Full Circle Spring/Summer 2026

Full Circle ISSUE NO. 2

A MAGAZINE FOR CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

SPRING/ SUMMER

2026

STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

Each time I visit him, to sing “Lecha Dodi” or bring him challah my daughter made, I drive up the driveway and look to my left and see the memories of my children’s little faces from 20 years ago waiting for me in the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School carpool lane. I smile knowing how proud my Abba was that they went there. And I park in front of Cohen-Rosen House and see that we have come Full Circle.

—Aliza Lerner

ANGELA WILLINGHAM, CFRE

Vice President of Resource Development

Notes from readers show the strength of our community When we introduced the inaugural issue of Full Circle last fall, we spent over a year planning the details. There were many iterations of looks, titles and even paper options.

However, the purpose of the magazine was always clear.

We want to share stories of life, connection and community that show you, our dedicated supporters, what it is really like here. Stories of resilience. Stories of our residents thriving. Stories of new adventures. Stories of wellness and connection. And stories of coming home.

What I did not fully anticipate was how personally those stories would resonate.

In the weeks following the magazine’s release, I received notes and calls from donors, residents, family members, volunteers and associates who each shared how much they enjoyed it. Their reflections were thoughtful, heartfelt and often deeply personal. They reminded me that this publication is not simply a magazine; it is both a window and a mirror. A window to see into the lives of others and a mirror to reflect our shared humanity — the memories, relationships and everyday moments that connect us across generations and remind us that each story matters.

Among the many responses we received was a reflection from Aliza Lerner, whose father lives at Cohen-Rosen House, our memory care residence. She wrote to share how deeply the name Full Circle resonated with her family and how returning to this community felt like a meaningful homecoming after many years away. Her full story, which you will find on page 29, is a beautiful illustration

of how place, memory and belonging intertwine in ways we often do not fully appreciate until we experience them ourselves.

Receiving notes like hers felt like a gift. They affirmed that Full Circle can reach beyond the pages of a magazine and into the lived experiences of the people we serve. They also reinforced something I believe deeply — that the strength of this community lies in the relationships and stories that connect one generation to the next. Whether someone arrives here for the first time or returns after many years away, they bring with them a lifetime of experiences, identities and connections that continue to shape who they are.

As we move forward with future issues of Full Circle, my hope is that this publication will continue to reflect the voices and lived experiences of those who call this community home. The stories shared within these pages are not simply narratives to be read and forgotten. They are the threads that bind us together. We are grateful to everyone who has embraced Full Circle, offered feedback and entrusted us with their reflections. It is an honor to hold space for these stories and to celebrate the many ways life continues to come full circle at Charles E. Smith Life Communities.

FULL CIRCLE is published by Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Inc., DBA Charles E. Smith Life Communities. Hebrew Home is a registered charity in Maryland and Virginia.

A copy of our financial statement is available from the Maryland Secretary of State or the Virginia State Office of Consumer Affairs.

Bruce J. Lederman, President/CEO Angela Willingham, Vice President Resource Development Willingham@ceslc.org Erica Heiney, Director of Communications Laura McDaniel, Editor Julie Babler, Creative Director ©

2026 by Hebrew Home of Greater Washington 6121 Montrose Road North Bethesda, MD 20852 Contact us: giving@ceslc.org www.smithlifecommunities.org Hebrew Home of Greater Washington 301-770-8470 Assisted Living 301-450-7433

STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

Kenneth H. Becker, Chair

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FEATURES

Independent Living 301-450-7097 Hirsh Health Center 301-816-5004 ElderSAFE™ Center 301-816-5099

12 BRICK BY BRICK LEGO play, where everyone is included

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Full Circle ISSUE NO. 2

A MAGAZINE FOR CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES SPRING/ SUMMER

2026

41 YEARS OF SERVICE A conversation with Sandi Bragin

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DEPARTMENTS 4

ON CAMPUS News from around our community

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ASSOCIATE SPOTLIGHT Annie Tran Director, Recreational Therapy

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SNAPSHOT Puppy love

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ANNUAL REPORT A wrap-up of 2025

LANDOW FOLLIES Talent revue is an overnight sensation

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49

OUR PAST Volunteers and residents worked together on weaving baskets and strengthening skills and connections.

A TIME TO SHINE Residents take center stage through creative partnership with Theater J

ONCampus

AWARDS + RECOGNITION HEBREW HOME RECOGNIZED

SHABBAT BLOOMS In Jewish tradition, flowers are a reflection of the beauty of creation — varied, vibrant and full of life. Placing them throughout each residence before Shabbat is a simple gesture that honors this tradition and helps mark the transition into a day of rest.

Each Friday, students from Ivymount School spend the morning at Wasserman Residence carefully arranging fresh bouquets. When they are finished, the students deliver the flowers to the welcome desks and nursing stations of each residence, adding color and quiet beauty as Shabbat approaches. Their weekly visits have become a familiar rhythm on campus and a small but meaningful way to usher in Shabbat.

Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, the flagship skilled nursing center at Charles E. Smith Life Communities, has again been recognized

by U.S. News & World Report among the nation’s best nursing homes for short-term rehabilitation and long-term care. This is the fourth time Hebrew Home has earned both recognitions simultaneously since U.S. News & World Report separated its Best Nursing Homes list into the two distinct categories.

In addition to this honor, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington was also recently recognized by Newsweek on its 2026 America’s Best Nursing Homes list. The Newsweek rankings are based on performance data, peer recommendations, accreditations and resident satisfaction.

This program, known as Shabbat Blooms, is made possible through the steady generosity of donors to the Guardian Campaign, whose support helps sustain the simple touches that bring warmth and beauty to daily life at Charles E. Smith Life Communities.

4 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

PHOTO: Sara Hefez

CELEBRATING A CHERISHED MILESTONE Eight Revitz House residents recently celebrated a milestone most of them had waited many decades to reach: their b’nai mitzvah.

For the women, a bat mitzvah wasn’t an option when they came of age. One resident, who grew up in Russia, only learned she was Jewish while fleeing the country decades ago. She quietly carried the knowledge with her for years, always wanting to connect more deeply to Judaism.

Over several months, the residents studied, reflected and engaged with Jewish tradition under the instruction of CESLC volunteer Rabbi Emily Howard-Meyer.

Honoring Natalie West—

JEWISH WOMEN INTERNATIONAL WOMEN TO WATCH AWARD

The February celebration brought together children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, associates and fellow residents to share in the joyful moment.

Natalie West, immediate past chair of Charles E. Smith Life Communities’ Board of Governors, was recently recognized with the prestigious Sondra D. Bender Award at the Jewish Women International Women to Watch Leadership Conference. This national honor celebrates Jewish women whose leadership, vision and service create lasting impact in their communities.

West’s connection to senior care and Jewish communal life runs deep.

A longtime volunteer and dedicated leader at Charles E. Smith Life Communities and Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, she has devoted decades to enhancing the lives of older adults and strengthening community engagement. Following her tenure as board chair, she continues her service as immediate past chair and current chair of CESLC SeniorCare Ventures, Inc. Beyond our campus, West has contributed her time and talents to numerous initiatives that uplift women and support Jewish life throughout the region. Her leadership reflects a sustained commitment to compassion, connection and purpose — values embodied by this well-deserved recognition.

We are proud to celebrate West and are grateful for the lasting difference she continues to make in our community.

REMEMBERING HEDY PEYSER Hedy Peyser, who retired in 2014 after more than 43 years as director of volunteers at Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, passed away in December 2025. During her tenure, Peyser brought a background in social work and a meaningful understanding of human connection to every interaction.

People who worked with Peyser remember her with deep affection. The culture of volunteerism she built continues to bring energy and connection to daily life across our residences. May the memory of Hedy Peyser always be a blessing.

OUR People PHOTO: Gary Landsman

6 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

ANNIE TRAN Director, Recreational Therapy

Associate Spotlight KEY RESPONSIBILITIES As director of recreational therapy, I plan inclusive, person-centered opportunities that allow residents to enjoy programs tailored to their preferences. My role emphasizes enhancing well-being, creating connection and meeting our residents where they are.

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND I began working with older adults as a volunteer in middle and high school. Those early experiences sparked a deep curiosity about aging, which led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in gerontology.

I gained hands-on experience working in city government, where I coordinated a mentorship program connecting older adult volunteers with students in Individualized Education Programs.

I later transitioned into senior living at CESLC, first as an activity assistant before I was promoted to director. I find deep fulfillment in forming genuine connections with older adults from all walks of life.

Each day brings new stories, perspectives and relationships that shape me personally and professionally.

WHAT I ENJOY MOST The most rewarding part of my work is planning and organizing events behind the scenes. While I lead the Recreational Therapy Department, my amazing team, especially our resident activity assistants, plays a central role in the planning process—they provide vital insights into residents’ interests, preferences and needs, and

guide how we design and adapt every program. The most memorable moments are when residents are laughing and fully engaged, and associates and volunteers are right there with them, dancing at a concert, cheering at a carnival game or joining an international night celebration. Seeing everyone come together, sharing joy and connection, makes all the preparation and hard work worthwhile and reminds me why this work matters.

RECENT INNOVATIONS I enjoy bringing fresh, creative ideas to residents – often inspired by social media trends. I recently saw a teen and her family on TikTok doing an immersive exercise video and adapted it for Hebrew Home. The response was incredible; residents loved it and even associates joined in the fun. Since no single approach works for everyone, by experimenting with new approaches, I can create meaningful experiences that truly engage residents and bring joy to their day.

HOW I MEASURE SUCCESS True success isn’t measured by program attendance— it’s when residents can participate and enjoy, without anyone feeling left out because their abilities or limitations differ. It’s when a resident eagerly says, ‘I don’t want to miss the afternoon concert,’ or when they struggle to choose between multiple programs because they want to participate in all of them. The goal is creating joy, connection and participation for every resident, honoring their individual abilities and ensuring everyone can be part of the experience.

7 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

ONCampus

Landow Follies is an overnight sensation Landow Follies only began last year, but it is already a Landow House tradition.

Dorothy “Dottie” Preston created the event last winter to get to know her new neighbors and experience a bit of added joy, never dreaming how much it would add to so many others’ lives.

When she first arrived at Landow House, Preston said she felt a little lost, but it wasn’t long before she landed on the idea to create the evening and put on a show. She has extensive experience from many years organizing receptions

was to get as many people as possible involved in some way.”

By the next fall, returning performers were joined by more residents, associates and even family members eager to participate. Preston is delighted by their enthusiasm. She found the same level of support from Landow House associates. Everyone from the chef to the lifestyle and leisure manager has supported her vision and helped make the event special. Executive Director Kathy Triggs even played the Statue of Liberty in the finale of last year’s Stars and Stripes-themed show, and she still has the star-studded tiara Preston made for her on display in her office.

“The objective “It’s made me happy; I don’t even think was to get as about the first part of my life,” Preston many people as said. “I’m 96, so I’m going to enjoy the part of my life doing things I enjoy possible involved.” latter doing. I feel this whole community here is one that will help me and support me.” and fundraising events and had a clear vision for the Follies that made it an easy sell with the many people whose support she needed.

The first Landow Follies evening started with a reception for the residents, followed by a special dinner before the main event – a variety show featuring performances by residents and associates she had recruited to take part. It was an overnight sensation. “We had a fun night,” Preston said. “The objective

In 2026 the theme is Meet Me at the Fair.

“We’re going to take a road trip around the U.S.,” Preston said.

Each show is the result of months of behind-the-scenes preparation, from recruiting the performers to writing the script Preston will narrate, organizing costumes and rehearsals. Preston is involved from start to finish.

She welcomes anyone who wants to sing, dance or read a poem. She’ll be there to keep the theme moving along.

8 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

Dorothy “Dottie” Preston

PHOTO: LisaHelfert

WORD WORD ON THE STREET

DESTINATION PASSPORT DINING PROGRAM

PHOTO: Gary Landsman

“The meal, the service and the dining room decorations made dinner a memorable occasion today...WOW!”

PHOTO: LisaHelfert

Coq au vin and beef bourguignon in Paris. Harira soup, Moroccan chicken and lamb tagine in Morocco. Vegetable enchiladas, posole soup and churros in Mexico. Residents at Ring House and Landow House are embarking on a new culinary journey each month through the Destination Passport Dining program. Lifestyle and leisure and recreational therapy associates transform the dining rooms with themed décor, while dining services associates transport residents with authentic, destination-inspired meals. At the end of each evening, residents earn a new stamp in their culinary passport.

More than a meal, it’s an experience designed for engagement, connection and joy.

9 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

“Reflecting a true expression of Chesed More than 280 senior leaders and associates stayed on campus overnight throughout a January weekend to ensure uninterrupted care and services for residents during a major winter storm. Associates from Dining Services, Nursing, Physician Services, Facilities/Engineering and other essential departments worked together to keep our community safe, comfortable and supported throughout the storm. Their preparedness and teamwork reflect a true expression of Chesed – our value of acting with kindness, empathy and caring.

— acting with kindness, empathy and caring.”

ONCampus SNAPSHOT

10 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

PUPPY LOVE There was lots of puppy love at Smith-Kogod Residence and Ring House when residents had the chance to enjoy puppy yoga.

Puppies joined a brief session of gentle yoga tailored to our community, and afterwards residents stayed to cuddle, hold and play with the puppies. Each participant also walked away with a keepsake Polaroid photo that captured the joy of the day.

This program was made possible by funding from the Harold & Shirley Robinson Hebrew Home Youth Philanthropy (H2YP) Program.

BRICK BY BRICK

BY LAURA MCDANIEL

12 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

{ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH BRAIN HEALTH}

LEGO PLAY, WHERE EVERYONE IS INCLUDED AND ALL VOICES ARE HEARD As a little girl, Loretta Veney remembers playing LEGOs with her mother. Good days or bad, they would dump out the box of bricks and build things, and they would talk as they played. Sometimes the conversations were fun and easy, other times a little more difficult, but conversations and bricks went hand in hand.

Veney’s mother was on to something. She knew that activity with those bricks made it easier for her kids to talk to her. In time, her wisdom would become a lifeline for her when dementia took its toll on her own communication skills.

While watching her mother struggle to find words, Veney remembered the bond they shared over LEGOs, and drew on the childhood habit of using play to ease the strain.

She brought out the bricks, and

sure enough, the activity had the same calming effect and helped them communicate.

Veney’s mother also taught her to always help other people, so when playing with LEGOs worked for her mom, Veney realized they might work for others too. She is now a certified LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® facilitator.

The idea of using toys to spark creative thinking is widely known in the business world, where team-building activities are common. LEGO developed the LEGO Serious Play program with that in mind. Veney opted to apply the principles to individuals living with dementia. The motto of the program is “everyone is included and all voices are heard,” and that aligns with her practice.

In a typical session with individuals living with dementia, which often

13 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

{ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH BRAIN HEALTH}

includes loved ones or professional caregivers, she guides them through a warm-up exercise where each person is asked to build a bridge. Once they’ve connected some bricks, Veney introduces the question of the day, such as, “What is the proudest accomplishment in your life so far?” or “What’s something you’ve always wanted to do?” Participants then build their responses with their bricks, and share with the group.

Participants and their loved ones are sometimes skeptical. Some residents worry they aren’t creative enough, and some loved ones worry that encouraging a bucket list will only lead to disappointment. However, by the end of the sessions, the doubts fade. They realize it doesn’t matter if what someone built looks like a childhood home or a rocket ship or something else entirely, because the beauty is in the building and the conversation it sparks.

The spirit of the day is appreciating the effort, so Veney encourages the group to applaud one another’s efforts and keep moving forward.

One example comes from a son who objected to the idea that his father, who was living with dementia, could accomplish something new. While the son was struggling with this, his father was focused on building.

When he finished, he held up a tall structure with a point at the top and said he’d always wanted to see the

“THE BUILDING SERVES AS A FORM OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE, ENCOURAGING FINE MOTOR COORDINATION AND COGNITIVE STIMULATION, AND THE CONVERSATIONS SPARK MEANINGFUL INTERPERSONAL CONNECTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO MENTAL WELLNESS.” Eiffel Tower. They all clapped and moved on. Months later, Veney received a thank you note and a photo of father and son at the Eiffel Tower.

Not all outcomes are as dramatic, but she has many stories of joy, happy tears and appreciation.

Director of Recreational Therapy Annie Tran recently partnered with Veney to bring the program to

Hebrew Home of Greater Washington. Tran likes this addition to the programming roster because it gives the residents a way to work with their hands. “Our other programs are specific, but LEGOs are flexible,” she said. The building serves as a form of physical exercise, encouraging fine motor coordination and cognitive stimulation, and the conversations spark meaningful interpersonal connections that contribute to mental wellness.

The first session at Hebrew Home was titled “Building Lifetime Achievements and Some Joy, Too.” During the bridge-building warmup exercise, residents experimented with different bridge designs – some simple, some more elaborate – and one resident even built a working drawbridge. Participants were then asked to use their imaginations and build some joy. The results included a horse, flowers, a boxcar, a robot and a dog, each inspiring conversation about what made them meaningful.

Residents came to the challenge with varying degrees of familiarity with LEGOs and thoughts about how the activity would unfold, but by the end, they were all engaged.

Even some who came just to observe were offering suggestions to the builders. “It was neat how they were able to figure it out and problem solve,” Tran said.

14 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

PHOTOS: Jerry Frishman

Loretta Veney

15 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

{ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH BRAIN HEALTH}

A POSITIVE APPROACH

BY ERICA HEINEY

I TO CARE

f you’ve seen a training by Teepa Snow, it isn’t something you are likely to forget. She commands attention, switching quickly between addressing the room and interjecting with seemingly random thoughts and exclamations. The approach is intentional. This, she’s illustrating, is what you might experience when you are engaging with an individual with brain change.

Brain change is how Snow refers to physical and chemical changes that happen in the brain over time due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Beyond memory loss alone, brain change can impact communication, movement, impulse control, sensory processing and other areas, all affecting how an individual experiences and interacts with the world around them.

{ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH BRAIN HEALTH}

Snow is also intentional about the language used to describe those who support individuals living with dementia. Rather than the word “caregiver,” she prefers the term “care partner,” emphasizing relationship over responsibility.

The shift in wording reflects her philosophy that support is not something done to a person, but something shared with them — honoring dignity, autonomy and the continued personhood of each individual experiencing brain change.

Better understanding brain change and the many forms it can take is at the heart of Snow’s Positive Approach to Care®, her person-centered, relationship-based model for supporting people living with dementia and their care partners.

Senior Director of Clinical Excellence Susan Boettger, RN, MBA, had previous experience with Positive Approach to Care, and when the opportunity presented itself to bring a new dementia care model to Charles E. Smith Life Communities, she jumped at the chance to introduce Snow’s program.

“I wanted to see how we could better connect those who don’t have a clinical background or access to the clinical chart to our residents,” Boettger explained.

“So that everyone from a geriatric nursing assistant to an associate in our Recreational Therapy Department, to an environmental services associate, could interact in a way that makes a positive impact.”

When Snow or members of her team teach, they focus on how care partners can adjust their words, body language, tone and other verbal and nonverbal communication in a way that builds trust and connection with a person living with brain change.

At its core, Positive Approach to Care is designed to help care partners better understand what is happening in the brain and equip them with a toolbox of practical techniques that improve interactions and build meaningful connections with those impacted by these conditions.

The impact extends beyond associates.

Kaye Edwards-Lewis, director at Cohen-Rosen House, the campus’s dedicated memory care residence, introduced Positive Approach to Care to family members during a town hall last year. Interest was immediate.

One family member, a daughter eager to better connect with her mother, went home and watched videos of Snow online.

She returned to campus to watch as associates demonstrated Snow’s methods with residents, and soon after was putting the techniques into practice herself.

Using Snow’s Positive Physical Approach™, a step-by-step methodology for approaching and physically supporting a person living with brain change, she was able to help her mother lift her head to better engage with her without the usual aggravation.

“Wow,” Edwards-Lewis recounted the daughter saying. “It really works.”

For Edwards-Lewis, these moments underscore the power of equipping all care partners with these practical tools.

According to Boettger, when care partners better understand brain change and adjust their own behavior, the potential benefits can help achieve the primary goal of improved connection, but they can also extend much further to include:

Fewer falls.

Fewer unnecessary hospitalizations.

Fewer instances of residents exhibiting distress.

Fewer associate injuries related to resident care.

Greater associate satisfaction.

Improved associate retention.

18 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

Better understanding brain change and the many forms it can take is at the heart of Snow’s Positive Approach to Care®, her personcentered, relationship-based model for supporting people living with dementia and their care partners.

19 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

TEEPA SNOW

ACCORDING TO THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NEARLY 7 MILLION AMERICANS LIVE WITH SOME FORM OF DEMENTIA. IF YOU ARE SUPPORTING SOMEONE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA, TRY TEEPA SNOW’S POSITIVE PHYSICAL APPROACH™: • Get into the person’s visual range, pausing approximately six feet away.

• Place your open hand next to your face, smile and greet them by name.

• Offer your hand in a handshake position.

• If they extend their hand, approach slowly from the front with your hand extended.

• Move from handshake to Hand-underHand® position (placing pressure to the palm of the hand, not the top or sides).

• Move from the front to their side, getting into a supportive stance.

SCAN THE QR CODE TO WATCH A BRIEF VIDEO DEMONSTRATION

To learn more about Teepa Snow’s Positive Approach to Care, Snow Approach Skills and Positive Physical Approach, register for an upcoming Champion Course at bit.ly/TeepaSnowChampionCourse.

20 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

{ENRICHING LIVES THROUGH BRAIN HEALTH}

Edwards-Lewis said that anecdotally she has already observed some of these improvements. Tracking the data will be critically important to the project’s rollout.

When Positive Approach to Care was first introduced on campus in the second half of 2025, initial trainings focused on associates at Cohen-Rosen House and in the memory care units at Smith-Kogod Residence at Hebrew Home of Greater Washington.

Excitement built immediately to introduce the approach campus-wide.

After all, Snow makes clear that people living with diagnosed Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia aren’t the only ones who can benefit. Associates interacting with residents at all care levels can walk away with tools to improve interactions. So, associates in all departments and at all levels were soon invited to attend initial sessions with Teepa Snow and her team.

Introducing Positive Approach to Care in this way, Boettger said, ensures that no one on the sprawling campus has to wait “their turn” to begin implementing the basics of Snow’s techniques.

Boettger and Charles E. Smith Life Communities leadership see Positive Approach to Care as a culture change for the campus, and its introduction will take place in phases over years.

In tandem with this initial focus on building foundational skills for associates, selected managers and clinical leaders are receiving advanced training they will need to teach the program to others.

In later phases, the program will reach beyond campus to community partners, with a long-term goal of positioning Charles E. Smith Life Communities as a training center for Positive Approach to Care and a leader in innovative dementia care.

As part of this work, Charles E. Smith Life Communities is also collaborating with the Positive Approach to Care team to develop a new certification for licensed providers — an effort reflecting a shared commitment to advancing best practices in dementia care and expanding access to highquality training across the industry.

Introducing Positive Approach to Care in this way, Boettger said, ensures that no one on the sprawling campus has to wait “their turn” to begin implementing the basics of Snow’s techniques.

21 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

A LEGACY OF CARE AND COMMITMENT We are proud to share that the lead gift supporting the first year of Positive Approach to Care at Charles E. Smith Life Communities was generously provided by the David Bruce Smith Foundation.

David Bruce Smith, the grandson of Charles E. Smith, was enthusiastic about supporting this innovative dementia-care initiative. His family’s legacy has long been rooted in improving quality of life for others. In fact, in addition to his grandfather’s generous support to Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, he helped fund brain research at Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the mid-20th century — a commitment that reflects a family tradition of investing in knowledge, discovery and human well-being.

This lead investment from the David Bruce Smith Foundation makes it possible for associates across campus to receive specialized training and equips families and care partners with practical tools that foster dignity, connection and understanding for people living with brain change. It is a meaningful continuation of a legacy that began decades ago and continues to shape the future of care at Charles E. Smith Life Communities today.

QA

41 years {ENRICHING LIVES}

of service

Sandi Bragin Resident Services Coordinator, Revitz House

Decades of steady presence and a talent for kibitzing (the art of friendly joking and easy conversation) have made Sandi Bragin a familiar and beloved figure at Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC). She spent two decades as a volunteer and another 21 years as an associate. She officially retired from full-time work at the end of 2025, but like many associates at CESLC, she found it hard to say goodbye to a community that feels like family and chose to stay on a part-time basis.

For this Full Circle interview, we met at Revitz House, where her connection to the community is evident almost immediately. Upon my arrival, her unmistakable Philly accent carries joyously over the loudspeaker, announcing the day’s events and programs for residents. We sat down for our conversation in her office tucked just behind the R Café.

The space is less like an office and more like a time capsule of the past four decades. The walls are layered with photographs of residents, volunteers, colleagues and family, all intermingled, much like the life she has built here. Vintage comic strips, faded flyers and pieces of CESLC memorabilia fill the remaining spaces. All charming artifacts that together tell the story of a woman who has dedicated her life to the people in it.

22 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

Interviewed

by Angela Willingham

PHOTOS: Gary Landsman

A

ANGELA WILLINGHAM: I heard you have been here for over 41 years.

That is remarkable! What initially brought you to CESLC to volunteer?

SANDI BRAGIN: My cousin, Rachelle Shusterman, was head of activities for all the buildings. There wasn’t a West Campus back then – so just Wasserman, Smith-Kogod and Revitz House. And so I came over and started helping in activities in Wasserman.

AW: So that would have been in 1984…are any of these pictures from the early days?

Sandi gets up to show me some of the pictures.

SB: These photos are from back then. Here is Rachelle. Here is the old café – it has changed so much. Here is my good friend Pam – who was the activities director – we had the best time together. And here…look at these Western decorations for a party we had for the residents. My husband is a tax attorney (I know, that’s boring), but the D.C. Housing Authority had a party, and we went and you know what I did? I asked them, ‘What are you gonna do with all these decorations?’ They said they were going to just throw them away. Can you believe it? So, I asked if I could have them for Hebrew Home and they said yes. I used those decorations for years. I’m always looking for things for parties.

23 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

QA AW: So many fantastic memories in these pictures. What is your very first memory of volunteering at Hebrew Home back in 1984?

SB: Singing with Liz Kruger. She was a volunteer who played the guitar and I sang with her on the fifth floor at Wasserman. I was a horrible singer, but most of the residents were hard of hearing, so it didn’t matter. I would take their hands and dance with them, and we had the best time. From there, I started teaching exercise classes.

volunteer. She dragged me to Smith-Kogod and we sang and danced and got the residents involved. We were always together.

We used to drive residents in our cars to Indian Spring Country Club for luncheons. We would never drive residents in our own cars today, but it was a different time.

And we loved it. We got a nice lunch and got to spend time with the residents.

AW: You volunteered for 20 years

AW: Were you into fitness?

before you became an associate. Were you always active in the community?

SB: Not really, I took aerobics and I

SB: I guess so. I volunteered with

love music and people, so it worked.

Most of the residents were in wheelchairs so I would put on music, and we would stretch, do exercises and dance. We would even do the Hokey Pokey. It really didn’t matter what we did as long as they were getting some exercise and having fun.

Meals on Wheels for 15 years and I volunteered in the kitchen to prepare the luncheons at B’nai Shalom in Olney. I remember this one little stove we had to boil the eggs for egg salad sandwiches. And we would serve those and tuna sandwiches… just like I do here at Revitz in the café. I use the same recipes.

AW: Who was the first person who made you feel at home here?

SB: One resident named Mary; I’ll never forget her. I would do the exercises, and Mary would sleep in her chair. I would gently tap her on the shoulder and ask, ‘Mary, are you sleeping?’ and she would say ‘shlof bay nakht,’ which means 'sleep at night', and then we would all laugh.

Laughter is what I remember most, especially once I started working with Pauline Robinson – another

AW: There is something special about Revitz House. There is such joy here. You can feel it when you walk in. Why do you think that is?

SB: Two words…Diane Stern.

She’s the reason Revitz is so special.

She’s a fantastic executive director.

She just gets it. Do you know what I mean? Diane, Laurie Rudorfer (the social worker) and I have worked together to serve the residents these past 20-something years.

AW: Funny. When I asked Diane the same question, she said you.

She told me the three of you have worked together for so long that you instinctively know how to take care of one another as well as the residents. And she added, with a smile, that you show your love for everyone through food.

SB: That’s what they call the Jewish Mother Syndrome. I always want to make sure everyone is fed. And not just the residents, but the associates, too. I am always bringing them bagels and coffee to start their day.

We take care of each other.

Fifteen years ago, we started the café. I run it with support from some wonderful volunteers. Every Monday there is tuna or egg salad, and every Thursday is egg salad or a special. Today’s special is cheese blintzes. You’ll have to get some when we are through. Oh, and come back each week. We only charge $4. It’s a steal. You get a choice of entrée, side, dessert and a drink.

It used to be $3 for years, but we recently had to raise the price.

There was a knock on the door and Sandi answered. It was a resident who gave her a Tupperware dish filled with what looks like some sort of stew. Sandi thanked her and the resident looked over at me and waved before she left.

AW: Looks like they feed you, too.

SB: They do. Everyone is always sharing their favorite dishes with me. That resident is from the Philip-

24 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

SANDI BRAGIN

“Over the years I’ve done just about every job imaginable.”

41 years of service

25 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

41 years of service

26 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

“I kibitz with all the associates and residents to help them smile.”

pines, and she brings things from her country for me and my husband to try.

with food and supplies.)

That stuff is heavy…and I’m old.

AW: You are such an institution

JE: But seriously, when I

at CESLC. Over these last 41 years, what has stayed the same?

first came on board, Sandi was one of the first folks to reach out and introduce me to people around here.

She made me feel so warm and welcome. And whenever she needs something, she’s so nice about asking instead of demanding.

SB: The love that everyone shows you and the smiles from the residents. And kibitz. I kibitz with all the associates and residents to help them smile.

There is another knock at the door and she hollers…

SB: And what did I offer you in

SB: Is that Jay? Come on in!

JE: Lunch. I come over to do my

JAY EYSTER, CESLC’s director of materials management, walks in with a big grin.

quality control check every Monday and Thursday around this time. But I’ll let you all get back to the interview. Just make sure that everyone knows that Sandi is the best. We give her whatever she wants.

JE: What’s going on here?

AW: I am interviewing Sandi for Full Circle. Do you have anything you want to share about her?

SB: Jay, say something nice. Here, I have a dollar. I’ll pay you for it.

return, Jay?

SB: I wish my husband would say that.

We laugh and settle back in to finish the interview.

We all laugh.

AW: Do you help Sandi with

AW: What would your younger

the café?

self think about everything you have accomplished here?

JE: I help Sandi with a lot of

SB: I wouldn’t believe it. My

things, but yes, I purchase items she needs for the café. My official title around here though is ‘taste tester.’ I have to make sure we are compliant.

SB: Jay helps so I don’t have to schlep it all from my car like I used to. Look at all this stuff. (She motions to the large shelf filled top to bottom

cousin kept telling me to apply for a job here and I said, ‘No way. I don’t want to work that much.’ Back then I worked one day a week in a doctor’s office. The rest of my time was bowling league, aerobics and volunteering here one day a week. Then one day became two, two became three, and in 2004 I received the Kitty Davis

27 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Volunteer of the Year Award. After that, they offered me a position.

I helped everywhere in those early years…especially in the kitchen before we hired more associates. I baked cookies, set the dining room tables, even waitressed when they needed me. I loved washing dishes…except the pots and pans. That’s the one thing I refused to do. I didn’t want to ruin my nails.

Over the years I’ve done just about every job imaginable. I’ve fixed residents’ televisions, helped with paperwork, gave talks about free services in Montgomery County.

You name it, I’ve probably done it.

AW: You’ve worn so many hats here over the years. When you step back and reflect, what has working here taught you about life?

SB: It’s difficult to think back on all the residents I’ve known who are no longer here. But through all the pain and suffering, we have to smile and remember that life moves on.

We all have tsuris (troubles), but we have to live for the day. So that’s what I do. I live for the day.

PHOTOS: Lisa Helfert

28 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY

{ENRICHING LIVES}

A TIME TO SHINE Collaboration with Theater J offers Ring House residents a stage of their own

BY LAURA MCDANIEL

29 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

When Jeffrey Greenspan moved to Ring House two years ago, he found, among many other opportunities for engagement, the chance to pursue a lifelong interest.

A self-described conversationalist who likes to talk to anyone about anything, Greenspan was always confident on stage when he had the chance to act in amateur theater.

His career in researching treatments for cancer didn’t leave much time for acting, but now he has a way to fully indulge his more artistic side, through Charles E. Smith Life Communities’ partnership with nationally renowned Washington, D.C.-based Theater J. Through the programs, Greenspan has jumped into improv, comedy and classical acting. When residents recently performed an adaptation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” he played the mischievous and playful Puck.

Charlotte Goldy, though she has loved theater all her life, was afraid to get on stage before joining the troupe. As a professor of history at Miami University, it was routine for her to be in front of large groups, but that was a different context in which she was deeply knowledgeable and confident in the role of educator.

Theater J’s programs are the perfect approach for her too, as you can tell when she describes how they are conducted. Her voice picks up a joyfulness when she talks about this chance to let loose.

“They understand senior needs of all sorts, and are respectful of us while getting us to laugh at ourselves hysterically.”

The collaboration was launched to combat the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Theater J talent led virtual conversations with Ring House residents, bringing something lively and creative to the screen. But they sparked much more than a pleasant interaction: those first weekly virtual theater classes were the seeds of a lasting partnership.

Now, residents can’t wait to sign up for the next cohort, and the theater’s instructors are just as eager to be part of the programs.

Odds were good that this connection would pop. Theater J, led by Artistic Director Hayley Finn and Managing Director David Lloyd Olson, is the nation’s largest and most prominent Jewish theater, with a mission to preserve and expand a rich Jewish theatrical tradition and create community through theater.

In turn, Ring House residents bring curiosity and plenty of life experience to the roles. Many participants, like Greenspan and Goldy, have a lifelong appreciation for theater.

Some not as much, but it works for all of them.

In Goldy’s many appearances, despite her stage fright, she has emerged as a natural performer.

“I’ve always loved theater, but I’ve always been scared of being on stage, except one time when I had to be a witch in school,” she said.

“When I got here, I went to a performance and loved it and started signing on whenever it’s offered.”

She is particularly appreciative of the Theater J instructors’ accommodations, be it a mobility issue or

something along the lines of stage fright. “They understand senior needs of all sorts, and are respectful of us while getting us to laugh at ourselves hysterically.”

Goldy clearly adores it. “I don’t have to memorize and I can mug it up as much as I want to,” she said. “It’s the highlight of my time here. I can’t wait for them to come back.”

Greenspan echoed her praise. “I have immense appreciation for the efforts and talents of the Theater J personnel who have come to Ring House,” he said.

Once a week, participants make their way into a meeting room, greet the other thespians and settle into their regular places. The atmosphere is lively as they flip pages in their scripts and prepare for the session. This is a group of actors who love the craft, enjoy the rehearsals and revel in one another’s humor and suggestions for how to play their parts.

Many of the instructors are widely known in the theater world, including Erin Weaver, a seven-time Helen Hayes Award-winning actress, and Holly Twyford, a 10-time nominee and five-time winner of the Helen Hayes Award. The Hayes Awards recognize excellence in professional theater in the Washington, D.C. region. Nikki Crawford, who was nominated for a Tony for her starring role in “Fat Ham” on Broadway, has taught comedy but is out of the Ring House lineup at the moment, having been called out to Los Angeles to act in another TV show following her success in Netflix’s Cruel Intentions.

31 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Each instructor from Theater J brings their own approach, but most often the session begins with a warm-up exercise. Twyford is known to pace back and forth as she facilitates, stopping to listen and reflect when the participants speak. Weaver, too, likes to move.

Some say she is so fast at arranging music and props that she’s a blur of light and sound.

The cadence is two five-week sessions and one twelve-week session each year. The first performance of 2026 was scenes and songs from Fiddler on the Roof, led by Weaver.

Hester Kamin, Theater J’s education programs manager, echoed the participants’ praise for the collaboration. “The participants are incredibly funny and lively,” she said. “Our artists love going to Ring House and getting to know them, often over a period of years. What’s been most inspiring to us is that the residents are so committed to doing truly intensive arts programs. They rehearse on their own. They bring in props and costumes. They’re a joy.”

Kamin also appreciates the deeper reward from this project. Sparking joy is a worthy endeavor, but she sees added meaning in working with the people of Ring House. “This is the future,” she said. “People now live longer than ever before in history.

And no one stops thinking, developing, or wanting to engage with the arts, with complex topics, and with each other. Theater is our way of making that happen, and we’re so glad Ring House has become part of the Theater J family.”

letter TO the editor

Some call him “Abba.”

Many call him “Rabbi.”

This is how I hear the extraordinary associates at Cohen-Rosen House speak to my father.

My sisters and I have called him “Abba” (Hebrew for “father”) our whole lives. He gave all four of us names that reference Israel in the Torah. In his professional life, he was Rabbi Richard Yellin.

My father often said one needs a “shem tov,” a good name. He went by “Richie” to many of his friends.

When he moved to Israel, making Aliya in 1992, he became “Yitzchak” (or Yitz).

The name of the new magazine for Charles E. Smith Life Communities, Full Circle, represents so much in just two words.

My family came to Washington, D.C., in 1971. My father had graduated from Jewish Theological Seminary, served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army in Korea (which he loved and feels so strongly about until this day), and then became assistant rabbi at Adas Israel under Rabbi Stanley Rabinowitz.

He was 34 years old and was at Adas for 6 years.

Today, I can still go into the hall next to the main sanctuary and see him in his robe in the 1970s confirmation photos. He started a study group that has continued meeting for 50 years.

Growing up, we overheard phone calls saying, “Rabbi, we had a death in the family;” “Rabbi, I am getting married;” “Rabbi, my son is having his bar mitzvah.” The life cycle was a norm in our home.

My memories of him then were Purim hats and antics, singing loudly from the bimah, and being so happy to be in the nation’s capital, meeting with leaders from the Civil Rights Movement and beginning his lifelong commitment to interfaith dialogue.

My sisters and I started at the then-Solomon Schecter school based at Ohr Kodesh Congregation.

The school later became the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, whose lower school is next door to Cohen-Rosen.

Our family was only in Washington for six years, but the community and relationships we made here were formative and have lasted a lifetime. When we moved to Newton, Massachusetts, we stayed in touch and deeply connected to the roots we had put down in the D.C. area.

My father became senior rabbi at Congregation Mishkan Tefilah (CMT) in Newton, serving there from 1976 to 1992. He then made his life desire come true and made Aliya. Later, upon a return visit to CMT, he gave a sermon in which he told the congregation, “Remember me for nothing I ever said!

Remember that I left you to make Aliya to Israel; deeds only, not words, are all that count!”

We visited him many times in Israel. He gave us a love for our history, our people and the land of Israel.

I moved back to D.C. for college, met my husband, and we raised our family here. My children went to the Gan preschool at Adas Israel, where my memories of the front plaza from my own childhood remain strong. Then our three children all attended the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School for their entire education from kindergarten through high school.

During COVID and the isolation, while my Abba was in Israel, it became clear that his memory was failing. We helped him move back to the U.S., first in independent living, then a year later to Charles E. Smith Life Communities.

Each time I visit him, to sing “Lecha Dodi” or bring him challah my daughter made, I drive up the driveway and look to my left and see the memories of my children’s little faces from 20 years ago waiting for me in the CESJDS carpool lane. I smile knowing how proud my Abba was that they went there. And I park in front of Cohen-Rosen House and see that we have come Full Circle.

32 | Full Circle STORIES OF LIFE, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

—ALIZA LERNER

2025 Annual Report LIFE CAN BE VIEWED AS THREE CONCENTRIC CIRCLES. AT THE CORE IS FAMILY, THEN FRIENDS, AND THEN COMMUNITY. OUR LIVES SHOULD BE DEDICATED TO BUILDING AND STRENGTHENING THESE CIRCLES IN MUTUAL SUPPORT OF ONE ANOTHER. —Charles E. Smith 33 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Dear Friends, This year, we are honored to present our 2025 Annual Report within Full Circle. On the following pages, you will find the names of donors whose generosity makes our work possible at Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC). Their support sustains us as a nationally recognized provider of housing and services for older adults, where empathy and engagement empower those we serve to live their best lives.

We are proud to share this brief overview of 2025 achievements:

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

• For the second time, Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, our flagship skilled nursing center, earned the prestigious 2025 Silver Achievement in Quality Award from the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living.

• Hebrew Home of Greater Washington (HHGW) was named a 2026 Best Nursing Home for Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation by U.S. News & World Report, the fourth time our skilled nursing center has earned both distinctions in a single year. Less than 5% of the approximately 15,000 nursing homes surveyed earned this award in both categories.

• Newsweek recognized HHGW on its America’s Best Nursing Homes 2026 list for the fifth consecutive year.

• CESLC introduced Positive Approach to Care®, an internationally recognized, evidencebased dementia care program developed by renowned dementia educator Teepa Snow, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA. (Read more on page 17.)

As we look ahead, retaining and growing our dedicated team of associates remains a top priority, alongside staying at the forefront of innovation to enhance the quality of life for those we serve. This commitment to innovation also guides our 10-year strategic plan, as we assess our residences and programs while identifying opportunities for growth, including the start of construction on Reimagine Ring House as a key project in the year ahead.

We are deeply grateful to the many individuals who support our mission at CESLC. Their generosity fuels our growth and helps us deliver exceptional services and meaningful experiences each day, creating a community where older adults thrive.

With gratitude,

Kenneth H. Becker Bruce J. Lederman Chair, Board of Governors President/CEO

34 ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

2025 – 2027 Board of Governors OFFICERS Kenneth H. Becker Chair Aaron M. Rulnick Chair-Elect; Vice Chair, Leadership and Governance Committee Natalie S. West Immediate Past Chair; Chair, CESLC SeniorCare Ventures, Inc. Board of Directors

Harry A. Harrison Treasurer; Vice Chair, Finance Committee

Scott N. Brody Chair, CESLC Trustee Funds, Inc. Board of Directors

Matthew D. Schwartz Secretary

Arthur J. Dykes Vice Chair, Audit Committee

Mark A. Becker Chair, Cohen-Rosen House; Landow House, Inc. Board; Revitz House, Corporation Board; Ring House, Corporation Board

Jeffrey J. Pargament Vice Chair, Resource Development Committee Paula H. Robinson Vice Chair, Quality of Care Committee

Eric G. Meyers Vice Chair, Strategic Planning Committee

GOVERNORS Alison S. Baraf Jeffrey S. Distenfeld Lenore A. England

David Florin Alan M. Freeman Andrew S. Friedlander

Samantha M. Gordon David S. Karp Jeffrey S. Puretz

Jacqueline M. Rams Marsha J. Seidelman, MD Mitchell A. Yentis

Past Presidents and Chairs Bernard Danzansky z”l Morris Garfinkle z”l Harry Sherby z”l Jacob Eisman z”l Charles E. Goldsmith z”l Harry Lewis, MD z”l Hymen Goldman z”l Burnette Simon z”l Simon Hirshman z”l Charles E. Smith z”l Samuel P. Cohen z”l

Hyman Berman z”l George Hurwitz z”l Leonard I. Abel z”l Jonathan S. England z”l Joseph B. Gildenhorn Samuel R. Dweck z”l N. Paul Berlin z”l Jerome W. Golomb z”l Elliott I. Pollock z”l Ralph H. Deckelbaum z”l Edward M. Statland z”l

David W. Rutstein Brenda H. Guritzky z”l Donald J. Garner Paul M. Yentis Ronald D. West z”l Morris Dweck Irving P. Cohen Ivan B. Silverman Arthur J. Dykes Hanita Schreiber z”l David A. Samuels

35 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Andrew S. Friedlander Marc F. Solomon Joseph B. Hoffman z”l Alan M. Freeman Eric G. Meyers Jeffrey Puretz Natalie West

z”l — Of Blessed Memory

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Boards and Committees LANDOW HOUSE & COHENROSEN HOUSE BOARD, REVITZ HOUSE BOARD, RING HOUSE BOARD Mark A. Becker, Chair Matthew D. Schwartz, Vice Chair Richard S. Cohen Alan M. Freeman Michael J. Hirsch David S. Karp Benjamin Levy Eric G. Meyers Seth J. Meyers Isaac M. Reitberger Alex Tritell Mitchell A. Yentis CESLC TRUSTEE FUNDS, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Scott N. Brody, Chair Eric G. Meyers, Vice Chair Andrew B. Cohn, Secretary Arthur J. Dykes, Treasurer David Antonelli Andrew S. Friedlander Jared Marx Brett A. Monsein Jeffrey S. Puretz David A. Samuels Natalie S. West CESLC SENIORCARE VENTURES, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Natalie S. West, Chair David Antonelli Kenneth H. Becker Steven H. Bernstein, MD Samantha M. Gordon Ira W. Lieberman Jeffrey J. Pargament Jeffrey S. Puretz

AUDIT COMMITTEE Arthur J. Dykes, Chair Kenneth H. Becker Harry A. Harrison Eric G. Meyers Natalie S. West CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE Russell C. Minkoff, Chair Richard S. Cohen Sybil E. Freedman Matthew D. Schwartz Mitchell A. Yentis FINANCE COMMITTEE Harry A. Harrison, Chair Jack W. Abel Jeffrey S. Distenfeld Arthur J. Dykes Samuel B. Philipson Isaac M. Reitberger Aaron M. Rulnick Michael R. Solomon Jeffrey S. Yentis LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE Aaron M. Rulnick, Chair Kenneth H. Becker Natalie S. West QUALITY OF CARE COMMITTEE Paula H. Robinson, Chair Alison S. Baraf Diane K. Braunstein Samantha M. Gordon Janna L. Oxman Marsha J. Seidelman, MD Natalie S. West

36 ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Jeffrey J. Pargament, Chair Jeffrey S. Distenfeld Carolyn G. Eichberg Alan M. Freeman Jacqueline M. Rams Paula H. Robinson David A. Samuels Natalie S. West RING HOUSE FINANCING PROJECT TASK FORCE Kenneth H. Becker, Chair David Florin Harry A. Harrison Samuel B. Philipson Matthew D. Schwartz Mitchell A. Yentis SPIRITUAL LIFE COMMITTEE Rabbah Arlene Berger, Chair Rabbi David A. Balto Victoria Clayton Eileen Gross Reverend Alfred S. Jordan Rabbi Evan J. Krame Louis M. Numkin STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE Eric G. Meyers, Chair Kenneth H. Becker Jeffrey S. Distenfeld Lenore A. England David Florin Jeffrey S. Puretz Aaron M. Rulnick Matthew D. Schwartz Natalie S. West

2025 Guardian Campaign The Guardian Campaign is grounded in the tradition of community support. Every year since 1958, members of the Guardian Campaign Committee have appealed to the community to ensure that the older adults who call our campus home live active and meaningful lives through the best in nursing and rehabilitative care, engaging programs and spiritual enrichment.

TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED IN 2025:

NUMBER OF DONORS:

$1,257,842

415

2025 GUARDIAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Mark A. Becker, Co-Chair Jeffrey J. Pargament, Co-Chair Eric H. West, Co-Chair Kenneth H. Becker Amy Brody Scott N. Brody Andrew B. Cohn

Jeffrey S. Distenfeld Morris Dweck Arthur J. Dykes Lenore A. England Gail S. Fleder David Florin Andrew S. Friedlander

Arlene Friedlander Thomas Gordon Ira W. Lieberman Eric G. Meyers Sheryl R. Miller Jeffrey S. Puretz Aaron M. Rulnick

37 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Gary B. Saffitz Lori K. Saffitz David A. Samuels Natalie S. West Steven A. Widdes

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Donors to Charles E. Smith Life Communities 2025 $100,000+

$10,000 - $24,999

Walter and Sarah Diener Foundation Inc. Marilyn z”l and Frederick z”l Cohen Janice Cohen and Mark Sager Jeffrey A. Cohen Sophie, Eric, Eli and Abbi Shpritz Samantha Shpritz and Karl Noyes The Estate of Dr. Merrill Goldsmith The Estate of Sol Lazerow Montgomery County Council David Bruce Smith Foundation

Anonymous Gary and Pennie Abramson Charitable Foundation Martin Auerbach Carol and Gary Berman Carolyn and Steven Bernstein Marcella and Neil Cohen Yvonne and Jeffrey Distenfeld Dr. Carolyn G. Eichberg and Mr. Seth D. Greenstein Donnell Elliott Elno Family Foundation Moe and Kathy Dweck Susan Dweck Elana Dweck and Amit Synderman Kristen and Noah Dweck Alvin and Louella Epstein Foundation Dorothy Fabricant Memorial Fund Susan and David Fink Leena and Erwin Groner The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington Stuart and Eileen Kaufman Foundation Inc. Jacob and Charlotte Lehrman Foundation Ellen and Stuart Lessans Jolie and Neil Markus Amy and Alan Meltzer Susan and Eric Meyers Suzann and Louis Numkin Jeffrey and Jill Pargament Paula and Bruce Robinson The Estate of Cerlene Rose Gildenhorn Speisman Family Foundation, Inc. David S. Stone Foundation, Inc. Ata Tahvildary

$50,000 - $99,999 Anonymous (2) Diane & Norman Bernstein Foundation, Inc. Diane and Norman Bernstein The Estate of Joseph B. Hoffman Kay Family Foundation, Inc. James E. Lurie State of Maryland $25,000 - $49,999 Lenore A. England Gertrude Haves z”l Sari Hornstein Irene and Edward H. Kaplan Jerome A. Kaplan and Deena L. Kaplan Family Foundation Russell C. Minkoff The Morningstar Foundation Susie and Michael Gelman Northern Trust Teresa and Jeffrey Puretz Carol and Douglas Sherman Amy Weinberg and Norbert Hornstein

38 ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

Unidine Corporation George Wasserman Family Foundation The Estate of Dr. Sheila Weinberg Natalie and Eric West Ada L. and Albert M. Wibel Foundation Wolpoff Family Foundation, Inc. $6,000 - $9,999 Anonymous Meryl and Jack Abel Dr. Herbert S. and Cheryl Baraf Arlene and Kenneth Becker Diane and Mark Becker Jillian and Scott Copeland Janet and Michael Cornfeld Dr. Joanne G. Crantz and Dr. Frank R. Crantz William E. Cross Foundation, Inc. Arthur and Hazel Brisker The Elsie and Marvin Dekelboum Family Foundation, Inc. Cory Hartstein Brandon Hartstein Gail Hartstein Steven Oram Scott Powell Eileen and Arthur Dykes Brenda and Jack Feldman Alan and Esther Fleder Foundation Gail S. Fleder Nancy and Dalbert Ginsberg Glickfield Family Foundation Marlene Kirsch Ruth B. Kramer Kay and John Kyle Andrea LaRue and Matthew Schwartz

Simon & Rosa Laupheimer Designated Memorial Fund Bruce J. Lederman Bruce and Karen Levenson Polly and Manny Miller RFI Foundation Susan and Joshua Rales Robert G. Rothstein Carolyn and David Ruben Alisa and Aaron Rulnick Lori and Gary Saffitz Lorraine and Fred Sulmer The Estate of Samuel Titelman Meredith and Jeffrey Yentis $2,500 - $5,999 Anonymous (4) Andersen Tax Aronson Foundation Paula and Harry Harrison Pamela Auerbach and Douglas Feith

Alison Baraf and Aryeh Portnoy Carol and Richard Barron Bernstein Family Foundation Adam K. Bernstein Ambassador and Mrs. Stuart A. Bernstein Eugena B. Blythe Meyer Bobrow Family Foundation, Inc. Steven Oram Dr. Philip and Faith Bobrow John S. Boyd Elizabeth A. Brackett The Norman and Florence Brody Family Foundation, Inc. Amy and Scott Brody Devon and William Burak Tenley Carp and David Samuels Michelle and Michael Citren Lewis and Arleen Citren Irving P. Cohen Gwendolyn and Edmund Cohen

Susan P. Cohn Darian Drescher and Thomas Gordon Ralph S. and Frances R. Dweck Family Foundation Frances and Ralph Dweck The Irwin and Ginny Edlavitch Foundation, Inc. Babs Eisman JoEllen K. Fishman Elinor and Michael Flyer Carol and Arthur Freeman Tracey and Andrew Friedlander Arlene Friedlander Glenna and Donald Frost Susan and Michael Gerecht Dr. Elisa Gil-Pires and Rui Pires Barbara K. Gordon Samantha and Jonathan Gordon Kenneth N. Greenberg Lana H. Halpern Sara R. Harris Dorothy-Anne E. Held

"My parents were actively involved in our local institutions and instilled in me the importance of community and giving back. Organizations like CESLC are an integral part of our community."

— Remy Freeman

Remy Freeman and Jana Safra

39 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

2025 ANNUAL REPORT Michael Hirsch Janet Hirshberg and N. Richard Janis Melissa and Michael Hurwitz Marian and Barry Kaufman Mimi and Michael Kress The Estate of Gary Laden Alexander V. Lewin Paul J. Loeser z”l Benita A. Lubic Patricia and Kenneth Max Margaret and Kyle McGregor Melrod Family Charitable Foundation Holly and Brad Mendelson Sheryl and Lee Miller Stephen B. Miller Michael W. Miller Melanie F. Nussdorf The Ochsman Foundation, Inc. Past Presidents Club of Women’s Auxiliary Janette and David Pepper Samuel B. Philipson Diane and Arnold Polinger Julie Polinger and Zachary Friedlis Roberta I. Pollock Jacqueline M. Rams Renay and William Regardie Jane L. Rosov Mindy and Yoram Rubanenko Roberta and Lawrence Shulman The Carlynn and Lawrence Silverman Family Foundation Inc. Carlynn Silverman Amy and Barry Dickstein Lisa and Bruce Harwood Lynn Shapiro Snyder and Jeffrey M. Snyder Family Foundation, Inc. Terri Tanner-Hill Tomares Family Foundation Kathleen and Jonathan Tomares Dorothy and Jay Weinstein Janyse and Bernard Weisz Angela Willingham

$1,800 - $2,499

$1,000 - $1,799

Anonymous Ava Abramowitz and Neil Rackham Ari and David Antonelli Sue and Richard Aronoff Terri Balaran Donald S. and Dorothy Berlin Lisa and Joshua Bernstein Dorothy Block Andrew B. Cohn Madeline and Steven D’Alessio Margie J. Glancz Nina and Sol Glasner Ilene Gordon and Marc Bassin Janice and Richard Grossman Robin and Fred Hassani Judith Herr Brandi Hurwitz Leslie and Samuel Kaplan Family Foundation Leslie and Samuel Kaplan David S. Karp Nimalka and Richard King Arlene and Robert Kogod Pearl and Gary Lake Barbara S. Landow z”l Sandy and Elliot Liss Debra and Harold Luks Gary S. Mintz Linda and Mark Packman Barbara Resnick and Howard Sollins Cheryl and Richard Rhodes Susan and Michael Scheffres David A. Sislen Adrienne and Warren Slavin Beth and Leonard Sloan Robin Thomashauer and David Florin Katherine and Jonathan Tomares Carrie and Matt Ward Donna and Leonard Wartofsky Susan G. Werbow Hercules Fence, MD from Amy and Evan Winston

Anonymous (2) Gail and Keith Allen Clement and Sandra Alpert Designated Endowment Fund Maxine G. Altman Deborah and Rob Amchin Stephen Amitay The Amity Club of Washington Charitable Foundation, Inc. Barbara and Scott Anenberg Rudy and Lucy Arkin Philanthropic Fund Deborah and David Astrove Marc Bastow and Nancy Binnie Nancy A. Becker William Becker Gail and Howard Benensohn Lynn and Wolf Blitzer Diane K. Braunstein Caryl and Gerald Brody z”l Nancy and Alan Bubes Mindy Burke Myra and Richard Cohen Harold R. and Donna Cramer Margery Elfin Bobbi L. Fagan Mark B. Feldman Elaine Feidelman and Irwin Shuman Carol and Marc Fink Andee and Jonathan Forster Stacey Lynn Friedlander Charitable Foundation Nancy Gewirz Jennifer and Geoffrey Gitner Robin Glantz and Anthony Ciccone Cynthia and Leonard Glassman Rodney Golden Dr. Leonard Goldman and Dr. Lisa Demarco Linda and William Goldman Sarah and Peter Goldman Donald E. Goodman James T. Gordon

40 ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

“We’ve had several family members who were cared for at Hebrew Home, and we’ve seen what a difference quality care can make. What better way to assist older adults than by supporting CESLC?" –Mark Packman

Linda Packman, Mark Packman and Diane Becker

Michael A. Gordon Eva Green and Dwight Anderson J. Ted Gumer and Sylvia Doyle Winnie Hahn and Jack Flyer Mary Hammer Jonathan E. Hardis Nancy and John Harris Claudia and Thomas Henteleff Bonnie Suchman and Bruce Heppen Putzi Hirshberg and Norman Goldberg Sandi and Howard Hoffman Carol and Lawrence Horn Laurie and Gary Hurvitz Barbara and Allan Hurwitz Debbie and Kenneth Jaffe Leslie and Martin Janis Anne Jarrett and Shelley Honikman Jean M. Jones Rachel and Joseph Katz Allyn E. Kilsheimer Jill and Andrew Klein Debbie and Terry Korth

Candace Kovacic-Fleischer and Walter Fleischer Sandy L. Kursban Diane Lane Ann and Bruce Lane The Julius and Dorothy Lazarus Foundation, Inc. Michelle Leavy and Stephen Grayson Sheila and Donald Leiss Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chartered Ira W. Lieberman Harriet Lipkin and Chris Sautter Penn Lupovich Arleen and Jacob Lustig The Mary Daly MacFarland Foundation Wendy and Bruce Wilson Jody and Jack Manischewitz Philip N. Margolius Carol Mathews Hannah and Michael Mazer Debra and Bruce Mendelsohn

41 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Judith R. Messing Joel D. Moss Ruth and David Naftaly Carole and John Nannes Betty Ollila and Roland Levandowski One Source Production Philo and Joy Pappas Jeanette Paroly Gloria Paul and Robert Atlas Esther and Albert Perry Harold Plotnek Charitable Foundation Jessica Pollner Linda and Howard Postal Susan and Arnold Quint Edward Rehfeld Patrice and Ira Rheingold Rhoda Ritzenberg and Kenneth Heitner Norman E. Rosenthal Dr. Adrienne A. Rulnick and Rabbi Arthur Rulnick

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Phyllis and Ray Scalettar Carol Schechter and David Narrow Ann Scher Selma Schlenoff Liz Schrayer and Jeff Schwaber Carol S. Schuffler Sandra Schwartz Daniel M. Schwartz Ann R. Schwartz Robert and Vicki Selzer Jill N. Shaffer Phyllis and Richard Sharlin Julie W. Shiu Irene Small

Ina A. Smith-Tornberg Phyllis and Robert Snider Debbie and Rich Sockol Esther L. Sonin Sharon Siegel and Arnold Spevack Stein, Sperling, Bennett, DeJong, Driscoll P.C. The Stempler Family Foundation Jane C. Stieber Richard and Monica Sussman Taishoff Family Foundation Joseph R. Takats Foundation Barbara and Larry Teitel Ziva and Aaron Tomares

42 ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

Marjorie and Brian Tommer Sandra J. Tropper Isador & Bessie Turover Philanthropic Fund Jacqueline Balk Tusa Melvin Victor Irene and William Wallert Susan B. Walsh Charles A. Weinberg Roslyn and Paul Weinstein Anita and Robert Wellen Lynda and Ronald West z”l Steve and Tal Widdes Susan and Howard Wilchins

Ellen and Bruce Winston Marilynn and Paul Yentis The JV Schiro Zavela Foundation Jean Schiro-Zavela and Vance Zavela Rick and Cindy Zitelman Ava and Allen Zweig $500 - $999 Anonymous (2) Joy Abel and Matt Morley Frieda Achtentuch and Jerrold Cohen Sherry Altman Estelle Apelberg Joel D. Aron Ronald Attman Col. Ret. Susan Zuckerman Bailar Janice and Robert Balin Sam M. Barbag Marilyn and Sidney Bender Mona and Mark Berch Deidre Berkowitz Anne M. Bishop Eunice and Herbert Blecker Karen and Steve Blomberg Ellen and Benjamin Bornstein Fani and Dan Brandenburg Shelley and Joseph Brodecki Lora and Gary Byala Samuel A. Chaitovitz Bruce and Christine Cheson Michael Cohen Irwin C. Cohen Cheryl and Sheldon Cohen Marjorie and Jamie Cohen David R. N. Connick Cirrelda Cooper and Frank Berkowitz Melissa A. Davidson Rosalyn and Herman Efron Alan D. Eisenberg Lisa and Paul Farhi Phyllis and Samuel Feder Joseph D. Feifer Beryl and Edward Feinberg David S. Fishlowitz

Remy and Alan Freeman Hilary and Norman Freidkin Allan H. Frey Ethan Friedman Marcy and Brian Frosh Nicole and Jeffrey Geifman Adrianne and Stephen Gershberg Reena Glazer Ellen Gleberman and David Laufer Elissa and Saul Goldfarb Philip A. Goldman Robert K. Goldman Charlotte A. Goldy Marilyn Goodman Jack N. Goodman Monica and Mitchell Gorochow Susan and Richard Gorsky Margery and Philip Gottfried Julie Granof Jeffrey N. Greenblatt Suzanne and David Greenleigh Patricia M. Greenwel Monika Griff Ellen and Lawrence Gross Rose C. Grossman Neil Gurvitch Janet Holton and Philip Haber Lorraine Halpert Jill Herscot Mindy Herzfeld and David Eisenman Philip R. Hochberg Ivy and William Hurwitz Pamela Isabel and Laurance Hughes Esther Jacobs Trudy and Howard Jacobson Deborah and Mark Joseph Andrew Kagan Bryna and Sheldon Kahalas Doreen Kameka Barbara Kammerman and Frido van Kesteren Marcia and Donald Kaplan Mayanne S. Karmin Roberta and Stephen Kauffman Sheldon Kimmel

43 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Rosalind and S. David Krimins Senator Sandra Kronsberg and Jerry Salka Arlene and Herb Kushner Amy and Michael Lenkin Charla and Steven Lerman Aliza and Jon Lerner Dianne and Herbert Lerner Frances and David Levin Paula Levine and Stuart Metro Rhoda and Aaron Levine Benjamin and Sydney Levy LF Foundation Patricia Y. Love Jay H. Lubin Rachel Malkin Noelle and Blaine Marder Ellen and Kenneth Marks Dan McCormick Susan W. Medick Karen and Douglas Monsein Jennifer and Carson Murray Jill D. Myers Stephen A. Nauheim Magdalena and Alfredo Navarro Mincy Neil Janna and Zachary Oxman Barton Pakull Ellen and Donald Paris Jackie and Franklin Paulson Barbara and Michael Phillips Geraldine F. Pilzer Tanique and Bruce Plaxen Marilyn and Ira Polon Toby Port and Jeffrey Ahl Stephanie and Ethan Posner Mindy and Charles Postal Deborah and Juan Prawda Carol and Lionel Rabin Karen Rabin and Steven Deichman Karen Reback Barbara Retorick Irene Ritz Patricia and James Ritzenberg Debra and Steven Robins

2025 ANNUAL REPORT Faith Roessel and Matthew Slater Stacy and Andrew Rosen Elizabeth Rosenfeld Nancy and Herbert Rosenthal Linda Rosenzweig and Sander Bieber Karen and Richard Rothman Florencia E. Rozanski Fran and Robert Rubin Beatrice and Edward Schiff Susan and Steven Schiffman Barbara Schneider Rabbi Jonathan and Beverly Schnitzer z”l Sandra and Julian Schraibman Eileen Segreti Dr. Marsha Seidelman and Dr. Gerald Scheinman Paul J. Seidman Lori and Michael Sewell Debra L. Shapiro Leslie C. and Leonard A. Shapiro Family Foundation, Inc. Cheryl R. Shensa Frederic R. Siegel Lauren and Bryan Slavin David and Sharon Slotkin Barbara Sonies and Harvey Kupferberg Beverly Spector Rita and Chester Stein Karen and Scott Stempel Judith and Richard L. Sugarman z”l Jessica Sunshine and Jeremy Selengut Sheila E. Taube Lori and Leslie Ulanow Mary Ann Dutton and D. Jean Veta Kathie and David Weinberg Harry Weintrob Karen and James Whitman Robert J. Wilensky The Estate of Sylvia Wubnig William A. Xander Robin and Mitchell Yentis Marilyn R. Zuckerman

Harold & Shirley Robinson Hebrew Home Youth Philanthropy (H2YP) Program The Harold & Shirley Robinson Hebrew Home Youth Philanthropy (H2YP) Program empowers high school students to learn about philanthropy by actively engaging in the grantmaking process. Over several months, students meet with Charles E. Smith Life Communities’ leaders, learn about the organization’s mission and programs, and assess funding proposals.

Through H2YP, participants not only learn how charitable giving strengthens communities but also develop leadership skills and a lifelong commitment to service. Funding from the students and the Harold and Shirley Robinson Youth Philanthropy Fund make this possible.

In 2025, the program had more than $23,000 in grant requests submitted, and the students awarded $8,500 to the following projects that support residents and enhance campus life: n Puppy yoga for residents at Hebrew Home and Ring House. n Off-campus medical transportation for Hebrew Home residents. n Hotel accommodations for Shakespeare Club at Revitz House. n Materials for doll therapy for residents with dementia at Smith-Kogod Residence.

44 | ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

Builders of the Future Builders of the Future society members have created a legacy that lives on through their generosity. By including CESLC in their estate plans—whether through a will, trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy, brokerage or bank account, or a charitable gift annuity—they help ensure that future generations of older adults are empowered to lead their best lives with dignity and purpose. We are deeply grateful for these enduring and visionary commitments.

Anonymous (16) Rachel Abraham Martin Auerbach Gail Becker Gail G. and Howard S. Benensohn Anne R. Bord z”l Marsha and Kenneth A. Braunstein Helene Brill Irving P. Cohen Jodi and Scott Cohen Judy R. and Richard S. Cohen Lucy Tan-Cohen and Mark B. Cohen Rebecca Cook Madeline and Steven D’Alessio Ellen Davis and Myra Kaplan Richard E. Dessel Eileen and Arthur J. Dykes Babs Eisman Lenore A. England Bobbi L. Fagan Billie B. and Steven G. Fischer JoEllen K. Fishman Remy and Alan Freeman Arlene Friedlander Judith and Donald J. Garner Lisa Wasserman Gill Waltraud and Sheldon A. Goldberg Bettie E. Goldman Sarah and Peter Goldman Merrill E. Goldsmith z”l

Hazel Groman z”l Alissa Fox Gruner and Henry Gruner Mary K. Hanna Gertrude Haves z”l Joseph B. Hoffman z”l Ulrike and Edward Jeffer Rosalyn L. Jonas Gary Laden z”l Lois J. Lanham z”l Simon Laupheimer z”l Sol Lazerow z”l Grace H. Lebow Sheila and Donald Leiss Dianne J. and Herbert J. Lerner Stuart H. Lessans Leslie and Richard Levine Jolie and Neil S. Markus Alan L. Meltzer Susan and Eric Meyers Stephen B. Miller Gary M. Newman Louis M. Numkin Jill and Jeffrey J. Pargament Judith R. Peres Faye Rabinowitz z”l Jennifer S. Reed Susan L. Rolnick Cerlene M. Rose z”l Anne M. Rosensky z”l Judith L. Rosenthal

45 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

Jane L. Rosov Rena and David Rutstein Lori and Gary Saffitz David A. Samuels Morjean and Sheldon Samuels Susan L. Samuels Sherrie and Lawrence M. Sauer Marilyn Schimpf and Sheldon Lampert Hanita Schreiber z”l and Rabbi Mordecai Schreiber Becky Schumacher Daniel M. Schwartz Vicki and Robert Selzer Jill N. Shaffer Pamela and John Spears Sharon R. Siegel and Arnold D. Spevack Joan and Robert Spirtas Sidney M. Stahl Marcia Sternfeld Jane C. Stieber Lorraine and Fred Sulmer Rowena W. Swanson Samuel I. Titelman z”l Harry Weintrob Ronald D. West z”l Eric P. Zatman

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Joseph B. Hoffman Fund for Excellence A Legacy That Continues to Elevate Everyday Life In December 2025, the Board of Governors of Charles E. Smith Life Communities (CESLC) unanimously approved a resolution to rename the Guardian Fund for Excellence in honor of Joseph B. Hoffman, a beloved lay leader whose decades of service helped shape the culture of philanthropy that defines campus today. This permanently endowed fund is now known as the Joseph B. Hoffman Fund for Excellence, a tribute to Joe’s leadership, and to his enduring belief that older adults deserve lives filled with dignity, comfort and possibility.

Joe believed deeply that every resident deserves access to enriching programs, meaningful experiences and thoughtful amenities regardless of financial circumstance.

Joe’s relationship with CESLC spanned more than three decades. He joined the Board of Governors in 1992 and remained an active and engaged member through the end of his life, passing in December 2023 while still in service to the organization he cared about so deeply. His steady presence, thoughtful

leadership and unwavering commitment to older adults helped shape the direction of our community.

His impact extended well beyond board service. Joe was a longtime member of the Resource Development Committee and played an instrumental role in helping establish the original Guardian Fund for Excellence, the very fund that now bears his name. He also served for many years on the Guardian Campaign Committee, where his enthusiasm and persistence inspired others to give. Over his lifetime, Joe personally helped raise more than $2.5 million for the Guardian Campaign.

His generosity continued through his estate; as a Builder of the Future, he ensured that his commitment to CESLC would endure for generations.

Joe understood that excellence is not only measured in programs or budgets, but in the daily experiences of residents.

He believed the small details are what transform a residence into a true home.

The Joseph B. Hoffman Fund for Excellence exists to support those details.

Through an annual grant process, the fund provides resources for programs and enhancements at Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Revitz House and Ring House that either elevate residents’ quality of life or provide an “edge of excellence” that distinguishes CESLC from other senior communities.

At its heart, the fund addresses an important reality: When older adults live in residences supported in part by government funding, lifestyle inequi-

46 ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

ties can emerge. Joe believed deeply that every resident deserves access to enriching programs, meaningful experiences and thoughtful amenities regardless of financial circumstance.

The fund helps ensure that opportunities for creativity, comfort and connection remain available to all.

Each year, associates across the residences submit proposals for innovative programs and improvements, from cultural and spiritual offerings to environmental enhancements and wellness initiatives. A team of senior leaders reviews these proposals with careful stewardship, ensuring that every dollar reflects our campus commitment to Hiddur, the Jewish value of delivering the highest standards of service and hospitality.

The Joseph B. Hoffman Fund for Excellence is both practical and aspirational. It is governed with discipline, distributing no more than 6 percent of annual earnings, while remaining guided by a simple and powerful question Joe often asked: Will this make life better for our residents?

In renaming the fund, CESLC did more than honor a dedicated donor and volunteer. It honored a philosophy of leadership rooted in generosity, accountability and joy in service to others. Joe’s legacy is no longer only remembered in stories or photographs. It lives on in music heard in common spaces, art on the walls, gardens in bloom and the everyday moments that bring comfort and delight to residents across campus.

“Joe Hoffman is my generation’s Mr. Hebrew Home. His multi-decade involvement with Charles E. Smith Life Communities was a pure labor of love, and all those he reached – whether residents, donors, associates or lay leaders – derived unparalleled benefit from this beautiful man. He led by word and by deed, and those who were lucky enough to truly know him understood that he led with his big, giant heart. How fitting to honor his dedicated philanthropic efforts into the fabric of our organization by renaming the Guardian Fund for Excellence the Joseph B. Hoffman Fund for Excellence.”

Former chairs of the Board of Governors: Joe Hoffman, Andrew Friedlander and Marc Solomon at the 2013 Annual Meeting.

- Andrew Friedlander

ENHANCING EVERYDAY LIFE A sampling of programs and experiences supported in 2026 through the Joseph B. Hoffman Fund for Excellence. n Fitness and wellness classes including yoga, tai chi, dance, drumming and Zumba. n Live music and performances - from classical concerts to bedside room recitals. n Art workshops, pottery classes, creative writing, poetry and resident art exhibitions. n Cultural outings and excursions such as theater performances, museum visits and special trips. n Cinema events and themed dining experiences with music and entertainment. n Resident choirs, piano lessons and group musical education programs. n Brain games, lectures, book clubs and lifelong learning classes. n Religious education, holiday celebrations and Jewish cultural programming. n Community celebrations and seasonal events, including carnivals, heritage months and social gatherings. n Transportation assistance and outing expenses. n Community garden plantings and seasonal decorations. n Lifestyle and leisure materials such as large-screen iPads, books, activity kits and in-room entertainment. n Positive Approach to Care dementia education and training for associates and families.

The Joseph B. Hoffman Fund for Excellence is an endowed fund and not seeking contributions. Those wishing to honor Joe’s memory are invited to support the Guardian Campaign, Charles E. Smith Life Communities’ unrestricted annual giving initiative.

47 | CHARLES E. SMITH LIFE COMMUNITIES

2025 ANNUAL REPORT

Endowed and Designated Funds ENDOWED FUNDS Cecile and Seymour Alpert, M.D. Endowment Fund Irwin H. Ardam Resident Care Fund Harry, Florence, Libby, and Seymour Baden Family Fund Freda Barsky Grounds Beautification Fund Anne B. and Harry I. Blum Music Fund Anne and Ned Bord Resident Care Fund Norman and Henrietta Braunstein Nursing Scholarship Fund Morris and Helen Cladny Memorial Fund Marilyn and Frederick Cohen Fund for Resident Activities Henrietta and Denis Cooper Resident Care Fund Idalee and Jack Diener Resident Activities Fund Mitchell Dobbin Rehabilitation Equipment Fund Samuel R. and Rena Dweck Holiday Activities Fund William, Anna, and David Feingold Resident Care Fund Dr. Eric Fischer Cultural and Recreation Fund Jess and Mildred Fisher Family Resident Care Fund Alan and Esther Fleder Fund Florence J. Shaffer Fund Adelaide Friedlander Cultural Arts Fund Rae Friedman Medical Equipment Fund Rose and Morris Friss Scholarship Fund Ellen Gelman Special Exhibitions Fund Hymen and Sadie Goldman Memorial Fund Greta and Peter Goldman Staff Training Fund Grimaldi-Cohen Staff Appreciation Fund Betty Grossman Memorial Fund Harris and Yetta Hacken Memorial Fund Haft Resident Care Fund Leonard and Shirley P. Hardis Research Fund Alexander and Sylvia Hassan Staff Scholarship Fund Stanley Hayman Fund for Excellence in Resident Care Helen Greenfield - Marilyn Kessler Resident Care Fund Simon and Elizabeth Hirshman Resident Care Fund Dr. Saul Holtzman Resident Care Fund Bess Hormats Fund George and Tess Hurwitz Fund Blanche and Jacob Kammen Music Fund Eva Karasik and Anne Bloom Medical Equipment Fund

Rose and Garfield Kass Staff Scholarship Fund Celia Katz Nursing Scholarship Fund Max and Sara Katz Recreation Fund Helen and Joseph A. Kaufmann Resident Care Fund Pauline and Sol Kempler Staff Development Fund Erna and Karl Koranyi Medical Equipment Fund Morris and Sylvia Krucoff Medical Equipment Fund Eunice Kullen Occupational Therapy Fund Martha and Lou Ledeen Social Services Fund Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Fund Sonia Levine Resident Care Fund Lieberman-Levine Resident Care Fund Ruth and Eugene Love Fund Irving and Harriet Malitson Resident Activities Fund Charles and Mollie Merican Fund Alvin I. Miller Resident Activities Fund Reuben and Ethel Mirin Cultural and Recreation Fund NCJW, DC, Resident Activities Fund Sylvia B. Nelson Memorial Resident Care Fund Numkin-Knoblauch Family Fund Giulio and Marcella Oreffice Special Needs Fund Libby and Louis Pohoryles Resident Care Fund Vivian and Elliott Pollock Fund for Special Needs Polsby Art Therapy Fund Paula Rapp Resident Care Fund Harold and Shirley Robinson Youth Philanthropy Fund Doris and Philip R. Rolnick Resident Care Fund Saffitz Family Fund for Healthy Campus Living Dorothy Sauber Staff Scholarship Fund Ann Rich Schaffer Resident Care Fund Samuel and Clara Schloss Employee Holiday Gift Fund Sophie Schulman Revitz Social Hour Fund Yetta Backover and Isadore Schwartz Resident Care Fund Rabbi Harry Silverstone Religious Education Fund Charles E. Smith Family Foundation Fund Harry L. Sotzsky Memorial Resident Activities Fund Orren F. Stein Fund Gerald and Deana Stempler Fund Sylvia Wolf Traub Musical Activities Fund

48 ANNUAL REPORT | SPRING/SUMMER 2026

OUR Past

Selma Edlavitch/Ralph Tyser Memory Care Fund George and Janice Wasserman Building Endowment Fund Samuel C. Weinberg Resident Care Fund Leon and Roggie Weinraub Resident Care Fund Shulamith Weisman Resident Activities Fund Marmion Livingston Weiss Endowment Fund Wallace Hartman Weiss Endowment Fund Carole, Donald, and Peter Weiss Recreation Therapy Fund

1933 FROM THE ARCHIVES

Ethel and Howard Werbel Resident Care Fund Joseph L. Winberg Resident Care Fund Hebrew Home Women’s Auxiliary Fund DESIGNATED FUNDS Barbara R. Cohen Music Fund Jonathan S. and Patricia G. England CESLC Innovation Fund Dr. Stuart H. Lessans Cognitive Health Fund

Volunteers and residents gather around a table at our Spring Road campus to weave baskets by hand — strengthening motor skills, sharing stories and creating something beautiful together. From our earliest days, we have believed that meaningful experiences nurture the mind, engage the body and uplift the spirit through shared purpose and community.

Hebrew Home of Greater Washington 6121 Montrose Road North Bethesda, MD 20852

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