Jonathan Cottor is the proud dad of a son diagnosed at 9 months with Spinal Muscular Atrophy and who lived an incredible life until his death at 17 years (Dec. 2018). He and his wife co-founded a successful freestanding pediatric respite, palliative, and hospice care home in Phoenix (Ryan House). After a 30-year corporate marketing and leadership career, Ryan’s death became the tipping point for his decision to pivot fully to his heart. He earned an MPH at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with emphasis in policy and advocacy, and a certificate in Maternal and Child Health. Jonathan has been a national thought-leader involved with a “Like House” informal growing coalition of existing and emerging community-based pediatric palliative care Home models and is leading the national team operations.

Jennifer Blankenship brings her skills and 10+ years of experience as a business administrator, another 20 years in various admin support roles, a certification in Salesforce/CRM and a PMP, to oversee NCPPCH's donor database and help assure our organization runs smoothly. Jennifer earned her Bachelors Degree in Animal Sciences from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Western International University.  She is a proud mother to a son who graduated college with a computer engineering degree. While she is new to the pediatric palliative care space, she is excited to learn and assist in this endeavor. Jennifer is a “big sister” to a “little sister” in the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization.  Born and raised in Arizona, she rides her horse often and has a small zoo at home including a ferret, 2 dogs, several chickens, a robo hamsters and some fish. 

Chelsie Nichole is an Atlanta-based development professional with nearly 30 years of experience supporting nonprofit organizations as a volunteer, consultant, and team member, primarily in special needs, disability, and wellness spaces. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Linguistics while serving in the U.S. Army as an Arabic Linguist, where she met her husband, and later received a BFA in Design and Marketing from AIA.

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Chelsie is the mother of six, including her medically complex and fiercely joyful 7-year-old daughter, Rosie, whose genetic condition, Pfeiffer Syndrome, has required more than 30 surgeries. Her lived experience as a caregiver deeply informs her passion and commitment to this community.

Chelsie brings extensive expertise in donor cultivation, fundraising, events, grants, and stewardship. She joins NCPPCH eager to expand its national reach, raise awareness, and advocate for families navigating the lack of resources and qualified care through policy and systems change.

Corey Corrigan brings more than 14 years of management consulting experience, working with more than 150 companies to drive growth through data analytics, technology, and strategic problem-solving. She has extensive experience managing complex initiatives and collaborating with leaders across organizations of all sizes.

Corey’s passion for pediatric palliative care is deeply personal. She is the mother of Harper, her six-year-old daughter who has lissencephaly, a life-limiting condition, and is tracheostomy and ventilator dependent. Living in the Philadelphia area and experiencing firsthand the lack of community-based respite options available to families like hers, Corey became determined to help change that reality.

In addition to volunteering her professional expertise as Project Manager with NCPPCH, Corey is the founder of Harper’s Haven, an emerging pediatric respite and palliative care home initiative in the Philadelphia area and part of the Children’s Respite Homes of America network.

Danielle brings experience at the intersection of healthcare, bereavement support, and nonprofit development. She holds a bachelor’s degree with additional training in bereavement care and clinical pastoral education, and has worked alongside healthcare professionals, nonprofit leaders, and community partners to strengthen family-centered care through education, advocacy, and sustainable funding. She previously founded and led a nonprofit organization for six years, giving her firsthand insight into mission-driven leadership.

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A mother of four boys, Danielle’s professional work and lived experience fuel her commitment to supporting children and families navigating serious illness, loss, and complex care journeys. Inspired by a visit to Ryan House in 2024, she is honored to support NCPPCH’s mission and help expand access to pediatric palliative care nationwide.

Cade Ellsworth is a web developer and digital jack-of-all-trades. He received a certificate in full stack web development from the University of Arizona. Cade maintains the Children’s Respite Homes of America’s website. He also helps to run ads and keeps an eye on site analytics. Cade brings a unique perspective, having stayed at Ryan House many times as a kid, and is passionate about seeing more care homes bless family’s lives across the United States. He enjoys Star Wars, collecting LEGO sets, and diving into an epic fantasy novel. 

Logan Jamieson has been a Pediatric Hospice advocate for the past 8 years and learned of this specific need during his time  as a Multi-level Nursing Home Administrator.  Licensed in Maine and having grown up in the hotel and hospitality industry, Logan's passion involves creating a safe space for others.  During his educational pursuits, Logan earned a B.S. in Gerontology, a B.S. in Healthcare Management, and a Master's in Health Administration.  Professionally, Logan has held executive level leadership positions in the commercial real-estate industry, at senior living facilities, and in the healthcare technology sector.   

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Kris Jacober recently retired after 12 1/2 years as Executive Director for the Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation. Her professional career began as a public relations and communications specialist, leveraging her degree in journalism from the Univeristy of Michigan. Kris's daughter is a pediatric oncology nurse, sparking her passion for getting involved with pediatric palliative care change in the U.S.

Aaron Blitz has a passion for books, as in Quickbooks, along with his lived experiences that fuel his interest in giving back in support of children with special health care needs and their families. He graduated from Arizona State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Statistics and set off on a path in bookkeeping, payroll, and tax preparation for a range of clients. Aaron's knowledge and skills are valuable in helping assure NCPPCH forms solid financial policies and procedures for our successful evolution.  

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Megan was given the vision for Rays for Rare (formerly Corwyn’s Cause) in 2016 after experiencing the loss of her medically fragile son Corwyn. Her son Corwyn was born with a rare brain malformation, which had a catastrophic effect on his health. After Corwyn passed away at home, Megan decided to bring uplifting support to medically fragile children and their families. She has found this population to be the most underserved in our curative culture and has brought together a unified voice to advocate for pediatric palliative care, hospice and better policies. She currently serves on the Children’s Palliative Advisory Council at St. Luke’s Children's Hospital as well as shares her message at speaking engagements to further awareness. In 2019 she ended her 15 year career as a top producer in the real estate industry to become the President and CEO of Rays for Rare. Her career in real estate and previous experience in corporate management give her a dynamic skill set to further and grow this multifaceted organization.

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https://www.raysforrare.org/

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Genny Jessee is the executive director of the June Jessee Memorial Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing relief and support to children with devastating medically complex, neurological conditions and their families, offering resources, services, and connections to help make their lives easier. She and her husband, Matt Jessee, founded the JJMF in 2016 in honor of their brave daughter, June Jessee, who fearlessly faced the multiple, life-limiting conditions she endured. Previously, Genny held public relations and communication positions for leading agencies in Washington, D.C. She is the mom of two young boys and enjoys spending time with her family, journaling, exercising, needlepointing, reading, and binge watching her favorite TV shows.

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https://junejessee.org/

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