Featured Associate – Jeff Whelan
Hospice organizations and those they serve benefit from Whelan's work.
Jeff Whelan, Vice President Commercial Loans, is chairman of the board and co-founder of Heroes for Hospice, a nonprofit that provides donations to hospice care through an annual 5K run.
He recently presented MidlandCare Connection, Inc., of Topeka and Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care with the 2022 Heroes for Hospice 5K race checks. Each check was for $12,000.
Jeff and co-founder Karli Ritter have a personal reason for starting Heroes for Hospice.
In August 2011, Jeff lost his father, Ward Whelan, to an eight-year battle with cancer. In July 2013 Karli Ritter lost her grandfather, Ken Chandler, after he fought cancer for three years. Both the Whelan and Ritter families were grateful for the hospice care their loved ones had received, so they started a 5K run/walk to benefit the Kansas City and Topeka hospice charities.
Both hospice organizations accept any and all patients regardless of their capacity to pay. Heroes for Hospice has donated $191,000 during the last eight years. The funds help cover the cost of care for those who cannot afford it on their own.
The 2023 Heroes for Hospice 5K is scheduled for June 10.
