DonorBlessings

DonorBlessings
SPRING 2006
Published three times a year by the Office of Advancement of Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries
Volume 6, Number 1
Living Many Hands. One Heart.
You have heard it said, “If you want something done, ask a busy
person.” Catharine H. Schieferstein was the busy person on whom The
Lutheran Home at Topton, a Diakon Senior Living Community, depended
for help with everyday activities, special projects, and for leadership.
needed Catharine, she was there.”
In addition to her devotion to the
ministry at LHT, Schieferstein was active
in her Lutheran congregation, St. John’s,
Reading, Pa., serving a total of twenty
years on church council. She held several
leadership positions with the
Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod of the
“It was in the 1950’s when I first
began volunteering at Topton,” says
Schieferstein. “I helped residents with
letter writing and took them for walks.”
In time, she was elected to the board of
directors, serving as its secretary for
several years. Looking for a way to
improve the LHT Anniversary Day
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
and served as president of Greater
Reading Involved Lutherans (GRAIL).
Schiefertein is a graduate of Reading
Hospital School of Nursing and worked
for 30 years as an emergency nurse.
In addition to her work with several
attendance, Schieferstein began the
professional associations, Schieferstein
directed for 17 years. The chorus, made
directors of Overbrook School for the
Anniversary Day Chorus, which she
up of campus residents, rehearsed songs
and dance numbers for weeks and
eventually played to a packed
auditorium for two performances
annually on Anniversary Day. “I loved
served as a member of the board of
Blind, Philadelphia, Pa., and president of
its Parent Teacher Association. Her only
son, Karl, is visually handicapped.
Her husband, Robert J. Schieferstein,
working with the residents,” she
who died in 1999, was supportive of his
people to work with … so enthusiastic
support, gifts to the LHT Century Fund,
remembers. “They were the greatest
with so much to give.”
“There has never been anyone like
her,” says Amy Reinsel, director of
Congregational Ministries. “When we
This publication
is prepared
especially for you,
our treasured
donor, in
recognition of
your partnership
in our mission.
wife’s volunteer activities. Their faithful
charitable gift annuities, and a bequest
intent make Catharine Schieferstein’s
dedication to the work of Diakon
Lutheran Social Ministries a remarkable
stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
Welcome to the Diakon Family
Residents and Staff of
Twining Village, Holland, Pa.
Diakon’s newest Senior Living Community
Action
Take
Your will is your final legacy
Leave a Legacy…
remember
Diakon Lutheran
Social Ministries
or any Diakon
community or program
in your will.
While I was writing this article one evening, we received a phone call from one of
our children. That afternoon, our son lost a very close friend who died in a horrifying
traffic accident. She was 51. She is survived by her three young adult children ages 18
to 22.
After our phone conversation, I said to my wife, “I hope she had an up-to-date will
for the sake of her children!”
Conservatively, greater than 50% of our population does not have a will or estate
plan. One could say, that really isn’t a problem. That’s because the state already has a
basic plan for distributing your assets when you die. You’re dead, so what do you care?
That is called dying intestate (without a will).
“Not planning for the inevitable is the biggest mistake many people make,” says
Denis Clifford, an attorney and author of Estate Planning Basics. “It’s a drag to think
about death, and often there are lawyer’s fees involved. . . That makes delay
understandable, but not persuasive.”
Sadly, in this situation, there was no will. The three surviving young men will need
to pick up the pieces and make some difficult decisions. All this through their tears of
grief and the memory of this tragic accident. They will never know their mother’s
final wishes that would have provided some comfort and security for each of them.
Our will is our final legacy where we can share many things:
• A statement of our values and beliefs
• Lessons we learned about loving, being parents, a spouse, a friend
• Hopes for those we leave behind
• Important events in our lives
• Expressions of love, gratitude, appreciation, and forgiveness,
• Our support of a favorite charity such as Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries.
DonorBlessings is published
three times a year by the
Office for Advancement of
Diakon Lutheran Social
Ministries. Comments can
be directed to Linda Maxon,
610-682-1220.
If you do not wish to receive any
further requests for donations or
information on other fundraising
activities, please write to us using
the enclosed envelope.
Death can be sudden. To those we love, an up-to-date estate plan is the last
precious gift we can give.
Kenneth C. Feinour, Jr.
Senior Vice President of Advancement
For a free copy of Planning Your Estate by Conrad Teitell, LL.B, LL.M, simply
return the enclosed envelope with your request.
2
Special
Events
The Diakon Annual Benefactors Dinner
A Time to Care
We are pleased to announce that Heather L. Feltman, LDR executive director,
will be the guest speaker at the Diakon Annual Benefactors Dinner on May 11,
2006. The friend raising and fundraising extravaganza will be held at the Sheraton
Reading Hotel, Wyomissing, Pa., beginning at 5:30 p.m. Proceeds will benefit
Diakon programs serving Berks, Lehigh, and Northampton county residents.
Heather L Feltman,
LDR executive director
Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
(LCMS). Following a major domestic disaster, LDR seeks to minister to the urgent needs of the people
affected through hardship grants, volunteer coordination, spiritual and emotional care, and long-term
recovery efforts. Feltman has more than 15 years of experience in disaster response.
In September, 2005 a Diakon-sponsored team of seven volunteers traveled to Biloxi, Miss., to partner
with LDR to provide disaster relief to the area. The team brought with them an estimated $10,000 in
supplies—donations from Diakon employees and a travel trailer that was left in Biloxi for use by future
groups. Feltman’s participation at Benefactors Dinner will celebrate A Time to Care for our neighbors at
home and for those far away who need our help.
Love to eat? Adore chocolate? Do we have an
evening for you!
April 20, 2006
Harrisburg Hilton and Towers
Harrisburg, Pa.
Join Celebrity Chef, Brian Kent Matlick of Brian Kent’s
Restaurant, Hershey, Pa. and ten guest chefs as they share
their culinary delights. The evening will include silent and
live auctions. Proceeds will benefit Diakon programs serving
children, families, and senior adults in central Pennsylvania.
For more information and reservations call 610.682.1219 or
toll free 877.342.5667, ext. 1219.
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Celebrity Chef, Brian Kent Matlick
of Brian Kent’s Restaurant,
Hershey, Pa. joins these guest chefs
at Dining with Diakon.
Matlick is a chocolate expert.
Come, see, and taste his chocolate
creations.
Guest Chef & Golden Spoon Contenders
Rick Barger • Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries
Phil Guarneschelli • PinnacleHealth
Pastor Stewart Hardy • Trinity Lutheran Church
Doug Heineman • B-H Agency Realtors
Terry Lehman • bmc, LLP
Michael Murchie • M & T Bank
Flora Posteraro • WHTM-27 News
Bruce Rosendale • R.S. Mowery, Inc.
Nancy Ryan • BOB Radio
Joe Wagman • Wagman Construction, Inc.
Friends
Frien
ds
Among
Luther Crest Wellness Center donors, William
Bartholomew (Luther Crest resident) and Lois E.
Eisenhard (former employee at Luther Crest) join
Administrator Jeanne Oski at the Southgate
Ground Breaking Ceremony on February 15.
Generous gifts from William Bartholomew
will help to furnish a new library and gifts from
Lois E. Eisenhard purchased the spa for the
new swimming pool and fitness area, part of the
Wellness Center addition to be included in the
Luther Crest expansion.
If you would like more information on this
exciting project that will include homes for
independent living, contact the Office of
Advancement at 877.342.5667, ext. 1219.
One of the Four Horsemen, Donald
Dayhoff, is a lifetime member of Trinity
Lutheran in Hagerstown. To honor the work
he and three other men did to establish
Ravenwood Lutheran Village, Trinity decided
to donate their 2005 Advent Offering to the
Four Horsemen Celebration, held in October
2005. Proceeds from the event benefited the
Benevolent Care Fund at Ravenwood and its
sister campus, The Village at Robinwood.
To encourage philanthropy among
members of the congregation, Trinity’s
Foundation matched the Advent offering
donations received up to $4,000. On Sunday,
January 15, Pastor Fleming presented a
Welcome Diakon Place
Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries has
been caring for children and families in
Baltimore City for more than seventeen
years. Looking for opportunities to make a
greater impact, Diakon has purchased a
vacant supermarket located at 1900
North Broadway and is transforming the
building into a family and community
center called Diakon Place that will
provide:
•Quality childcare for low-income
families and for nearby workers
•Community development through
neighborhood service facilities, expanded
programming, and strengthened resident
leadership
•A unique building that sets a
high standard of excellence for service
and retail functions.
DIAKON PLACE:
Quality child-care programs of
Diakon KidzStuff
For more information or to schedule a
presentation for your congregation or
civic group, please call the Diakon
Lutheran Social Ministries Office of
Advancement at 877.342.5667, ext. 1219.
Diakon Family Life Services
— Maryland
The Rev. Quentin Fleming, Trinity
Lutheran of Hagerstown and Don
Dayhoff at the Four Horseman
Dinner, October 2005.
check for $8,773 to Ravenwood
Lutheran Village and The Village at
Robinwood, both Diakon Senior Living
Communities.
4
Diakon Housing &
Community Development
Profile
Donor
Mitch Possinger and the Rev. Jami Possinger have made
careers out of feeding God’s people.
Mitch is president of Cura
Hospitality, Inc., a food service provider
whose clients include Diakon, Phoebe
Homes, and The Lutheran Theological
Seminary at Philadelphia. Jami serves as
associate pastor of Union Lutheran
Church, Schnecksville, Pa.
They both embrace the concept of
hospitality. Mitch established Cura
Hospitality, Inc. in 1996. Recognizing
that his customers may live in a
retirement community for many years,
he says food is an important part of
their overall satisfaction. “Food is a
medium,” he says. “It provides a
context in which we socialize, celebrate
holidays, even express our faith.”
They both embrace the
concept of hospitality.
Mitch established Cura
Hospitality, Inc. in 1996 ...
For Jami, hospitality
means gathering people
around the love of God.
For Jami, hospitality means gathering
people around the love of God. Her
desire to make the church a welcoming
place for all God’s people is reflected in
her office space. Jars of candy, baskets
of plush animals, and toys welcome
children and families into her
workspace. “This is a popular place on
Sunday mornings,” she says.
Their connection with Diakon has
become a way of life. A member of the
board of directors since 1988, Mitch
sees himself as someone who can help
Diakon navigate change in the industry.
Jami values her connection with
Diakon Family Life Services. She serves
on its Lehigh Valley Advisory Board
and uses the counseling services when
helping parishioners through crisis
situations.
5
Mitch and the Rev. Jami Possinger live out Christ’s
command to “feed my sheep.”
“We are both involved in ministry,”
remarks Jami. “Mitch’s gifts are in
administration.”
“You really can build Christian values
into a business model without being a
cult,” he adds. “We have built an
organization that encourages
volunteerism and aids institutional
advancement with both in-kind and
monetary support.”
Cura’s support of Diakon’s fundraising
efforts is vital to an event, Dining with
Diakon, now in its second year, that
raises financial support and awareness of
Diakon’s mission in central Pennsylvania.
Approximately a dozen Cura chefs will
serve as sous-chefs to the ten guest chefs
who will prepare dishes for guests to
sample.
This is just one example of the many
ways Cura Hospitality, Inc., and Mitch
and Jami, through their personal
stewardship of God’s gifts, support the
ministry of Diakon. Thank you, Mitch
and Jami, for putting the needs of others
first.
Office of Advancement • 798 Hausman Road • Suite 300
Allentown, PA 18104-9108
610-682-1219 or 877-342-5667, ext 1219
www.diakon.org
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Allentown, PA
Permit No. 180
DonorBlessings
Spring 2006
We value your support and want you
to know how your gifts make a
difference in the lives of
children, families, and seniors.
Wish List
Diakon wishes to
establish an
Emergency Fund
for children
transitioning in
adoption and
foster care.
This fund will be used for:
• Medical, dental, or
orthodontal care not covered
by insurance
• Personal care items
• School supplies
If you wish to make a monetary gift
to the Diakon Adoption & Foster
Care Emergency Fund, please use
the enclosed envelope for your gift.
Thank you.
John is a 15-year-old teen who has overcome many obstacles
during his life including a childhood history of abuse and neglect.
He has been in a Diakon foster home for nearly two years and has
adjusted very well to the nurturing environment this home provides.
John is in need of orthodontic work. Diakon has been able to receive
commitments for partial coverage of this expense from insurance
and the biological family, but there are still hundreds of dollars in
expenses remaining.
Diakon wants to develop an Emergency Fund that will help to
cover the unexpected but very necessary services and personal care
items needed for our children adjusting to transitions in Diakon
Adoption & Foster Care. If you would like to make a contribution to
this fund or would like information on making a continuing pledge
to this fund, please contact the Office of Advancement at
877.342.5667, ext. 1219, or use the envelope provided.