice

Community Hospice is the largest and oldest nonprofit hospice agency in the Central Valley. Serving the community since 1979, Community Hospice has cared for thousands of friends and neighbors in their time of need providing hospice and palliative care services. Care extends to over 2,000 patients each year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities, retirement communities and at the 16-bed inpatient Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice also provides grief and mental health support services through Hope Counseling. For more information, please call 209.578.6300 or visit hospiceheart.org.

About Community Hospice Foundation

The Community Hospice Foundation is a charitable organization established in 2001 to raise funds and awareness for Community Hospice.

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Kristin Mostowski 209.402.5154

Kristin.mostowski@hospiceheart

Light Up A Life 2022

December 5, 2022

On December 4, 2022, the Friends of Community Hospice celebrated the 37th Annual Light Up A Life Tree Lighting event held at Sutter Health Memorial Medical Center. Community members joined us for this special evening to honor loved ones that live in our hearts and celebrate the light they brought to our lives. To learn more about Light Up A Life, call the Community Hospice Foundation at 209.578.6370.

Community Hospice Announces New President/Chief Executive Officer Alisa Bettis

August 24, 2022

MODESTO, CA (August 24, 2022) – Community Hospice, Inc., the Central Valley’s oldest and largest nonprofit hospice and community-based palliative care provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Alisa Bettis as the organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer effective September 6, 2022. Ms. Bettis replaces C. DeSha McLeod, Community Hospice’s President/CEO, who resigned after eight years in October of 2021, and John E. Renner, Director of Logistics and Operations who has served as the Interim President/CEO.

“We welcome Alisa to the Community Hospice family,” shared Susan Donker, Community Hospice Board of Directors Chair. “Her background in clinical operations, quality and planning and compliance, along with her compassionate character, will play a pivotal role as we extend our excellent care to more families in need.”

Ms. Bettis has been employed the past six years as the Associate Director for the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency. In her current role, she managed a $60 million annual budget, 500 employees, 55,000 patient visits a year, clinical operations for family medicine, multispecialty, physical rehabilitation, and urgent care clinics. Prior to her position with the county, Alisa worked in leadership roles at both Bloss Memorial Healthcare District/Castle Family Health Centers and Kaiser Permanente.

“We are thrilled to have Alisa join Community Hospice and feel she is a perfect complement to our Leadership team and Community Hospice family,” said John E. Renner, Interim President/CEO. “Her invaluable background and experiences will support our staff and most importantly, help us better serve our patients and their families.”

“I am very excited to join Community Hospice and its excellent team. For more than 40 years, Community Hospice has grown from an inspired idea by two registered nurses to a respected and leading provider of vital service for those with serious and life-limiting illness in the Central Valley area,” said Ms. Bettis. “I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to work with the dedicated Community Hospice and Foundation Boards, volunteers and incredibly talented healthcare professionals and staff.”

Ms. Bettis holds a Bachelor’s degree from California State University Sacramento, in Health Sciences with a concentration in Healthcare Administration and Community Health Education and a Master’s of Business Administration from California State University Stanislaus. She is also a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality, Healthcare Accreditation, Healthcare Compliance and Lean Healthcare Trained.

About Community Hospice

Community Hospice is a nonprofit, community-based hospice agency, serving the Central Valley since 1979. Community Hospice embraces individuals and families facing life-changing journeys, enhancing quality of life for all. Care extends to over 2,000 patients and families every year in private homes, skilled nursing facilities and at the sixteen-room Alexander Cohen Hospice House. Community Hospice also provides palliative care, grief and mental health support. For more information, please call 209.578.6300 or visit give.hospiceheart.org.

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Contact

Kristin Mostowski 209.402.5154

Kristin.mostowski@hospiceheart