Terri Gutierrez

Terri Gutierrez is the Executive Director of Friends of Hospice San Antonio which started as a non-profit in 1991 to raise money for uninsured hospice patients when they received a terminal diagnosis. At that time, hospice was a new concept where a team of professionals, including a Doctor, a Nurse, a Social Worker, Chaplain and volunteers would coordinate care to ensure a patient could face end-of-life in dignity, support and comfort.

32 years later, there are over 200 hospices in San Antonio providing end-of-life care, which is normally paid for through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Some people do not have insurance when they receive a terminal diagnosis and that is where Friends of Hospice comes in.

We raise over $150,000 each year to provide uninsured hospice and education to San Antonio through CHRISTUS VNA Hospice. We raise funds through our yearly membership drive, fundraising events and support from foundations and community grants. Our members are a community of 300+ San Antonio residents that believe in the value of hospice and want to help uninsured families.