3 Celebrating our Donors An afternoon of appreciation and new beginnings
8 West End Expansion
City approval of plans marks development milestone Dr. Raymond and Mrs. Lillian Fuller inspired others throughout their lifetimes with their giving spirit.
It has been a busy first few months in my new role as the Executive Director of the Beacon Hill Foundation! Since starting in mid-May, I’ve had the pleasure of hosting a donor appreciation event with 60 of our closest friends, celebrating a record number of employee scholarship recipients, and joining you for Concerts on the Green, among many other projects.
I’ve also had an opportunity to get to know many of you during this time. Thank you for being so willing to spend time sharing your stories, your ideas, and your perspectives with me. Beacon Hill is truly a special community, and I cannot thank you enough for the warm welcome.
Our work together is only just beginning! In the pages ahead, we highlight the ways in which your support has made an impact on Beacon Hill this year, and we look to the future with new and creative ways to support this community. Finally, we share with you the excitement around the new West End development, which will come with even more opportunities for philanthropic support.
Thank you again for welcoming me to Beacon Hill. Please feel free to give me a call or stop by for a conversation. I look forward to spending even more time with each of you in the months and years ahead.
Libby Wahlstrom Foundation Executive Director
libby.wahlstrom@ beaconhillgr.org
(616) 608-8285
In gratitude,
On a beautiful afternoon in July, the Beacon Hill Foundation welcomed our many generous donors to the Vistas patio for our annual Donor Appreciation Event. This year’s event featured a conversation around sustainability with Joe Rinkevich, Beacon Hill’s Sustainability Advisor. Much of Joe’s cutting-edge work at Beacon Hill has been funded with the support of the Foundation and our generous donors. We were pleased to have him here to give an update on the project’s impressive progress.
During the event, we also celebrated Andi Allen who retired in June from her role as Foundation Director and is now serving as an ambassador for the Foundation. The event also provided an opportunity to welcome our new Executive Director of the Foundation, Libby Wahlstrom. The Beacon Hill Foundation is blessed to have so many wonderful donors, and we are already looking forward to next year’s appreciation event!
Dr. Ray and Lillian Fuller built their lives around giving. Their son Chet remembers, “Our parents centered their lives around the churches we belonged to, the Missions they supported in the U.S. and internationally, and the growth of God’s church.” The couple travelled together on 25 medical mission trips, helped start numerous churches in the area, and served on the boards of Christian nonprofits and schools. They passed down their giving spirit to their children. “Our Dad taught us about giving from our earliest years,” Chet says. “He made sure we understood that all that we are and all that we have comes from God and belongs to God.”
A groundbreaking cardiologist in Grand Rapids, Dr. Fuller spent his life caring for others. He was a devoted family man, a missionary, a church builder, and a generous philanthropist. He and his wife of 69 years, Lillian, raised five children in addition to informally “adopting” others who needed the support of a family.
Years ago, when it came time for Lillian to need memory care, the couple moved to Beacon Hill where their generosity continued. Ray and Lillian made Beacon Hill their home. Chet remembers lengthy walks to dinner so that Ray could talk with everyone. “I wanted to remind him there isn’t a Beacon Hill mayor!”
After Lillian’s passing in 2021, Ray set up an endowed employee scholarship fund in her memory. The fund, specifically designated to
to the Foundation, making him one of the Foundation’s most generous donors. Beacon Hill lost a pillar of our community this summer when Dr. Raymond Fuller passed away at the age of 96. Per his request, Ray’s deposit will support Chaplaincy programs and the Benevolent Care Fund at Beacon Hill.
As Chet says, “Our Dad loved Beacon Hill. He thought the world of the staff and really enjoyed the company of his friends. We were very happy our parents lived at Beacon Hill.”
A dedicated man of faith, Dr. Fuller began sending scripture verses to his friends during his last months. His last text message read (unedited): “Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. Ps 89:2 This is the Lord’s Day let us rejoice and be glad in it, Have a blessed day.”
Dr. Raymond Fuller was certainly a blessing to us all and will be deeply missed.
Ashley Borysiak Western Michigan University, Clinical Mental Health Counseling
Karla Coronel-Galain Grand Rapids Community College, Business Administration and Marketing
Ross Medical Institute, Medical Assistant Training
Top row, left to right: April Schaab (Operations Director), Jeff Huegli, (President and CEO), Mary McLoughlin (Foundation Trustee), Libby Wahlstrom (Foundation Executive Director), Kristin Gootjes (Fundraising Consultant). Bottom row, left to right: Amanda Daggett (Clinical Care Director), Dr. Raymond Fuller (Resident and Donor)
This spring, the Beacon Hill Foundation was pleased to award an employee scholarship to Amanda Daggett, Clinical Care Director. This scholarship was made possible through the generosity of Dr. Raymond Fuller and the Lillian Fuller Endowed Employee Scholarship Fund. The funds are supporting Amanda in her Executive MBA program at the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University.
Joe Rauwerda Azusa Pacific University, Communications Management
It’s through donors like you, and like Dr. Fuller, who help make a difference in the futures of our employees.”
AMANDA DAGGETT, RN
Did you know that making a cash donation is merely one of many ways that you can support the Beacon Hill Foundation? From donating stock to designating the Foundation as a beneficiary for your life insurance, there are plenty of non-cash giving options that not only fit your goals, but also leave a lasting impact on our community.
If you’re 70 ½ or older, you can make a sizable gift to the Beacon Hill Foundation from your individual retirement account (IRA) and receive significant tax benefits in return. Distributions made directly to charity are not treated as taxable income. Gifts are also tax-free to the charity, so the full amount of your generous gift will go to the Foundation.
Remembering the Beacon Hill Foundation in your will or trust is a simple and straightforward way to leave a legacy of generosity to this community.
Lifetime income gifts, such as a charitable gift annuity or a charitable reminder trust, provide income to you as well as support for the Foundation. These “win-win-win” giving vehicles can be established by giving cash or assets you no longer care to manage (think rental property or vacation homes!). With these gifts, you may receive an immediate tax deduction at the time of your gift and then a lifetime of payments for you or a loved one. The remainder of your gift will support the Beacon Hill Foundation.
You can increase your potential impact, and experience significant tax savings, by giving non-cash assets such as:
• Stock or marketable securities
• Real estate
• Business interests
• Farm commodities
• Life insurance
• Retirement assets, such as gifts from your IRA
To learn more, contact Libby Wahlstrom, Executive Director of the Beacon Hill Foundation, at libby.wahlstrom@beaconhillgr.org or call 616-608-8285.
This September, the Beacon Hill Foundation welcomed renowned author and dementia care expert Rachael Wonderlin for an insightful and impactful series of educational sessions. Rachael has a Master’s in Gerontology and is a Johns Hopkins University Press three-time published author. As a leading figure in dementia care, Rachael delivered two presentations to residents, families, volunteers, and community members, free of charge, underscoring Beacon Hill’s commitment to supporting ongoing education around dementia.
“I am so pleased we were able to bring Rachel to Beacon Hill this fall,” says Gayle Wolffis, Beacon Hill’s Social Service Manager and Dementia Care Coordinator. “Her unique frameworks empower caregivers to connect more deeply with those living with dementia by creating an experience where it mimics their world.” Gayle continues, “Rachel’s work offers much-needed support and relief to caregivers and families. And this helps to improve care for this growing segment of our community.”
Gayle is leading Beacon Hill’s efforts to provide care and support to those living with dementia and their caretakers. She holds ongoing training sessions for staff and volunteers, communicates with new residents’ families about our approach to dementia care, and is always available to those who need help navigating memory support.
Gayle’s collaboration with Rachael Wonderlin is just one more piece of our ongoing commitment to bring cutting-edge, evidencebased dementia care to our community. Through regular grantmaking, the Beacon Hill Foundation is committed to supporting significant portions of this work, including Rachel’s visit. Previous grants have supported the purchase of the Tovertafel magic tables, national training for staff on dementia care, and the implementation of the “Dementia by Day” program for families and staff.
After years of planning, we are pleased to announce that the City of Grand Rapids has officially approved our plans for the West End expansion. This approval is a pivotal moment for Beacon Hill at Eastgate, allowing us to advance this highly anticipated project that will significantly enhance our ability to deliver exceptional care.
The West End expansion, a 400,000-squarefoot addition, marks the third major development for Beacon Hill in the past decade. This project will introduce 103 brandnew one- and two-bedroom independent living residences, increasing our capacity to 299 residences. These new homes will enable us to extend our commitment to providing high-quality, independent living options to even more seniors.
Beyond expanding independent living, this project also involves a major redevelopment of our original site, which began as Michigan Christian Home in the 1950’s. The West End will feature all-new assisted living and memory support residences.
The expansion integrates modern amenities with natural beauty, designed to enrich the lives of our residents while maintaining a connection
with the surrounding Eastgate neighborhood. Residents and community members can look forward to enjoying expanded green spaces, terraces, and gardens, all thoughtfully designed to create a peaceful and inviting atmosphere. New walking paths will encourage outdoor activity and allow community members to enjoy our campus.
Beacon Hill’s President and CEO, Jeff Huegli, emphasized the importance of this expansion in our mission to deliver outstanding care. “Our latest expansion will allow us to provide our unsurpassed care, world-class amenities, and award-winning culinary program to even more seniors in the community,” says Huegli.
“With the addition of West End, we will continue to combine beautiful settings with innovative, personalized services that allow our residents to live their best lives.”
JEFF HUEGLI, PRESIDENT AND CEO
In addition to the expanded living spaces, the West End will introduce a variety of new amenities, including a large terrarium space — a glass enclosure designed for warmth, greenery, and engagement with the natural world. Other amenities include expanded gardens, courtyards, and a coffee shop, offering residents, their families, and the broader community spaces to relax, socialize, and enjoy life together.
Construction for the West End expansion is slated to begin in 2026, with completion expected in early 2028. Developed by Greenbrier Development and designed by PRDG, this project represents a significant step forward for Beacon Hill at Eastgate. It reflects our unwavering commitment to providing a state-of-the-art living environment where residents can age gracefully, live optimally, and continue to receive the exceptional care they deserve.
FROM AN IRA
There is a simple and easy way to support the Beacon Hill Foundation. Looking to stretch the value and impact of your charitable dollar? For supporters who qualify, giving from an IRA is an obvious and convenient solution.
If you are at least 70 ½ years old, you can give up to $105,000 from your IRA to the Beacon Hill Foundation and receive significant tax benefits in return.
A GIFT FROM YOUR IRA
• allows you to give in a substantial way.
• reduces your taxable income (whether or not you itemize!).
• can be used to fulfill any charitable pledges you’ve made.
• will fulfill all or part of your required minimum distributions.
IF YOU’RE INTERESTED in giving through your IRA or learning more, contact Libby Wahlstrom at (616) 608-8285 or libby.wahlstrom@beaconhillgr.org.
Through Celebrating the Arts, the Beacon Hill Foundation is delighted to bring world-class entertainment to Beacon Hill for all our residents and the extended Eastgate neighborhood to enjoy. This fall, we were pleased to feature musicians and artists from across the country, representing a variety of musical tastes and talents. These included the music stylings of pianist Mark DeZwaan, the classical Trio Allegro musicians, and popular song renditions from Diane Penning and Philip Pletcher. The incredible generosity of our dedicated donors like Mr. and Mrs. Steven and Ginny Orban, Mr. Richard Beale, friends of David McCoy — and donors like you — make this possible. Your support allows us to continue to offer talented performances within our community.
“We support Celebrating the Arts because Beacon Hill provides a great venue to bring top talent and musical variety from around the country. The concerts are a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon!”
STEVEN AND GINNY ORBAN, RESIDENTS AND DONORS
Sunday, September 22 at 2:00 PM Community House Auditorium
MARK DEZWAAN , Piano
A native of Grand Rapids, Mark DeZwaan is a piano soloist and chamber musician featured throughout the United States and China. He blends his expertise as a concert pianist and technologist to captivate audiences with his profound performance. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at Bradley University, instructing classes across the music curriculum. This performance was made possible thanks to the generosity of donors and residents Steven and Ginny Orban.
Sunday, October 27 at 2:00 PM Community House Auditorium
TRIO ALLEGRO: Christine Golden, Violin; Michelle Benjamin, Clarinet; Philip Pletcher, Piano
The talented Trio Allegro features the skilled artistry of three impressive musicians who together assemble a powerful and moving production as they perform classical and notable pieces. This Memorial Concert was dedicated to David McCoy and made possible by Beacon Hill Friends of David McCoy.
Sunday, November 10 at 2:00 PM Community House Auditorium
DIANE PENNING , Soprano and PHILIP PLETCHER , Piano
Dynamic duo Diane Penning and Philip Pletcher share the stage to deliver heartfelt vocals as they present an array of popular music with songs well-known and wellloved by all. Sing along as they share the tunes you know. This performance is made possible by the generosity of resident and donor donor Richard Beale.
BEACON HILL FOUNDATION BOARD
Micki Benz Chairperson
Cheryl Blair Trustee
Carl Dufendach Trustee
Jeffrey Huegli
President
Skip Knapp III
Treasurer
Mary McLoughlin Trustee
Jim Rauwerda Trustee
Christine Visner Trustee
Beacon Hill Foundation Staff
Libby Wahlstrom Executive Director
Ensuring that Beacon Hill at Eastgate continues to meet the physical, social and spiritual needs of its residents, has adequate resources for development of its campus and facilities, and remains an integral part of the Eastgate neighborhood.