One person with compassion and dedication can impact many special lives. Hacienda HealthCare will celebrate its 45th year of service with a special dedication honoring the late Ilene Butler, Friday, June 29, 2012 at 9 a.m. The dedication will be held in the Felipe Gonzales Garden Courtyard at the main location at 1402 E. South Mountain Ave. in Phoenix.

Butler’s legacy started in 1967 when she was told she could not legally adopt children because of her unmarried status. Undeterred by this obstacle, Butler’s compassion and love for children took her down a path where she would become a foster parent for three special needs children who had been abandoned by their families. Seeing how great the need was, Butler took in more children and hired staff to help take care of them. Thus started what is Hacienda HealthCare today. Hacienda specializes in the care of intellectually disabled, medically fragile and chronically ill infants, children, teens, and young adults throughout Arizona. They come to Hacienda because of a near drowning, terrible accident, debilitating disease, child abuse, and a whole host of other tragic events.

CEO, Bill Timmons, will reveal the compelling story of Ilene Butler and Hacienda. Special guest speakers include Arizona Representative Catherine Miranda, Vice Mayor Michael Johnson, and a parent of a near drowning child who had been with Hacienda Healthcare. Drowning is the # 1 cause of death for Arizona children under 5, but for those who survive, what is life like for them and their families? Hear how one parent’s journey brought her to Hacienda. As a member of the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona, Hacienda provides medical care to near drowning victims and continues to campaign for awareness through real life stories of near drowning victims and the life changing impact on their families.

For more information about Hacienda Healthcare or to attend the dedication, please call Sierra Kamela at 602-243-4231 ext 176 or email skamela@haciendahealthcare.org. Visit Hacienda Healthcare at haciendahealthcare.org