Women in Leadership Advisory Member |
Michelle Wulfestieg
Active Term: 01/2023 - 01/2024
Areas of Expertise
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Executive DirectorSouthern California Hospice FoundationTwo-time stroke survivor, award-winning author, motivational speaker, and Executive Director of Southern California Hospice Foundation (SCHF), meeting Michelle Wulfestieg will cause you to believe that anything is possible.
Although half of Michelle’s body remains permanently paralyzed, she has served as Executive Director of SCHF since 2010, growing the organization from a start-up to a multimillion dollar organization. Under Michelle’s Leadership, SCHF has served over 7,000 distinct children and adults across California. The Foundation fills vast socio-economic needs, from helping patients afford groceries or utilities to helping veterans and their doctors navigate the special challenges they face in the final weeks of terminal illness. SCHF also makes fabulous final wishes come true for patients, and Michelle often collaborates with celebrities that have included Harrison Ford, Oprah Winfrey, and Selena Gomez. Most importantly, in 2017 Michelle spearheaded a capital campaign called, “The Heavenly Home,” Orange County’s first nonprofit end-of-life care facility, where the terminally ill can receive 24-hour care. Many patients have nowhere to spend their final days or no family or loved ones who can provide critical care. Opening in 2023, The Heavenly Home will be a place where each patient receives much-needed love, support, and round-the-clock care so that no patient will ever die alone. Michelle has been lauded throughout her distinguished career with a number of awards including Outstanding Founder for Orange County’s 2018 National Philanthropy Day and she was named one of Orange County’s 100 Most Influential in 2019 and 2017 by the Orange County Register. In addition, she has authored an award-winning memoir titled, “All We Have Is Today,” is a multi-award-winning hospice advocate and speaker, and has collaborated on a Showtime docuseries. Michelle deeply believes, where there is a will, there is always a way. |