Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Names Renee Leon to Lead the Hospital Foundation

Renee Leon will assume leadership of the Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation upon the June 19 retirement of Foundation President Marlee Lauffer.  

A longtime Santa Clarita resident, Leon has played an instrumental role in advancing the Foundation’s mission and philanthropic initiatives throughout her tenure. Over the past 15 years, she has taken on increasing responsibility while holding a variety of fundraising positions.  As Director of Development, she will have overall responsibility for foundation operations and fundraising. A graduate of UC Davis, Leon has furthered her education in philanthropy through extensive coursework with the Association of HealthCare Philanthropy. In 2024, she served as President of Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley.  

“Renee is innovative, forward-thinking, and deeply passionate about the work of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital,” said Kevin Klockenga, Henry Mayo’s President and CEO. “We have great confidence in her ability to lead the Foundation and build upon its strong legacy of supporting exceptional healthcare for our community.” 

At the Foundation, Renee has led an award-winning employee giving campaign that supported the hospital’s Patient Tower building fund, refocused the annual Holiday Home Tour event to increase revenue, and initiated fundraising for an additional cardiac cath lab to support the hospital’s Roberta G. Veloz Cardiovascular Services. She takes great pride in working with community partners to help fund needs for various hospital services.  

"It is a true honor to lead the Foundation of a hospital that has touched the lives of my family, friends, and our entire community. I am passionate about advancing healthcare in the Santa Clarita Valley and look forward to working alongside our donors and supporters to ensure Henry Mayo continues to thrive for generations to come,” said Leon.  

Under Lauffer’s leadership, the Foundation has experienced significant growth in fundraising, community engagement, and philanthropic support for hospital programs, services, and capital projects. Lauffer’s retirement marks the culmination of a distinguished career dedicated to strengthening healthcare in the Santa Clarita Valley. 

In addition to serving as President of the Foundation, Lauffer has also held the position of Vice President of Marketing and Communications for Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. Following her retirement, the hospital’s Marketing, Public Relations, and Community Benefits departments will continue to be led by Patrick Moody, a 12-year employee of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. 

“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Patrick, Renee, and many outstanding leaders during my time at the Hospital and Foundation,” said Lauffer. “They are true professionals who care deeply about our vision and our community. I am confident they will continue to pursue excellence every day and ensure the continued success of both the Hospital and Foundation.”