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.
- [email protected]
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 protected]
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 protected]
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 and explore new places
- [email protected]
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
2022 Executive Committee
Sara Nochur – Chair
Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
Volunteer Host
Monica Fisher – Vice Chair
Managing Principal
SEI – Boston, LLC
A Systems Evolution, Inc. Company
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
2022 Board of Directors
Anu Advani
Retired – Elementary School Math Specialist
Brookline Public Schools
Volunteer Host
Rich Allred CFP, CFA, AIF
Partner
Core Wealth Advisory
Christina M. Bergeron
Partner
Corporate Department, Health Care
ROPES & GRAY LLP
Marty E. Ellis
District Sales Manager
Oasis
Nevan Clancy Hanumara PhD
Research Scientist
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Chelsey Huffman
Gastroenterology Nurse
Boston Children’s Hospital
Hospitality Homes Guest
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
Namrata Singhal
Head of Business Development
Delphia
2022 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.