Dear George Mark Children’s House Community,
Our annual letter is written, as always, with thoughtful reflection on the year just completed and 
enthusiasm for the year to come. It is ever a privilege to share our undertakings and accomplishments 
with each of you, our greater GMCH community: families, staff, donors, volunteers, and friends. This 
update is also authored with an abiding sense of gratitude. At the heart of this work is a community that 
believes every child deserves comfort, dignity, and compassionate care, no matter the circumstances. 
As Roman philosopher Seneca so wisely conveyed, “Wherever there is a human being, there is an 
opportunity for kindness.” Because of your generosity, our families are met not only with medical 
support, but also with presence, understanding, and hope in the moments that matter most. You make it 
possible for our team to walk alongside children, young adults, and their families with kindness and 
respect. We are so appreciative of your trust, partnership, and continued belief in the importance of the 
work that we do.
2025 marked the beginning of the third decade that GMCH has been providing exceptional palliative 
care. It also represented the first sector of our three-year strategy, focused on ensuring that more 
children and families have access to the compassionate care they deserve. The essence of our services, 
which is embodied in our comprehensive, holistic approach, addresses the individual needs of every 
patient as well as those of family and caregivers. We provided invaluable nurturing to 400 families 
throughout the year, a ten percent increase over last year’s census. In California and beyond, our staff 
and board members proudly represented GMCH at conferences, symposiums, community events, 
fundraisers, and at universities across the country. We hope you appreciate learning more about us from 
the stories and features in this report. Our staff genuinely enjoyed sharing them with you.
It continues to be our honor to welcome new, as well as returning, faces into our patient and family 
community. Every person for whom we care leaves an indelible impact on all of us at George Mark 
Children’s House. Thank you, supporters near and far, who graciously empower our mission and fuel 
our momentum. Helen Keller captured the importance of each of you when she said, “Alone we can
do so little. Together we can do so much.”
A warm thank you,
Shekinah Eliassen
CEO and Bereaved Mom
Dr. Kathy Hull
Founder
GMCH Annual Report | 2025
4

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.