J. Jeffrey Grant
A Message from Our Chairman
J. Jeffrey Grant
A matter of principle / A benefit, for one and all
I live by a few guiding principles. Learn something new every day. You can never know too many people. And there will always be someone smarter — and richer — than you, but that should never stop you from trying.
We have a guiding principle, too, at the Methodist Hospital Foundation: It’s that building community wellness benefits one and all. We believe that when you strengthen the links, a chain reaction of health and wellness positively impacts people, and the people around them, every day. 
One of my favorite programs that does this is Community Paramedicine. Our Fashion Fundraiser earmarked funds for this program where visiting paramedics provide a continuity of care for people discharged from Methodist Hospital. This helps the person heading home, but can also help their family and friends, who may have been stressed or unsure how they would manage. It’s one way we get to the heart of our guiding principle that building community wellness changes lives, of one and all, for the better.
Another principle I live by is that you have never heard all the stories. This may be true, but through our giving, we can change the endings so everyone can benefit from and have a stronger, healthier community.
Learn more about J. Jeffrey Grant
J. Jeffrey Grant builds communities through his work and as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Hospital Foundation. Jeff, who earned a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering at Cornell University and an MBA at St. Joseph’s University, owns and operates Pickett Properties LLC and GAC Associates Inc., where he is also president. His work in Facilities Management and Commercial Property Inspections for his companies routinely takes him throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Jeff also builds stronger environments through his volunteering, most recently with the Board of Directors of the Lansdowne Economic Development Corporation. He became involved with Methodist Hospital 26 years ago and served on its Board of Directors before joining the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees in 2013. After two years as a board member, he served a year as the Chairman of the Finance Committee and was named Chairman of the Board in July 2016.
Foundation Board
Janice R. Bellace, Esq.
Janice R. Bellace has many ties to Methodist Hospital, from it being the place where her mother volunteered to where she chose to honor her with a gift to the Women’s Diagnostic Center. She extends her connection by being a member of the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. Janice is the Samuel Blank Professor of Legal Studies and Professor of Management at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She has been member of the Thomas Jefferson University Board of Trustees since 1998. Janice is chairwoman of the Jefferson Health Board of Trustees and its Quality and Patient Safety Committee and Methodist Hospital Division Committee. She has been honored with the Dr. Scott Stewart Founder’s Award, which is presented to a valued member of the Methodist family, for her dedication. Janice is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors; University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she earned a Juris Doctor; and the London School of Economics and Political Science, where she earned a Master of Science in Industrial Relations.
The Honorable Matthew Carrafiello
Matthew D. Carrafielo, a member of and Vice Chairman of Community Relations for the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, is a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas, 1st Judicial District of Pennsylvania. He has been on the bench in this capacity since 1995 and has been presiding over the Orphans’ Court Division since 2010. Matthew was appointed an Administrative Judge of the Orphans’ Court Division in 2015. He has been a member of the Administrative Governing Board of the 1st Judicial District of Pennsylvania since 2015. He is a Trustee of the Citizens Crime Commission of the Delaware Valley and a member of the Board of Directors of CATCH – Citizens Acting Together Can Help Inc. Matthew is a graduate of Temple University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he earned a Juris Doctor.
Rev. Charles C. Cole
George E. Deming, III
George E. Deming’s connection to Methodist Hospital stretches back to the last century. His grandfather joined the board of Methodist Hospital in 1930, and in 1970, George followed suit with the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. He has been honored with the Dr. Scott Stewart Founder’s Award, which is presented to a valued member of the Methodist family, for his dedication. An investor who has since retired from his role as Vice President of Delaware Investments, George is a graduate of The University of Vermont, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned a Master of Arts in International Relations. He also has a degree from the New York Institute of Finance.
Richard W. Hevner
Richard W. Hevner has been involved with Methodist Hospital since 1989, as well as Jefferson Health and Thomas Jefferson University. He is Chairman of the Thomas Jefferson University Board of Trustees, which he has served on since 2013, and a past Chairman of the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. Richard has also served on the Methodist Hospital Board of Trustees since 1990 and in the same capacity with Jefferson Health since 1996. Richard is Managing Director of Wells Fargo Advisors. He is a graduate of Colgate University and The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He also served as a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam.
Gladys B. Hubbard
Gladys B. Hubbard serves on the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees — a fitting role for a retired school nurse. Gladys is co-president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of United Methodist Women and a representative for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference in the Program Advisory Group of the National United Methodist Women. She is a graduate of Tuskegee University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. Her graduate studies at Temple University and Marywood College, now known as Marywood University, resulted in her Master’s Equivalency for certification as a school nurse. Gladys is retired from The School District of Philadelphia and her role as school nurse at Central High School.
Reverend Dr. Christopher Kurien
The Rev. Dr. Christopher Kurien has served on many boards and agencies of The United Methodist Church, and he considers it a privilege to serve on the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees. Rev. Dr. Kurien is a member of the Extended Cabinet of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is the Director of Connectional Ministries. He has served churches in India, in addition to being on staff of the United Theological College, Bangalore, in Karnataka, India, and throughout the United States for more than 20 years. He is a graduate of the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in the area of Pastoral Care and Counseling.
James E. Robinson
James E. Robinson is the former Senior Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals/Methodist Division and Past President of the Methodist Hospital Foundation. He also serves on the board of the Police Athletic League and the Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia and is a member of the St. Thomas Aquinas School Advisory Board. Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and an MBA in health care administration from La Salle University.
Brian Sweeney
Frank H. Wisniewski, Esq.
Frank Wisniewski is actively involved with numerous organizations in addition to the Methodist Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees, where he serves as Vice Chairman of Financial Affairs and Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee. He is a trustee and Chairman of the Building Committee for the Haddonfield United Methodist Church. Frank is Secretary Emeritus and Member Emeritus of the Children’s Fresh Air Home Board of Trustees. Frank practices real estate law and litigation at Flaster Greenberg PC. He is a graduate of Gettysburg College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and the University of Virginia School of Law, where he earned a Bachelor of Laws degree.