About Us
Hospitality Homes supports patient-centered care in Boston, beyond the hospital.
We match out-of-town patients with volunteer host homes and donated apartments, finding patients and their caregivers a place to stay during their medical treatment.
Hospitality Homes serves patients regardless of income level, background, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age or diagnosis. We host people from all over the country and the world, enabling them to receive the care they need – from the medical providers we are so fortunate to have here.
With a deeply rooted history in Boston for more than 35 years, we work tirelessly to improve access to medical treatment by providing a safe harbor in a time of crisis. We are proud to serve as the trusted, go-to connector, providing medical housing for patients treated by doctors, hospitals and health centers throughout the Boston area.
Our History
Founded in 1983, Hospitality Homes was the first program of its kind in the nation. But our story actually begins about 10 years earlier…
In 1973, Doris Jones traveled to Boston to get experimental cancer care for her 18-month-old baby.
When Doris was unable to afford a hotel room for weeks on end, the hospital provided a cot in an empty office building next door.
During her stay, Doris met Boston resident Sue Gracey. Sue was touched by Doris’s plight and, years later when she had space, she began opening her home to patient families. In the meantime, Joan Biggers, a local hospital leader, was also thinking about how to help people like Doris.
In 1983, Joan secured funding to begin The Hospitality Program. Along with Sue and Colin Gracey and the Rev. Jeanne Sproat, she developed a network of volunteers to house visiting family members while their loved ones were in a local hospital. In 2002, the Hospitality Program was renamed Hospitality Homes.
Durfee family, guests since 2017
Staff



DEBORAH J. PEPPER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Joined the organization after four years as a Hospitality Homes Host and still serves as a host today
- Lover of the arts
- 20 years in strategic management, relationship building, leadership
- Influenced by her own family’s volunteerism at an early age.



DENISE V. DUCLOS
VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS
- Native of Chile
- Knows firsthand, as a parent, how important it is for patients and their families to stay together during prolonged hospitalizations
- Mass. Conference for Women 2020 Target Storytellers Contest Winner



JODI B. RISEBERG
DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
- 25 years in advertising
- When her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she realized how incredibly lucky she was to live in Boston where the best medical treatment is available
- Has run 4 Boston Marathons



ALANA B. GRECO
SOCIAL MEDIA AND MARKETING COORDINATOR
- Recent Emmanuel College graduate
- Began as an intern at Hospitality Homes and soon realized her passion for the organization
- Loves to travel and explore new places


HEATHER B. O’NEIL
FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR
- 20+ years as a healthcare product manager.
- Three adult daughters, including twins who spent the first three months of their lives in the NICU.
- Enjoys laughing with family and friends, traveling, biking, the arts, and throwing dinner parties.


JESSICA A. MULLALLY
FAMILY SERVICES COORDINATOR
- Over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry
- A personal connection to our mission when a family member moved to be closer to medical care
- Loves to hike with her dogs, read, and bake
- Fluent in Spanish
Staff



DEBORAH J. PEPPER
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
- Joined the organization after four years as a Hospitality Homes Host and still serves as a host today
- Lover of the arts
- 20 years in strategic management, relationship building, leadership
- Email Debbie



DENISE V. DUCLOS
VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR OF PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS
- Native of Chile
- Knows firsthand, as a parent, how important it is for patients and their families to stay together during prolonged hospitalizations
- Mass. Conference for Women 2020 Target Storytellers Contest Winner
- Email Denise



JODI B. RISEBERG
DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
- 25 years in advertising
- When her daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, she realized how incredibly lucky she was to live in Boston where the best medical treatment is available
- Has run 4 Boston Marathons
- Email Jodi



ALANA B. GRECO
MARKETING AND OUTREACH ASSISTANT
- Recent Emmanuel College graduate
- Began as an intern at Hospitality Homes and soon realized her passion for the organization
- Loves to travel
- Email Alana
2023 Executive Committee


Monica Fisher – Chair
Managing Principal
SEI – Boston, LLC
A Systems Evolution, Inc. Company


Richard Allred – Vice Chair
CFP, CFA, AIF
Partner
Core Wealth Advisory


Marc Volpe – Treasurer
Chief Compliance Officer
PanAgora Asset Management


Leslie Greenfield – Secretary
Retired – Human Resources Professional
Volunteer Host


Kathryn Crist emeritus
Senior Project Lead, Human Resources
Boston Children’s Hospital


Sara Nochur – Immediate Past Chair
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Volunteer Host
2023 Board of Directors
Anu Advani
Retired – Elementary School Math Specialist
Brookline Public Schools
Volunteer Host
Ragu Adinarayanan
Client Services and Account Management Director
Slalom Consulting
Christina M. Bergeron
Partner
Corporate Department, Health Care
ROPES & GRAY LLP
Chelsey Huffman
Gastroenterology Nurse
Boston Children’s Hospital
Hospitality Homes Guest
Nevan Clancy Hanumara PhD
Research Scientist
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Peter Barkan
CEO
The Barkan Companies
Robert Ettinger CPA
Corporate Controller
Putnam Investments
Kaarkuzhali Babu Krishnamurthy MD, MBE
System Director of Epilepsy and Ethics Associate, Steward Medical Group
Chair, Ethics Committee, St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center
Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Monica Lussier MBA, PMP
Senior Director, Business Operations
ICE Fixed Income & Data Services
Sinead Oliver
Material Program Manager
Raytheon Corporation
MBA Candidate, Northeastern University
Judy E. Paradis
Realtor
Compass-Chobee Hoy Group
Uma Kaundinya
Advisor, Corporate Strategy and Entrepreneur
Biotech Industry
2023 Committee Members
Finance and Investment Committee
Tamiriashe (Tami) K. Gambiza CPA
Senior Audit Manager
CohnReznick
Financials
Hospitality Homes relies on donor support to make housing matches and foster a community of hosts. View our IRS 990 and audited financial statements.