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For Immediate Release - June 29, 2006

Community Hospice Announces New Board Members

JACKSONVILLE, Florida - Community Hospice of Northeast Florida announces the following additions to its Board of Directors:

Jill K. Buie is community relations manager for Orange Park Medical Center where she promotes wellness programs to local businesses and the community through health education seminars and screenings. Buie is active in many community service projects. She has maintained memberships and board positions in several organizations, including Clay Women in Business, the Clay County Health Department's Healthy Family/Healthy Kids program, First Coast Family and Shepherd's Center of Orange Park. Buie has served as president of the Wellness Council of Florida, chair of the Health Academy at Orange Park High School and chair of the Healthy Clay County Initiative. She is active in the Clay County Chamber of Commerce's Economic Council. In 2003, Buie was honored with the American Cancer Society - Clay Division's Hope Award for her community work with cancer prevention education. She received a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from the University of South Florida. Buie and her husband live in Mandarin.

Vera Cruse is a retired registered nurse. Cruse is actively involved in several community service projects for Shands/UF both past and present. She served on the Institutional Review Board and presently serves on the Jacksonville Community Advisory Committee for Shands/UF. Cruse also participates in Shands/UF's Shop Talk Program as a nurse educator, where she regularly visits Jacksonville beauty shops to share information with the owners and clients to increase breast cancer awareness. She was past president of the Jacksonville Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. and is the current president of the Brewster and Community Nurses Alumni Association. She holds the title of the "First Black Graduate Registered Professional Nurse" in Live Oak, Suwannee County. Cruse and her husband make their home on the north side of Jacksonville.

Cal Jackson is a NTL certified diversity practitioner at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida where he provides training and consultation to offices throughout the state. Jackson also serves as a facilitator for the Jacksonville Human Rights Commissions' Study Circle Initiative. He has held several leadership positions in fields such as television news, public relations, community affairs, telecommunications, financial services and city government. Jackson received his bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from Georgia State University. Originally from Dublin, Georgia, Jackson made Jacksonville his home six years ago. He lives in Mandarin.

Teala Milton is chief public affairs officer for JEA. Milton started her career as senior vice president of public affairs for Florida National Bank in Jacksonville, now a part of Wachovia Bank. She also served as vice president of law and government affairs of AT&T Universal Card Services in Jacksonville before the company was sold to Citigroup Inc. Active in community service, Milton has been on the board of directors for various civic organizations and trade associations. Most recently, she was elected chair for Leadership Florida, president of the Municipal Electric Association and chair of the Florida Community College Foundation. Milton holds an associate's degree in political science from Florida Community College at Jacksonville and a certificate from the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Senior Managers in Government Program at Harvard University. She lives in San Jose.

Established in 1979 as the first hospice program in northeast Florida, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida provides compassionate care to nearly 1,000 patients daily in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties, through the support of more than 700 employees and 1,100 volunteers. The nonprofit organization has served more than 38,000 children and adults-at home, in long-term care facilities, hospitals and through its two inpatient facilities in Jacksonville. Community Hospice Foundation generates philanthropic and community support for unfunded and under-funded programs, including indigent hospice care, programs and services through the Charles M. Neviaser Educational Institute, and Community PedsCare, a pediatric palliative and hospice program. Care is available to all patients who need it, regardless of their ability to pay.

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Contact:

Lynn Robbins

Communications Manager

904.407.6380

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Jay Magee, Communications Specialist, 904.596.6392