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2018 Healthcare Hero Spotlight: Rick Doremus

Rick Doremus, Home of Guiding Hands volunteer

Rick Doremus has served since 1995 as a board member for the Home of Guiding Hands (HGH), an El Cajon-based nonprofit that provides services, training and advocacy to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities and their families.

HGH representatives estimate that Rick has contributed well over 5,000 hours in volunteer time to support HGH in carrying out its mission. For Rick, volunteerism has been a theme throughout his whole life.

“A neighbor in San Carlos introduced us to Home of Guiding Hands and we fell in love with the people and the mission,” said Rick. “I grew up in Suffern, New York, in a community where everybody volunteered for something. My dad was a volunteer fireman and so was I.”

Over the past 20 years, HGH has benefited from Rick’s business acumen and leadership. He played a key role in hiring current HGH president and CEO Mark Klaus. While serving on the board, he has held every executive committee position and has served on several committees.

Rick was also involved in recruiting the involvement of Randy Jones, a former San Diego Padres pitcher and the franchise’s first National League Cy Young award winner. For the past eight years, Jones has served as the ambassador for the Randy Jones 5k Run-Walk for Independence that’s named in his honor. Over the years, Rick and his wife Mary have also worked together to organize several HGH “Hand and Heart Gala” fundraisers.

Rick is a retired airline industry executive, having managed operations at several airports across the country. He and Mary live in San Carlos and have two sons. In addition to serving HGH, they are active members of the San Carlos United Methodist Church, where Rick serves as president of the church’s Board of Trustees. Rick has also been a member of the El Cajon Elks Lodge #1812 for the past 37 years.

Grossmont Healthcare District holds an annual awards event to recognize front-line volunteer caregivers and other individuals like Rick who improve health and quality of life for East Region residents. Nominated by their peers, honorees are considered as true unsung heroes of healthcare whose day-in and day-out work might not otherwise be celebrated. For more information on criteria, nomination deadlines, and more, visit our Healthcare Heroes special events page.

 

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