FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Practically Speaking…
If you were to ask my friends and family (and perhaps the team here at End of Life Choices California!) to choose a word or phrase to describe me, they might choose something like matter-of-fact or pragmatic. Ok, fair enough! If that might make working so deeply in the end-of-life space seem a bit odd, allow me to suggest otherwise.
Because what we see every day in speaking with clients, supporting those choosing Medical Aid in Dying, and conducting community presentations, is also largely an issue around planning and preparation: Do you have an Advance Care Directive, have you spoken to your family and physician about your end-of-life wishes, what is the death that you would choose?
All of this begins from a place of practical decision-making that can unlock the emotions that help inform your choice. These processes and conversations help break down the barriers that surround these issues bringing clarity… and comfort. And that’s what I see in our interactions with clients – bringing a practical knowledge-based approach, infused with extreme understanding and empathy for each client’s individual needs.
I was thinking about this when I heard the story of a recent client of ours. As our stellar phoneline volunteer Judith recalled: “I started with him when he had just gotten his cancer diagnosis – he hadn’t even been staged yet. He described himself as pretty much alone in this process – and he did all the leg work of getting enrolled in hospice, right through the battles with reluctant doctors.”
After considering all his options, he decided to proceed with the Medical Aid in Dying option afforded to him under California’s End of Life Option Act, with the support of an EOLCCA volunteer with him at the end.
Just hours before he took the medication, he sent this note to Judith:
I wanted to express my gratitude to you and your organization for helping me through this challenging time. You are the only ones who treated me with the care, compassion, and dedication that I’d been looking for throughout this entire odyssey! You have given me the complete comfort and peace that I have made the right choice.
I couldn’t be prouder working with the team here at EOLCCA. I hope you’ll read on for more about what we’ve been up to.
Mark Greenberg
Executive Director
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WEBSITE NEWS
A New Look
We often hear from people how helpful our website is and how chock full of information, forms, and reading materials it is. We agree! But everything can use a freshen up every now and then.
IN RECOGNITION
Ten Years of MAiD in California
California’s End of Life Option Act was enacted on June 6, 2016 and on June 6, 2026 Executive Director, Mark Greenberg, and
Volunteer Dan Bass, were honored to represent EOLCCA in receiving recognition from Sen. Catherine Blakespear for the organization’s work. From the proclamation:
“…I am proud to honor End of Life Choices California for their profound and compassionate service to Californians navigating one of life’s most deeply personal journeys. By championing individual autonomy, dignity, and access to accurate information, your organization upholds the belief that every person deserves to make informed choices about the end of their own life….”
Thank you, Senator Blakespear, for your unyielding support of choice and autonomy!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Medical Aid in Dying Discussion, Now on YouTube
Last month, we were proud to host our first national webinar “MAiD Coast to Coast” with End of Life Choices New York. We shared information about the history in each state, how the MAiD laws are similar and different, and movingly, heard stories from people who have supported loved ones through the MAiD process.
Special thank you to Founding Board Member Lynne Calkins for sharing the history of EOLCCA (read more about Lynne’s journey here), volunteers Jeff Ifeld and Gia Sandel, and David Timonor and Rabbi Rachel Timoner who shared their father’s story as featured in the documentary Last Flight Home.
FUNDING SPOTLIGHT
Thank you to Forum Charitable Fund!
A huge thank you to the Forum Charitable Fund for their generous grant to fund outreach and services in Cupertino and surrounding communities! We’re excited to expand our services in this area, with a portion of grant funds targeted to increasing awareness of all end-of-life options in the American Asian Pacific Islander community. It all started with a volunteer’s connection to the Forum Rancho San Antonio which led to a presentation from our Speakers Program, which led to an invitation from one of the Fund’s directors to submit a grant, to our submittal and acceptance!
If you are part of a group that would like a presentation or more information, please reach out to us! And to find out more about our upcoming presentations, visit our website’s calendar of events!