SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA, December 27, 2011 - William “Bill” Hooper, President of the Kiwanis Family House Board of Directors, today announced that Gary Christensen has been named Interim House Director of the Kiwanis Family House effective January 1, 2012. In his new role, Mr. Christensen will be responsible for the daily operations of the Kiwanis Family House, including oversight of the facility, staff, and guest services. Mr. Christensen will retain his current volunteer position as Development Director as he takes on these additional responsibilities.
A long-standing member of the East Sacramento-Midtown Kiwanis club, Mr. Christensen has served as a Past Board President of the Kiwanis Family House from 2002 to 2005, and was instrumental in leading the capital campaign which successfully raised the funds needed to build the current Kiwanis Family House on the campus of the UC Davis Medical Center, which opened in July of 2006. As the volunteer Development Director, Mr. Christensen has continued to provide fundraising and operational support to help insure the future success of the Kiwanis Family House.
Mauda Butte, currently House Director, will take on the role of Guest Relations Coordinator beginning January 1, 2012. In this new role, Ms. Butte will be responsible for ensuring that guests of the Kiwanis Family House receive needed services and support during their stay. Ms. Butte is a longtime member of two Kiwanis Clubs, Sacramento West and KFH, and is a former Lt. Governor for Kiwanis Division 7.
The Kiwanis Family House is dedicated to providing temporary housing and support to families of seriously ill or injured children and adults being treated at UC Davis Medical Center and Shriners Hospital in Sacramento. Originally opened on July 23, 1984, the Kiwanis Family House was built through the efforts of many Kiwanis club volunteers from the Sacramento area in response to the urgent need for temporary housing for families of pediatric patients at the UC Davis Children’s hospital in Sacramento.
The search for a permanent House Director will begin shortly.