A Legacy of Compassion: Cathy Trachok’s Commitment to Community Health Alliance

Cathy’s hope for her legacy is simple: that Community Health Alliance continues to exist and serve Northern Nevada well into the future.

For Cathy Trachok, supporting Community Health Alliance is about more than philanthropy. It is about preserving a legacy of compassionate care, strengthening a community, and ensuring future generations have access to the healthcare they deserve.

As one of the founding members of the Community Health Alliance Foundation Board, Cathy has been part of the organization’s journey from its earliest days. Her involvement was inspired, in part, by a desire to continue the longstanding healthcare mission established by the Dominican Sisters and carried forward through generations of community service.

Cathy remembers a pivotal time in the organization’s history, when changes in the local healthcare landscape prompted the evolution of the former health system into what is now Community Health Alliance. With a new name and identity came an opportunity to carry that mission forward and build something that would continue serving Northern Nevada for years to come.

Decades later, her commitment remains rooted in what she sees every time she visits a CHA health center: professional, highly educated healthcare providers who lead with compassion and treat every patient with dignity.

“Compassionate professional healthcare” is how Cathy describes Community Health Alliance. And for her, that commitment to quality care is what makes the organization so important to the community.

The stories behind the mission

During her time as Foundation Board Chair, Cathy helped introduce “Mission Moments,” an opportunity to bring patient experiences and personal stories directly to the Board. These moments offered a meaningful reminder that behind every program, fundraising effort, and organizational accomplishment are real people whose lives are impacted by access to quality healthcare.

One story, shared through previous Board member Michele Sullivan, left a lasting impression. Michele had learned that a neighbor was ill and needed help accessing healthcare. She brought the woman to Community Health Alliance, where she was deeply impressed by the quality of care and compassion she witnessed. The experience made such an impression that Michele soon became involved with the Foundation herself.

For Cathy, stories like these reinforce why CHA matters. Its impact extends beyond providing care to those who have nowhere else to turn. People choose Community Health Alliance because they trust its providers, value the experience, and appreciate the dignity with which they are treated.

Why philanthropy matters

Cathy understands that sustaining this mission requires more than dedicated staff and federal funding. Community support plays an essential role in ensuring Community Health Alliance can continue meeting the evolving healthcare needs of Northern Nevada.

“CHA can’t exist on federal funding alone. We need donations to keep it going.”

Her personal financial contributions reflect that belief. To Cathy, giving is an extension of the time, leadership, and commitment she has invested in the Foundation over the years.

She also believes strongly in the collective power of philanthropy. Every contribution matters, regardless of size. When individuals come together around a shared purpose, their combined generosity can accomplish extraordinary things.

Her perspective on giving has continued to evolve, too. Through her involvement with the Foundation and conversations about planned giving, Cathy has developed a greater appreciation for how philanthropy can create a lasting impact beyond an individual’s lifetime.

Building a legacy for Northern Nevada

Looking back, Cathy is proud of how the Foundation has grown, particularly the evolution of its signature fundraising event, Be the CHAnge. What began as an opportunity to bring people together in support of community health has blossomed into an increasingly successful event, demonstrating what is possible when a community rallies around a shared mission.

She is equally passionate about what lies ahead. She hopes Community Health Alliance will continue expanding its ability to provide quality care, including women’s healthcare and access to important preventive services such as mammograms. She believes there is always more the organization can do to meet specialized healthcare needs, particularly in communities where access remains a challenge.

As CHA celebrates its accomplishments in 2026, Cathy encourages the community to recognize that the work is far from finished. Health centers remain essential in areas where access to care is especially important, and continued community investment will help ensure those services are available for generations to come.

Ultimately, Cathy’s hope for her legacy is simple: that Community Health Alliance continues to exist and serve Northern Nevada well into the future.

“That’s what community means,” she reflects.

For Cathy, philanthropy is not simply about making a gift today. It is about ensuring that the compassion, dignity, and quality healthcare that define Community Health Alliance remain a part of Northern Nevada’s future.

And that is a legacy worth investing in.