Solari Hospice Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides vital bereavement assistance to grieving children and families, is pleased to announce the appointment of its first Board of Directors.

“We’re excited to have the combined talents of so many outstanding community leaders, who are each experts in their respective business fields,” says Jamie Muth, executive director, Solari Hospice Foundation. “Our Board of Directors will oversee the strategic direction of the Foundation as we expand the number of grief camps, programs and services we provide, and also spearhead our fundraising efforts to private and corporate donors. With the Board’s guidance, I feel confident that we can reach out and help even more young people who are desperately struggling to deal with loss.”

Gary W. Polsky, founder of Solari Hospice Foundation, serves as president of the Board. Currently, Polsky is also president and chief executive officer of Solari Hospice Care, which is headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., and provides trusted, compassionate care to hospice patients and families in Houston, Tex., and Las Vegas, Nev. Polsky’s diverse healthcare leadership experience includes executive positions with Critical Care America, Summit Health and Humana, Inc.

Ralph Fern, owner of Homewatch Caregivers, spent 25 years in sales and marketing for Levi Strauss & Co. as a national account executive selling to major retailers domestically. He was part of a strategic team that forecasted short- and long-term integrated sales and marketing plans. For the past eight years, Fern and his brother have partnered to operate Homewatch Caregivers and establish their business as Arizona’s premiere provider in homecare services. Fern also currently serves on the Banner Community Advisory Board.

Steve Glucksman has more than three decades of experience in providing employers with employee benefit packages to meet their needs. His experience encompasses alternative funded programs, advanced underwriting and solid carrier negotiations. Prior to forming Glucksman Group, Inc., he was an account executive for a major brokerage firm and an insurance carrier representative for an international company. Glucksman is also past president of the Arizona Association of Health Underwriters (AAHU); past president of GPAHU (Greater Phoenix); 1993 National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) Merit Award recipient; a member of National Association of Life Underwriters; a member of Association of Health Insurance Agents; Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow (LUTCF); Life Fiesta Bowl committee member; and Board of Director’s member for Phoenix Girls Chorus 2004-2010.

Rick Katz is vice president of Statewide Insurance Corp., where he specializes in finance marketing, new product development and technology vendor relations. Katz has been heavily involved in the community through his volunteer work with Happily Ever After League, Project Graduation and numerous school fundraisers over the years.

Bill Loutos is founder of Loutos Consulting, PC. He spent nine years as a senior tax manager at Deloitte & Touche. Bill specializes in tax planning for closely held entities and their owners and employee benefits. He also has experience in tax planning for individuals, closely held corporations and partnerships, trusts and estates. Bill’s professional accolades include membership in both the Arizona and Illinois Bar Association and serving as former president of the Phoenix Chapter of University of Illinois Alumni Association.

For more information on Solari Hospice Foundation, visit Solari Hospice Foundation’s website at solarihospicefoundation.org.