Inspirations Fall 2015 - Presby`s Inspired Life

SAVE THE DATE!
2015 Inspired Service
Friday, October 29
Honoring WPVI Ch-6
“Art of Aging” Series
with Lisa Thomas-Laury
INSPIRATI NS
SUMME R 20 15
News, Life and Progress at Presby’s Inspired Life Communities
Compassionate Care at the
Heart of Presby’s Ministry
PRESBY
COMMUNITIES
CELEBRATE 60TH
ANNIVERSARY
See pages 4 & 5 for photos!
FIND US ON
SOCIAL MEDIA!
Like us, love us, follow
us on Facebook and
Twitter @PresbysInspired
Stacey Bergmann, Director of Recreational Therapy at Presby’s Rydal Park community, works
with a resident during a specially designed horticultural activity.
A
t Presby’s Inspired Life, it is a
privilege to walk
alongside our
residents and their families to take part in the joys,
triumphs and challenges of
their everyday lives.
When a resident walks
through our doors they have
our promise that we will
help them live life to the
fullest. It’s a promise that
was made when Rosemont
Presbyterian Village opened
sixty years ago and it is a
promise that continues to be
upheld today, thanks to the
philanthropic generosity of
Presby stakeholders.
As a ministry with a
demonstrated commitment
to caring for older adults
who may experience limited
financial ability, Presby relies
upon and appreciates charitable gift support.
Support that makes things
like dental work possible for
residents like Maria at Tioga
Presbyterian Apartments,
who has a new sense of
well-being following a charitable grant to help cover
the cost of dental work that
would have been impossible
due to her lack of sufficient
insurance and an income
level below the Poverty Line.
The open-hearted compassion of our Board of
Directors, other concerned
individuals, faith leaders and
our partners from throughout the corporate communities strengthens Presby’s
ability to offer benevolent
assistance to residents in
need of a helping hand.
(continued on page 7)
Everyone knows his name!
Meet Rydal Park’s dynamic
Chaplain on page 3
FROM
HEART
2
THE
Optimism, I believe is the key to staying productive, active and at the top of one’s game. I
see little sense in being anything but optimistic.
As we look back on the first half of 2015 I think
you will understand why.
Since January, we’ve been celebrating Presby’s
60th Anniversary in a number of unique and fun
ways. From a ribbon cutting ceremony and a
tree planting to a day of service and an ol’ fashioned
BBQ, we’ve had a fabulous time with Board
Members, political
supporters, staff and
most importantly our
residents. You can see
an overview of all these
great events on pages 4
and 5 of this newsletter.
We look forward to the second half of the year and hope
that you will join us for more
celebrations like our Inspired Service
Recognition Dinner on October 29.
We’ve also grown a little bit larger in these
six months, adding two new affordable housing
communities to our ever-expanding portfolio
and equally exciting was the special recognition
received by our Rosemont community. You can
read more about this good news on page 6.
So you see, there is much to be excited about
and we still have the second half of the year to
go! Thank you as always, for joining me in my
enthusiasm and excitement for this wonderful
ministry. Together we are doing phenomenal
work and making a difference in lives every day.
1
3
4
5
Celebrating
Residents
1. Cung D. Nguyen of Jackson Place. 2. Edna Luther
of Old City. 3. Joan Coleman of Riverside
Judee
Jude
Ju
d e M. Bavaria
President & CEO
4. Janet Ruby and Victoria Sarli of Spring Mill.
5. Betty Sieber and Lillian Fleming of Rydal Park
with Russ Mast, Executive Director of Rydal Park
Inspirations
~
Page 2
and Judee Bavaria, President & CEO.
Presby Profile:
The Rev. Tom Summers
Rydal Park’s Extraordinary Chaplain Gives
New Meaning to the term “Servant-Leader”
T
he Rev. Tom Summers has more than 20
years’ experience in pastoral ministry,
including six years as chaplain and
bereavement counselor in hospice care. He is an
adjunct faculty member at the University of the
Sciences in Philadelphia. Since 2012, Tom has
been actively providing spiritual support, spiritual
comfort and spiritual education to the residents
of the Rydal Park community. We sat down with
Tom to discuss the important role he plays in the
lives of the residents at Rydal Park and the many
places his vocation takes him each and every day.
Q: What do you love most about serving the
community of Rydal Park?
A: One of the things I absolutely love about
this community is how diverse it really is.
We have all kinds of different backgrounds.
People from all different faith traditions;
which is wonderful.
Q: How did you become so well-versed and
diverse in the different faith backgrounds?
A: It has always been something that I loved.
My focus as an undergraduate and then
in seminary was my desire to become a
professor to teach Semitic languages and Old
Testament theology. That’s what I wanted
to do. I wanted to get my Masters and then
Ph.D and then teach in a college or seminary.
But circumstances changed and so did the
direction of my work. Studying all of the
Hebrew Scriptures, studying theology and
worship traditions was something that helped
me understand what we do as Presbyterians.
Part of our theology grows out of this
background.
“It’s in my job description
to be inspiring! ”
The Rev. Tom Summers
Chaplain at Rydal Park
Q: Your role takes you in a lot of different
directions. How do you stay grounded?
A: When I started here I sold my car and started
taking the train. My morning devotion typically
goes something like this: Lord I don’t know what I
am going to face this day, but I trust that you will
put me in the places where I need to be.
Q: What does it mean to you, to be on “A Mission
to Inspire?”
A: Quite frankly, I think that is my job description!
Just to be here to be able to spend time with
residents individually, to be deeply involved in
all the different aspects of spiritual practice, the
worship services, the bible studies; to be able
to provide that kind of support, that sense of
comfort—it’s my job to be inspiring!
Inspirations
~
Page 3
Presby’s Inspired Life Celebrates
Across Presby’s communities unique celebrations have
Wynnefield Place
Grand Opening
O
Union League
n February 19, State Senator Vincent
nt Hughes,
Philadelphia City Councilman Curtis Jones,
om the U.S.
4th District, , representatives from
Department of Housing and Pennsylvania Housd Presby’s Inspired Life
ing Finance Agency joined
dee M. Bavaria in leading
President and CEO, Judee
elebration of the Wynnefield
the Grand Opening celebration
Place Apartments, a 48-unit affordable housing
mically disadvantaged seniors in
building for economically
Overbrook section of Philadelphia.
the Wynnefield/Overbrook
P
resby kicked off its 60th Anniversary year with
a Board Meeting and dinner celebration at the
Union League in Philadelphia, PA on January 28.
The evening including remarks from Judee Bavaria,
Board Chair, Alan Griffith and long-time Board
Member and Presby supporter, Bill Young, Jr. The
evening highlight was the presentation of a citation
by Desaree Jones, on behalf of Senator Williams,
congratulating Presby on 60 years of service to
older adults.
President’s Circle
P
resident’s Circle: On June 11, residents from
Rydal Park, Rosemont Presbyterian Village,
Presby staff, corporate partners, foundations and
members of the Presby’s Inspired Life Board of
Directors gathered for the annual President’s Circle
reception at Rydal Park.
The President’s Circle recognizes individuals,
corporations and/or foundations whose
cumulative philanthropic giving totals $10,000
or more.
Inspirations
~
Page 4
60 Years of Service To Older Adults
been taking place to commemorate the historic milestone
Broomall Tree Planting
I
n recogn
recognition of the 60th Anniversary of Presby’s
Inspired Life, Br
Broomall Presbyterian Village
residents, their families and members of the Presby’s
Direc
Inspired Life Board of Directors
and Leadership
cere
Team came together for a ceremonial
tree planting
at Broomall Presbyterian Village on Sunday, April 26.
h
The magnolia tree was planted in honor
of residents
present
and their families—past and present.
Riverside Older Americans
Celebration
M
ore than 100 residents from the Riverside
Presbyterian Apartments joined Presby staff
and volunteer leaders for an Older Americans Month
celebration on May 22. The afternoon affair featured
a dj, line dancing and remarks from Presby’s senior
executive team. Residents from Rydal Park also were
on hand.
Day of Inspiration
M
ore than 100 volunteers–staff, residents,
board members and many more–gave of
their time on April 30, 2015 to help our residents,
our communities and our neighbors. Various
volunteer projects were held at six different
Presby’s Inspired Life locations. Highlights
included: 400 pairs of socks which were donated to
the delight of residents at Broomall and more than
546 pounds of canned goods were shared with the
Interfaith Food Cupboard in Abington Township
and the Riverside Presbyterian Apartments.
Inspirations
~
Page 5
Presby Adds
New Communities
Presby recently added two new
affordable housing communities
to its growing portfolio.
Presby now manages and/or
sponsors 29 affordable housing
communities across the greater
Philadelphia area.
Presser Senior Apartments and Nugent
Senior Apartments in Philadelphia’s Mt.
Airy neighborhood became the two newest
communities in the Presby’s Inspired Life portfolio.
Presby formally took over management of these
sites from Nolen Properties, on June 1. Built in
2011 and 2014, respectively, Presser and Nugent
Senior Apartments boast a combined total of
102 apartments. With the addition of these two
properties, Presby’s Inspired Life now
serves seniors in 33 different communities in
Philadelphia and the surrounding counties.
Pictured above, Nugent Senior Apartments — one of two
new communities that will now be managed by Presby’s
Inspired Life.
Inspirations
~
Page 6
Rosemont
Receives Three
Awards for
Outstanding
Service
1. Best Independent & Senior Living
2. Best Continuing Care Retirement Community
3. Best Personal Care
O
n Thursday, May
28, the Main
Line Media News
Network announced that
Rosemont Presbyterian
Village was selected as the
Main Line, Reader’s Choice
Best of, Best Continuing
Care Retirement Living,
Best Independent Living
& Senior Living and Best
Personal Care.
Currently in the 15th year
of designating “Best Of”
awards for the Main Line
and Western Suburbs, the
award was based off of
voting, over a four week period, from the general public as well as residents and
staff in this category. This is
the first time Rosemont has
received the designation.
Rosemont is the first
community in the Presby’s
Inspired Life ministry.
Nestled in the heart of the
historic Main Line, on Cheswick Lane in Rosemont,
PA, the community offers
both Residential Living and
Personal Care options for
older adults.
“We are humbled by the
awards,” said Marina Hacking, Executive Director for
Rosemont. “We work hard
every day to provide the
very best for our residents
so they can continue to live
life to the fullest. The designation is certainly gratifying, but what is more important is that the residents
and the community at-large
appreciate and value the
excellence of our service to
adults 62 and over on the
Main Line and beyond.”
Page 1 Article — Continued
The Campaign for Compassionate Care was launched to help residents across Presby’s 33—market-rate and affordable
housing—communities.
The Campaign for Compassionate Care
Presby sets out to sustain sixty years of
vision, leadership and service
Continued from page 1
In order to continue our legacy of compassionate care,
Presby has launched The
Campaign for Compassionate Care a unique, historical
opportunity for supporters
to celebrate the milestone
of Presby’s 60th Anniversary
by helping to reaffirm the
ministry’s commitment to
ensuring quality living experiences to residents who
need us most.
“I am blessed to have so
many friends here at Presby
who helped me obtain charitable assistance for eyewear that I would never be
able to afford. It’s gratifying
to know and to witness the
heartwarming generosity
of others who demonstrate
their concern in such meaningful, life-changings ways.”
Lillian, Reed Street Presbyterian Apartments
The impact of your generosity can truly help transform lives---here’s why…
• Almost $5 million in
benevolent care supports
residents in our market-rate
communities who have difficulty meeting the cost of
their own care due to everincreasing healthcare costs.
• Seventy-three percent of
residents in our affordable
housing communities report
individual annual incomes
below $10,000—less than
the U.S. Poverty Level.
• Each year, Presby honors requests for assistance
with medical bills and other
health-related expenses
from residents facing financial hardship.
• There exist a $3 million
gap between the cost of
skilled nursing and what is
covered by medical assistance.
To learn more about how
you can help Presby’s
Inspired Life continue its
legacy of compassionate
care visit our website at
www.PresbysInspiredLife.
org or contact Lynn
Johnson-Porter at Lynn.
[email protected].
RESERVE YOUR TICKETS
Presby’s Inspired
Service Dinner
OCTOBER 29, 2015
www.PresbysInspiredLife.org
call 610-260-1153
Inspirations
~
Page 7
VISIONARY
GIVING
INSPIRATI NS
2000 Joshua Road
Lafayette Hill, PA 19444-24430
W
e hope that
you’ll consider
including a gift to
Presby’s Inspire Life in your
will or living trust. Called
a “charitable bequest,” this
type of gift offers these main
benefits:
• Simplicity
• Flexibility
• Versatility
• Tax Relief
How It Works
To make a charitable
bequest, you need a current
will or revocable living trust.
Your gift can be made as
a percentage of your estate.
Or you can make a specific
bequest by giving a certain
amount of cash, securities or
personal property.
After your lifetime, Presby’s
Inspired Life receives
your gift.
How to Complete
Your Gift
1. Choose what to give.
Pick from one of four
options:
a. A specific bequest
provides a particular
piece of property
b. A general bequest
provides a stated sum
of money.
c. A residuary bequest
provides the “rest,
residue and remainder”
of your estate after all
other bequest, debts and
taxes have been paid.
d. A continent bequest
requires a certain event
to occur before the gift
can happen.
You can make your
bequest in honor or in
memory of someone special.
Also, you may decide how
you would like Presby’s
Inspired Life to use
your gift.
Meet with your estate
planning attorney and
contact Lynn JohnsonPorter to learn more about
charitable bequests or
to let us know when you
have made plans for such
a gift. We would enjoy the
opportunity to thank you
for your thoughtfulness
and generosity. Also, we
would like to recognize
you as a member of The
Sower’s Society for including
Presby’s Inspired Life in
your estate plans and
ensuring that our mission is
fulfilled long into the future.
Lynn Johnson-Porter
Vice President of Philanthropy
PHONE:
610-260-1153
EMAIL:
Lynn.Johnson-Porter@
presbysinspiredlife.org