Compassion Beyond the Community: Juniper Communities’ Sharon Haney Celebrates 25 Years of Volunteer Service

[Pittsburgh, PA] - At Juniper Village at South Hills, caring for others doesn't end when the workday does. It's a value reflected in the people who make up the community and the individuals whose compassion extends far beyond their professional roles. Few embody that spirit more than Connections Director Sharon Haney, who recently celebrated an extraordinary milestone: 25 years of volunteer service with The Caring Place, a Pittsburgh-area center dedicated to supporting grieving children and their families.

At this year’s volunteer appreciation dinner, Haney was the only honoree recognized for 25 years of service, alongside volunteers celebrating 10, 15, and 20 years. The milestone reflects her long-standing commitment to helping others through some of life’s most difficult moments.

For Haney, however, the work has never been about recognition. "It has been both a privilege and an honor to volunteer at The Caring Place for so many years," said Haney.

The compassion Haney brings to The Caring Place is reflected in the care she provides each day at Juniper Village at South Hills. As Connections Director, she helps residents and families build meaningful connections and feel at home within the community. Her years of volunteering with grieving children and families have strengthened the empathy and understanding she brings to every interaction. It’s that same person-centered approach to care that defines Juniper Communities at every one of its locations. That commitment is rooted in her own experience.

When Haney was just 14 years old, her father passed away unexpectedly, leaving her to navigate adolescence while grieving the loss of a parent. "Navigating the teenage years is challenging enough," she said, "but losing a parent at such a young age made that time even more difficult." Years later, when she first learned about The Caring Place and its mission to support grieving children and families, she immediately recognized the impact such an organization could have had on her own life, and knew she wanted to be part of it.

Today, Haney helps facilitate weekly support groups where children and families coping with loss find comfort and understanding. Through activities such as decorating memory boxes to honor loved ones, children are encouraged to express their grief in healthy, meaningful ways while building relationships with peers who understand their experiences.

Helping people feel seen, heard, and supported has become a common experience throughout Haney's life. Whether she's comforting a grieving child at The Caring Place or creating meaningful moments for residents at Juniper Village at South Hills, her focus remains the same: building connections that help people feel less alone.

One of the moments that has stayed with Haney throughout her years of volunteering is watching children gradually discover a sense of confidence and belonging. "One of the most rewarding parts of my experience has been watching children grow in confidence," she said, "from being hesitant to let a parent leave their side to happily saying, 'See you soon!' as they head off to join their peers."

Haney's commitment to The Caring Place has also inspired those around her. In September 2024, she helped organize a fundraiser at Juniper Village at South Hills, bringing residents, families and fellow associates together to support the organization. The event reflected Juniper's belief that senior living communities can make a meaningful impact not only within their own walls, but throughout the neighborhoods they serve.

Across Juniper Communities' network of communities nationwide, associates are encouraged to bring their passions into their work and into the communities they serve. Haney's dedication reflects the compassion that defines Juniper Communities' culture and the people who care for its residents each day.

Haney's 25 years of volunteer service represent far more than an impressive milestone. The same commitment that has guided her work with grieving families continues to shape her approach at Juniper Village at South Hills, where she supports residents and their loved ones in daily life. Her story reflects the kind of dedication found across Juniper Communities, where team members extend their care beyond the communities they serve.

Juniper Village at South Hills is located at 1320 Greentree Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15220. For more information, please call (412) 990-1131 or visit www.junipersouthhills.com.

About Juniper Communities

Juniper Communities, a leader in quality, value, and innovation, owns and operates senior living communities in Colorado, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas that emphasize the well-being, interaction and security of those who call Juniper home. Our approach to housing and care offers community members the opportunity to live a full life, regardless of age or health. Juniper’s innovative Connect4Life program has been proven to improve resident care by decreasing hospitalizations, re-hospitalizations, and urgent care visits, while offering potential cost savings to public programs such as Medicare. To learn more about the many ways Juniper Communities innovates in support of the communities’ residents, visit www.junipercommunities.com.