vcha hbpn
,rsvu oue, /iez hbp
Rise before the aged and honor the presence of elders.
Dear Friends of Crown Center
For nearly six decades, Crown Center for Senior Living has been a cornerstone of support and connection for older adults in the St. Louis region. What began in 1967 as a single building with a simple yet profound mission—to provide affordable housing for older adults—has grown into a vibrant community unlike any other. Today, we proudly serve seniors of all income levels through affordable housing, open, welcoming and innovative programs that combat isolation and foster well-being.
As we look to the future, we are inspired by the vision of our founders and the growing needs of our diverse community. The completion of Phase I of our building project, including the new Staenberg Commons and 52 apartments, was a monumental milestone. Yet, our work is far from over.
We are now embarking on Phase II of our building project, which includes the construction of a new 68-unit apartment building and essential renovations to our Weinberg Building. Additional priorities include growing our endowment to ensure long-term sustainability and enhancing our Café to better serve our residents and the community.
To achieve these goals, we have launched the $6 million A Place to Call Home Campaign that will further transform our community and the lives of those we serve. Your support is essential to making this vision a reality. With your generosity, we will continue to empower older adults, reduce isolation, and create a thriving, inclusive community where all seniors can flourish.
Please join us in carrying forward this remarkable legacy.
With heartfelt gratitude,
Lauren Sagel
Darryl Sagel Campaign Co-Chair Campaign Co-Chair
& Darryl Sagel Campaign Co-Chairs
Lauren
Meeting the Mission
Crown Center’s mission is to cultivate a space where older adults can thrive. Our physical structure, sustainability, and growing community needs call for $6 million in philanthropy to support Crown Center now and in the future.
PRIORITY ONE:
Phase II Construction of Affordable Apartments: $4,500,000
To supplement construction costs of 68 new affordable apartments and extensive renovations of the existing Weinberg Building’s 118 apartments for older adults in need.
“Ever since moving to Crown, friends have commented on how well I look. I tell everyone that it is the apartment and building that have made me well. People are so nice — staff and social workers. The meals are so good.” — Ruth
F.
PRIORITY TWO:
Café and Kitchen
Improvements:
$500,000
To provide enhancements and necessary kitchen upgrades to support our kosher Circle@Crown Café and nutrition program, which nourishes our community, connects neighbors, and protects against food insecurity.
PRIORITY THREE:
Endowment: $1,000,000
To grow a permanent source of financial security and support for core programs and services, which enable our clients to live with dignity.
Phase II Construction Project
MORE AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS
Crown Center stands as a model for what affordable housing should be — a place where older adults can thrive in spaces designed for their needs, comfort, and sense of belonging, regardless of financial circumstances.
Given the completion of the Phase I building project with $6.6 million in philanthropy secured, 100% occupancy rate, and lengthy waitlists for affordable housing, the time is right for further investment in Crown’s physical infrastructure.
Phase II includes the construction of a new 68-unit apartment building and renovations to the existing Weinberg Building. Combined, when Phase II is complete, Crown Center will offer a total of 238 affordable apartments.
The total cost to complete Phase II of the project is $24 million. With $14.2 million in Federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits already secured, the funding will be completed through $4.5 million in private support, and the remaining generated through borrowed funds.
“My apartment is roomy, bright, welcoming and includes all the amenities that make it possible for me to live here safely and comfortably as long as possible. I wish everyone could have a home like Crown Center.” — Shirley A.
A $24 million investment in construction will:
• Build affordable, highquality apartments to ensure that more seniors can age in place with dignity
• Create accessible units for residents with mobility and sensory limitations
• Offer safety for our community by updating energy efficiency, seismic durability, and obsolete systems
Circle@Crown Cafe Improvements
The kosher Circle@Crown Cafe is a community hub that serves Crown Center clients and the neighboring community. Crown Center partners with Aging Ahead as a senior center and meal site to prepare and deliver more than 19,000 meals annually through Meals on Wheels.
Resident and community clients rely on these meals and the staff and volunteers who deliver to nourish them, physically and socially.
In addition, the Café is a gathering place for socializing with neighbors and friends, making it possible for many clients to experience the joy and dignity of hosting “at home.” With resident discounts and discreet social work support when indicated, the Café is affordable even for those with difficult financial circumstances. It plays a unique role in University City – open to the community and offering fresh and delicious kosher food for dine in or carry out service.
“We so appreciate the meal service at Crown Center. Both my husband and I are losing strength and after several recent medical procedures, the meals have been a real blessing. They help us take a break and not have to worry so much because we know we have a great meal from Crown!”
— Aileen O.
A philanthropic investment of $500,000 will create:
• Additional space for meal preparation to meet the growing demands for nutrition support
• Enhanced functionality of the kitchen, including the purchase of new appliances and equipment
• Interior updates necessitated by wear and tear since the Café opening in 2015.
PRIORITY THREE: $1,000,000
Endowment: Long-Term Financial Stability
Crown Center is committed to those who reside in our apartment buildings as well as older adults living in the surrounding area. We welcome them all to use Crown as a community center and resource. Our work is rooted in a faith tradition that calls for equity, inclusion, and care. We seek to employ the
Jewish value of “b’tzelem Elohim” – recognizing that all people should be treated with dignity, as we are all “created in the image of G-d.”
By growing our endowment from $3.4M to $4.4M, Crown Center can continue to meet the demands of today, and ensure that we can continue to fulfill our mission for years to come.
“We are thankful for the programs and classes at Crown. They are inspirational and keep us in good spirits, making us feel younger and energetic. These programs work better than any medicine; they are a source of energy that keeps us going. Spasibo!” —
Lina M.
Annual income generated by $1 million in endowment funds will support a strong financial foundation by:
• Enabling Crown Center to continue responding to urgent needs, including unexpected community demands.
• Enhancing salaries for staff who manage vital programs and services.
• Helping respond to unforeseen facility maintenance issues to ensure the highest quality environment for our clients.
Join us and create more places to to call home.
With your support, older adults can live, learn, and connect in a caring environment. Thanks to our caring, generous friends, Crown Center enjoys a strong track record and excellent reputation with its clients and in the community.
Together, we can honor Jewish values and tradition by providing affordable, high-quality living and services. We can enable residents to flourish independently; and create inspiring programming for seniors to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle.
“Pondering my present lifestyle, I believe Crown Center living is and has been the best situation in my lifetime!” —
Arthur P.
We are grateful for the generosity and partnership of past donors and will build on their investment and Crown’s success.
Achieving A Place to Call Home Campaign overall goal of $6 million will provide even more affordable living places for older adults, enhance our Café and kitchen to better serve residents and the community, and grow our endowment to ensure sustainability. It will bring us closer to a community where all seniors thrive.
Thank you for your consideration and support!
For more information, including eligibility and availability of tax credits, please contact:
Andy Thorp,
MPA Executive Director
athorp@crowncenterstl.org (314) 991-2055
Katie Garland, MSW, MPH
Advancement and Partnerships Director kgarland@crowncenterstl.org (314) 991-2055
Our programs reflect Jewish values and traditions.
“I was an aging man living alone. About nine months after my wife passed away, I came to live at Crown Center. Now, my life is full. I can keep kosher and celebrate the Jewish holidays with my new friends.
Had I remained at home, I would be lonely. But here, with people of all backgrounds living around me, Crown Center is like a little village.
Living here, I feel honored as someone who has been on this earth a long time. My life is enriched by this community.”
– Charlie M.
CROWN CENTER
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mark Rubin
President
Andy Thorp
Executive Director
Sally Altman
Amy Bender-Levy
Scott Bernstein
Emily Caine
Dan Cohen
Pamela Dern
Ava Ehrlich
Todd Goldenhersh
Sheldon Harber
Josh Hutkins
Alvah Levine
Judy Mange
Estelle Rochman
Darryl Sagel
Erin Schuver
Michelle Schwerin
Irl Scissors
Ann Spector
Clifford Tager
Jody Waldman
Cindy Lander Wallach
8350 Delcrest Drive
St. Louis, MO 63124-2166
phone: (314) 991-2055
e-mail: info@crowncenterstl.org
COUNCIL OF LIFE MEMBERS
Les Borowsky
Jeffrey Cohen
Keith Cohen
Ted Flom
Betsy Garland
Nikki Goldstein
Randall Green
Petie Karsh
Joe Marchbein
Merle Miller (z”l)
Jeffrey Rosenblum
Steven Rosenblum
Richard Tallin
Miriam Wilhelm
OUR MISSION
Crown Center is an organization dedicated to providing affordable, high quality living and services to enable residents to flourish independently, creating inspiring programming to enable both residents and other community seniors to maintain an active and healthy lifestyle, and honoring our Jewish values and traditions.
