Michelle's Place will honor its executive director at open house

Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center in Temecula is planning an open house-style celebration to honor Kim Gerrish, the nonprofit’s executive director, for her 20 years of leadership.

The event will be held noon-3 p.m. Feb. 2 at Michelle’s Place, 41669 Winchester Road, Suite 101, Temecula.

Gerrish, who grew up in San Diego, graduated from San Diego State University

with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in marketing. In 2000, she moved to Temecula, where she raised her three daughters.

“It has been an honor and pleasure to watch as Kim has grown into the leadership role of executive director for Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center,” Jan Geller, executive board president, said in a news release.

“I admire Kim not just because of what a great person Kim is but also because of the positive energy she radiates. Kim is loyal to her values and ethics, impacting all the people we serve at Michelle’s Place and all that know and love her,” Geller said.

Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that was founded in 2001 as a breast cancer resource center. In 2018 the organization expanded to serve people with a diagnosis of any kind of cancer.

Michelle’s Place now serves about 2,300 cancer patients in San Bernardino, Riverside and north San Diego counties with more than 14,000 free resources annually, according to the news release. All programs and services are free.

Founders of Michelle’s Place are Bill and Marilyn Watson whose daughter Michelle Watson died of breast cancer in 2000 at the age of 26, according to the organization’s website.

For information about Michelle’s Place, call 951-6995455 or go to michellesplace. org.