David Lackey, director of volunteer services for VITAS Innovative Hospice Care of Los Angeles and Ventura counties, has been named president of Directors Of Volunteers In Agencies, San Fernando Valley chapter (DOVIA SFV).

Lackey has been with the VITAS program in Encino, which cares for almost 400 terminally ill patients every day, since March 2005. He recruits, trains and oversees nearly 100 hospice volunteers, who donate their time to serve patients and their families in a variety of ways.

"Working with VITAS Volunteers is inspiring," Lackey said. "Every day they make a profound difference in the quality of life of those at the end of life. Working with other agencies through DOVIA enables all of us to raise awareness of America's invisible workforce, our volunteers, and the importance of their role in our community."

DOVIA, established in 1974, is a professional networking organization serving the San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley and Santa Clarita Valley.

VITAS is the nation's largest provider of end-of-life care and has been caring for the terminally ill and their families in California since 1990.

For more information, call Lackey at (800) 757-4242.