Heather Kluemper

Heather Kluemper is the Founder and President of The Mitten Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Foundation. A nurse of 29+ years, entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for children with complex medical needs, Heather has dedicated her career to improving the lives of patients and families navigating serious illness.

As the CEO and Co-Founder of Centered Care of Michigan, Heather has helped build award-winning inpatient and outpatient neurorehabilitation programs while caring for individuals with traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and medically complex conditions. Through years of working alongside children and families facing life-limiting illnesses, she recognized a critical gap in pediatric hospice and palliative care across Michigan.

Driven by the belief that no family should face the end of a child's life without compassionate support, Heather founded The Mitten Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to expand access to pediatric palliative and hospice services, provide financial and emotional support to families, and ultimately build Michigan's first dedicated pediatric hospice and respite home—a place where children can receive expert medical care while families find comfort, peace, and precious time together.

Heather's leadership is rooted in compassion, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to serving others. She believes every child deserves dignity, comfort, and love, and every family deserves to know they are never alone on their journey.

Julee Burgess

Julee Burgess is the Executive Director for The Mitten Pediatric Palliative & Hospice Foundation, where she is helping lead the effort to establish Michigan's first residential pediatric hospice and palliative care home. Driven by a lifelong passion for serving others, Julee is committed to building meaningful relationships, strengthening communities, and ensuring that children with life-limiting illnesses and their families receive compassionate care, dignity, and unwavering support.

Before joining The Mitten Foundation, Julee spent more than 25 years in collegiate athletics, including nearly two decades at her alma mater, Michigan State University. As Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration, she served on the department's executive leadership team and oversaw the administration and operations of multiple varsity programs while leading strategic initiatives across the athletic department. Throughout her career, she earned a reputation as a collaborative leader who excelled at developing people, managing complex operations, fostering donor and alumni relationships, and creating exceptional experiences for student-athletes, coaches, and supporters.

Julee's career has always centered on people. Whether supporting championship athletic programs or now helping families navigate some of life's most difficult moments, her purpose has remained the same: to lead with compassion, build lasting relationships, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. A proud Spartan, Julee resides in East Lansing with her husband, Jeff, and their three children.

Julee is honored to help advance The Mitten Foundation's mission and believes that, through generosity, collaboration, and community, every child and family deserves a place they can call home while receiving the care they need most.