Chaz Blackburn, Chaplain
Director of Volunteer Services and Spiritual Care Chaplain
Chaplain Chaz was born and raised in Sparks, NV and is now a Reno resident of 8 years. Besides his Faith in his Lord Jesus Christ, his next greatest role is being the extremely proud Dad of his precious daughter Lily. He previously held a career in sales and retail operations. Holding various management positions until he found his true calling. These ranged from Senior Market Manager for Samsung Telecommunications America overseeing a three-state territory, to General Manager of Retail and Finance for Boost Mobile D.B.A. T.W.I. Mobile.
Now he’s an Ordained Senior Chaplain with the International Fellowship of Chaplains (I.F.O.C.). He successfully earned a promotion as a member of the Great Basin Chaplain Corps Command Staff. Serving Northern Nevada as the Community Service Coordinator, he’s responsible for leading the 28 specialty teams currently being operated or developed. These teams provide professional chaplaincy to areas of law enforcement, fire, emergency medical services (EMS), hospice, hospitals, mental health providers, homeless and displaced populations, Veterans, human trafficking prevention, peer support, and many more. He’s proud to be a vetted chaplaincy resource for the Nevada Peer Support Network.
He joined Circle of Life Community Hospice in 2019, as a volunteer. Before he was able to be assigned his first patient after on-boarding, his grandmother Judy Cortez sought Circle of Life services due to advanced liver cancer. She cried one day with joy, sharing how honored she was to be his first official hospice patient. She stated that she knew in her heart he would positively impact many in hospice over the remaining course of his life. Over the course of her last chapter, he was inspired with how the entire care team served his family. He knew he was calling to serve the dying and their families.
He was later privileged to be hired as a full-time Spiritual Care Chaplain. Serving the Circle of Life patients, their families, volunteers and employees. In 2022, he was promoted with the additional role of Director of Volunteer Services.
Chaz also serves as a Bereavement and Grief Chaplain. He facilitates and co-leads monthly grief support groups, and also co-hosts annual events for the grieving in our community. He thoughtfully creates and executes caregiver bereavement plans. This sometimes includes the honor of officiating memorials, funerals, graveside eulogies and celebrations of life. He’s a speaker, trainer, and helps educate the community on important topics ranging from palliative care, hospice care, end of life, grief, spiritual care, community resources, and various other subjects.
He’s a fierce advocate for underserved and vulnerable populations. This includes children, Individuals with disabilities, people who are experiencing homelessness or are displaced, people who are at end of life, Veterans, and seniors. He’s a Nevada Housing Coalition and Washoe County Senior Coalition member. Consistently working with their executive boards, senior advisory committees, local and state employees, city council members, mayors, county commissioners, state and federal senators, and Nevada governors on senior initiatives. He joined the Alzheimer's Association Walk Committee in 2022. Additionally, he continues to be a part of Dementia Friendly Nevada to further the rights and resources for those diagnosed with any form of dementia.
Chaz strongly advocates for organ and tissue donation with Nevada Donor Network in all corners of the community. He’s been privileged to lead the invocation for the 2022 Northern Nevada Donor Remembrance Ceremony and for the 2023 Nevada statewide ceremony. In 2022, he was recognized with the award, “2022 Donation Champion of the Year!” As a community leader, he was also selected to be in the Nevada Donor Network “We are Nevadans!” campaign. Others previously selected in 2022 included Sheriff Darin Balaam, Dr. Trudy Larson, Atlantis CEO John Farahi, and Olympic gold medal winner David Wise.
He’s always driving forward the mission of fighting against suicide. For 2022 and 2023, he performed the invocation and supported the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Walk. Chaz co-facilitates events like the International Survivors for Suicide Loss Day and other events. He is a weekly co-host for the D.R.I.V.E. to Live radio show airing live on America Matters Media and 93.7 FM every Thursday from 10:00 - 10:30 am. Tune in to listen as he and co-host Eden Wakefield work to break the stigma on grief, dying and death, hospice, suicide and many other important topics. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the D.R.I.V.E. to Live nonprofit for suicide prevention.
He was recently featured with KTVN News Channel 2, for the “Someone 2 Know” segment for his chaplaincy work.
You can find the link here at Someone 2 Know: Chaz Blackburn. Lastly, he serves on other nonprofit boards. These comprise of Good Shepherd’s Clothes Closet, Circle of Life Hospice Foundation which includes the Hospice House Project, Great Basin Chaplain Corps, and the Ambassador’s Council for the University of Nevada Sanford Center for Aging’s Senior Outreach Services program.
To learn more about Chaplain Chaz visit:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Nextdoor
Nevada Peer Support Network
In the News:
Retired Living Truth Series: The Truth about Advocating for Yourself and Those You Love, Video, Junell Realty Group
First responders heal with peer support, ThisIsReno.com, January 4, 2023
Nevada Donor Network hosts annual ‘Hope Dinner’ and awards ceremony, SouthTahoeNow.com, November 10, 2022