Joanna Ortega, Director of ICMS & Client-Centered Services at The Catalyst Foundation, passed away recently. Joanna dedicated her entire adult life to community service, working within community-based agencies to support individuals and families facing complex challenges.


Joanna was widely known for her extraordinary compassion, warmth, and unwavering commitment to the people she served. She approached her work with deep empathy and a genuine belief in the potential of every person. Throughout her career, she positively impacted thousands of lives through trauma-informed, client-centered services that emphasized dignity, safety, and hope.


At The Catalyst Foundation, Joanna was not only a respected leader, but also a mentor and role model. She cared deeply for her colleagues and participants alike, and she led by example, showing others what it means to serve with integrity, kindness, and humanity. Her influence helped shape programs and practices that will continue to benefit the community for years to come.


Joanna’s legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched and in the compassion she inspired in others. She will be remembered as an extraordinary human being whose work made the world better.

During this moment of reflection, we at HSH want to emphasize our immense gratitude for the uplifting work all case mangers do each and every day. As you will see in future iterations of The Focus, we are adding a new permanent section to spotlight the outstanding work of nominated case managers. 

Stay tuned for more details on how to nominate a colleague who you feel deserves special recognition for all that they do for our community.