Crown Center 2020 Annual Report

2020 Annual Report

Our Vision: a vibrant and engaged community in which all seniors thrive

Crown Center for Senior Living

Last year was challenging. But Crown Center staff members met that challenge, staying connected and supportive of our residents.

Social distancing didn’t mean social isolation at Crown Center.

Over the past year, we prepared and delivered over 500 meals a week to the doors of our residents and community members who count on us for kosher meals.

Sally Altman

Board President

Each of our staff devoted themselves to staying connected. Social workers regularly checked in with residents, addressing their concerns. Our maintenance staff worked daily to keep our buildings clean and safe.

Staff and volunteers called and sent written notes, reminding residents that although visitors were limited, people who care about them abound. Staff prepared gift baskets, delighting residents with small, personalized packages left at their doorways such as word puzzles, library books and snacks.

I’m continuously impressed with the depth of caring I encounter at Crown Center. I look forward to the day when we can throw open our doors and invite each of you to witness the caring connections within the Crown community.

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CARING Crown leadership and staff recognized early in the pandemic that the problem of social isolation among our clients needed to be addressed for the well-being of all in our community. Creativity, resourcefulness, and kindness helped forge inventive ways to keep clients engaged, connected and cared for throughout this challenging time.

• Essential staff was on site daily keeping the buildings safe, healthy and secure for our residents.

• Crown offered “virtual” programming on a conference call line, making it easy and accessible for those with limited internet access and technology expertise.

• In cooperation with local Jewish agencies, the implementation of a program that provided tablets and training to eligible older adults helped reduce loneliness and isolation.

825

Themed “Crown Cares” Gift Bags were delivered to seniors filled with engaging projects and treats for holiday celebrations and more.

96

residents/volunteers participated in Crown’s friendly caller and pen pal programs.

700

participants remained engaged through programs including an outdoor concert series, fitness classes and discussion groups.

“I deeply appreciate how the staff and board keep us connected in often creative ways, and for “feeding” us emotionally, mentally, and with delivered food.”

– Crown Center Resident

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CONNECTING When the pandemic brought life as we knew it to an abrupt halt, Crown Center responded to the immediate needs of the community.

Precautions were put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of our clients, staff and volunteers. With health guidelines changing frequently, flexibility was vital.

• Crown’s congregate meal program and café transitioned to a “meals on wheels” home delivery model or “pick-up” service.

• Social workers provided counseling, supportive services and resources, helping clients through existing and new challenges, and checking in to make sure people were “okay.”

• Collaboration with local organizations provided engaging opportunities for connection with the larger community.

22,100

kosher meals were prepared and delivered.

1,825

contacts were made with Crown’s Client Services staff

223

distinct clients interacted with Crown’s Client Services staff, either once or on a regular basis

“Thank you for the many creative ways you try to keep a caring connection though physically, we are far apart.”

– Community Participant

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SUPPORTING Our ability to provide essential and expanded services for older adults relies upon a variety of revenue sources. Crown Center maintains relationships with local and national organizations that are guided by similar missions of enabling older adults to live independently and with dignity. Supportive efforts, on behalf of our clients, included funding from these organizations and individual donors.

We are grateful to our Community Partners and Friends for their generous contributions and outstanding support of Crown Center.

Services Revenue (not including rental income) $1,152,068 v Charitable Foundations & Grants 27% v Contracts 23% v Individual Donors 18% v Program/Cafe Fees 17% v Government Grants 15%

Housing Revenue Sources $1,768,736 v Tenants 41% v HUD Subsidy 59%

Foundations, Corporate Gifts, & Grants Aging Ahead Ameren Missouri Anonymous (8) Boeing Employees Charitable Foundation Buckingham Strategic Wealth Gladys K. Crown Foundation Cruse Charitable Trust Max & Drew Erlich Charitable Trust Ruth Greenberg Memorial Trust Sidney & Bobette Guller Family Foundation JCA Charitable Foundation Jewish Federation of St. Louis Johnson & Johnson Company Kahn Foundation of Temple Israel Edward and Thea Lawton Foundation Lopata Charitable Foundation Lubin-Green Foundation, a Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Federation o f St. Louis Marillac Mission Fund Meals on Wheels America Missouri Department of Economic Development Neighborhood A ssistance Program The Pinkerton Foundation Regional Business Council Royal Banks of Missouri The Silk Foundation Staenberg Family Foundation, a Supporting Foundation of the J ewish Federation of St. Louis The Trio Foundation of St. Louis Veterans United Foundation Women’s Auxiliary Foundation for J ewish Aged, a Supporting Foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis

Special Funds Chused Cultural Arts Fund Gloria Cohen Volunteer Fund Saul & Marilyn Dien Program Fund Birdie Fischer Fund Nikki Goldstein Resident Needs Fund Lopata Fitness Fund Novack Family Music Fund Jean Sloofman Payuk Fund Myla Rosenblum Learning Fund Steven Rosenblum Fund Lillian Samet Social Work Fund The Silk Foundation Technology Fund Benjamin & Ida Tallin Fund Martin & Ethel Wishnuff Birthday Fund

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LEARNING Our sages ask, who is wise? And answer, he who learns from everyone.

We’ve learned that what seemed impossible, is possible. We’ve learned from Crown residents how to be resilient in the face of difficulty; from Crown’s Board, how to provide thoughtful and effective leadership during a crisis; from donors, volunteers and community partners, how to be supportive on many levels – financially and emotionally.

We’ve learned that Crown staff members are even more creative and capable than imagined.

The Crown Center community is flexible and adaptable, having quickly pivoted to provide nourishment by delivering hundreds of meals per week; maintaining connections through pen pal programs, holiday celebration gift bags, outdoor concerts and access to technology; as well as organizing and hosting crucial vaccine clinics. While focusing on health and safety, we also learned just how strong we are together – no matter the challenge.

2020 reinforced what we already knew – that Crown Center is an important community anchor. The pandemic only heightened and highlighted the needs that exist and the role that Crown Center plays in meeting those needs. This is why we are preparing to build new apartments and gathering spaces; to ensure that Crown Center continues to be a stable, proactive, and caring community for older people as has been the case for over 50 years.

Nikki Goldstein

Executive Director

“Thank you very much for keeping us safe and helping us in so many ways, specifically in this difficult time.”

– Crown Center Resident

Donors Donors (continued from previous page) (continued from previous page)

8350 Delcrest Drive St. Louis, MO 63124-2166 phone: (314) 991-2055 e-mail: info@crowncenterstl.org

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.

Crown Center Board of Directors

Council of Life Members

Sally Altman President

Nancy Novack

Les Borowsky

Estelle Rochman

Jeffrey Cohen

Mark Rubin

Keith Cohen

Darryl Sagel

Ted Flom

Jill Schupp

Betsy Garland

Erin Schuver

Randall Green

Barbara Schwartz

Petie Karsh

Michelle Schwerin

Joe Marchbein

Ann Spector

Jeffrey Rosenblum

David Steinbach

Steven Rosenblum

Cindy Lander Wallach

Richard Tallin

Nikki Goldstein Executive Director Amy Bender-Levy Scott Bernstein Leah Frankel Todd Goldenhersh Sheldon Harber James Kolker Alvah Levine Sylvia Nissenboim

Miriam Wilhelm