Chief development officers are relationship builders who find meaningful ways to connect with others who share a passion for our mission and want to partner together to care for their community. They lead strategies to create plans for diverse revenue streams, keep an eye on today’s needs, and focus on sustainability, which requires both analytical skills and creativity. But most importantly, the success of this role comes from putting people at the heart of their work to make a difference. HopeWest’s retiring chief development officer, Deb Horwitz, and her successor, Ruth Frazier, do just that.
As Deb announces her retirement after 15 years with HopeWest, we celebrate her accomplishments. In her tenure, Deb raised nearly $40 million in philanthropic dollars to support the exceptional care provided to each family served. The inspiring teams and dedicated supporters of HopeWest, caring for those facing aging, illness, and grief, fueled Deb’s commitment to ensuring the financial stability of HopeWest programs, many of which would not be possible without philanthropy. Reflecting on her career at HopeWest, Deb acknowledges the many meaningful friendships she’s made through the years that added joy to her purposeful career.
With the help of her dedicated team and volunteers, Deb’s work largely influenced the memorable events and galas held across all service areas. She served as a trusted steward for generous donors and partners, managing their investments, fostering trusting relationships and ensuring their contributions aligned with the missions they care about. She nurtured relationships with families looking for meaningful opportunities to honor their loved ones with memorial gifts to HopeWest. Seeking opportunities to engage with a new generation of philanthropists, Deb even led initiatives for HopeWest to accept donations as stock, donor-advised funds, and cryptocurrency.
As she looks forward to her retirement, Deb ushers in her successor, Ruth Frazier, who is equally committed to the success of HopeWest and the lives impacted.
Ruth, with a heart for caring for people and a mission-focused mindset, instantly recognized HopeWest as an organization she would fully embrace. With nearly 25 years of fundraising experience, most of her work has been in the health and senior care sector, including two large hospices. She recognizes that HopeWest goes above and beyond in each of its programs and service areas, with philanthropy playing a key role in these efforts. Believing that the act of giving is meant to be a joyful experience, she looks forward to helping donors, foundations, and businesses fulfill their philanthropic goals, making a deep and meaningful impact on our community together. Ruth, already welcomed by the warmth and kindness of our teammates, donors, volunteers, and community members, looks forward to participating in this next chapter at HopeWest.