Charlotte Foster, RN, BSN, MHA Memorial Event
A memorial for Charlotte Foster is planned for Saturday, July 1 at 1 p.m., at Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum, located at 2300 S. Massachusetts St. (23rd and S. Massachusetts St.) in the heart of Seattle’s Central District.
June 19, 2017 • 3 minutes to read
A memorial for Charlotte Foster is planned for Saturday, July 1 at 1 p.m., at Seattle’s Northwest African American Museum, located at 2300 S. Massachusetts St. (23rd and S. Massachusetts St.) in the heart of Seattle’s Central District.
Donations Gratefully Accepted by The Chrissy Foster Foundation
Char’s family requests that In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Chrissy Foster Foundation. The foundation was established after the sudden death of Char’s youngest daughter, Chrissy, in 2014 at age 35. To honor Chrissy’s giving spirit, the Foster family created a living memorial called Chrissy’s Gift to fund diabetes education, particularly in underserved and higher-risk communities in the Seattle area. Learn more.
At this time, donations can be accepted at the memorial event on July 1 or mailed to: The Chrissy Foster Foundation, 2911 381st Way, Auburn, WA 98001. All donations by check or cash that include a return name and address will be acknowledged with a receipt and associated charitable fund documentation. The foundation’s website is currently undergoing revisions.
In Memoriam - Charlotte Foster
Charlotte Foster, RN, BSN, MHA passed away June 7, due to cancer.
Char was Chief Nurse Executive at Swedish Medical Group from 2011 until April 2016. She was known for her great compassion, empathetic nature, nurturing of both patients and fellow caregivers, strong servant leadership, and devoted mentorship. Over her 12-year career at Swedish, Char was active in countless nursing initiatives and tirelessly supported community efforts that assisted the disadvantaged.
Char began her nursing career at Harborview Medical Center in 1998, where she worked as the trauma nurse coordinator. She began her Swedish tenure in April 2004 as a clinic nurse at Swedish Neuroscience Institute. While there, her roles included clinic nurse, nursing supervisor, nurse manager and director of Clinical Operations. In 2011, Char went on to become Swedish Medical Group’s first nurse executive. In that role, she worked diligently, across Swedish and Providence, and at a state-wide level to bolster the nursing profession.
In 2011, then Governor Christine Gregoire appointed Char to the Washington State Nursing Commission. Governor Jay Inslee re-appointed her in 2015, and in March 2016, she was nominated as chair of the commission. She also was a member of several other professional nursing organizations, including the Washington State Nurses Association. Char was a member of the Washington Center for Nursing’s Leadership Nursing Action Coalition and served as a strong bridge between the WCN and the Nursing Commission, particularly on issues of diversity in nursing.
Char’s service to others and spirit of volunteerism reached deep into our local communities. She supported local efforts of the March of Dimes and the American Diabetes Association, and was the top fundraiser for the ADA’s 2015 Walk to Stop Diabetes in honor of her daughter. Char’s work with the Seattle-area Therapeutic Health Services helped families affected by alcohol or drug dependence, and/or mental illness, and she volunteered each year at the annual Seattle/King County Free Clinic.