SEPTEMBER 2026
Fall Harvest Garden Party for PPH Benevolent Care The PPH Garden Party is our community’s premier fundraising event, benefiting PPH Benevolent Care. A favorite fall tradition at PPH, the Garden Party brings together residents, family members, friends, donors, PPH leadership, and team members for a festive evening in our beautiful ACE Courtyard gardens. This year's Garden Party, themed "Fall Harvest," will be held on Thursday, October 1, from 5 to 8 PM. Tickets are $200 for residents and donors. Guests will enjoy a delicious harvest-inspired menu featuring seasonal favorites, artisan grazing selections, comforting soups and breads, made-to-order risotto, Continued on page 3
It's Your Life, Your Legacy Join us on Monday, September 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Social Hall for a special Lunch & Learn on legacy planning with Rebecca "Becky" Zimmer, CFRE, Executive Director of Planned Giving at EverTrue. With more than 30 years of experience serving seniors in faithbased life plan communities, Becky
will share practical guidance on organizing important documents, reviewing powers of attorney and executor plans, considering trust and beneficiary decisions, and creating a meaningful legacy for loved ones and charitable causes. A complimentary lunch and light refreshments will be provided, and
attendees will receive a free copy of the Planning Your Legacy workbook. Please RSVP to Melissa Cheafsky at #8004 or MCheafsky@pphfamily.org by September 18 and indicate your lunch choice (roast turkey, tuna salad, vegetable wrap) when responding. Don't miss this opportunity to take an important step toward protecting your wishes and preserving your legacy.
6401 Martins Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19111 • www.PPHFamily.org • 215.697.8000 Facebook.com/ThePhiladelphiaProtestantHome pphfamily.org
Remembrance Benches: Honor Someone Special Imagine a serene place to sit, reflect, and enjoy the beauty of PPH while remembering someone special. Whether honoring a beloved spouse, family member, friend, mentor, or even celebrating your own story at PPH, a Remembrance Bench serves as a lasting tribute and a place where memories can be cherished for years to come. With a gift of $3,000, a Remembrance Bench becomes a permanent part of the PPH campus. Located among our beautiful gardens and along walking paths throughout campus, these benches provide a welcoming spot for residents, families and visitors to rest, reflect, watch the changing seasons, read a favorite book or chat with a friend while taking in the beauty of the surroundings. Each bench includes a personalized plaque with the inscription of your choice, making it a special way to honor a loved one or celebrate an important milestone. It's a simple yet heartfelt way to leave your mark while
creating a place others can enjoy for years to come. Your gift also helps enhance the beauty and comfort of our campus, creating inviting spaces for reflection and enjoyment. For more information about dedicating a Remembrance Bench on the PPH campus, please contact Marianna Calabrese, Senior Director of Advancement, at 215-697-8508 or mcalabrese@pphfamily.org.
Guardian Angels recognized for kindess, enthusiasm In August, PPH recognized two outstanding Guardian Angels! The first honoree was Akeem Anderson of PPH's Culinary Wait Staff. Akeem was nominated by a group of residents who frequently dine together on Wednesday evenings: (from left to right in the top photo) Velma N'Jai, Selma Young, Sylvia Metzler, Evelyn Washington, Mary Jones, and Pat Ripoll, with Akeem in the back. The group praised Akeem for his exceptional service, stating: "Akeem has learned many of our preferences (and idiosyncrasies) and anticipates and quickly meets our needs. He does this with courtesy, kindness, respect, a sense of humor, and most of all — patience!" Akeem expressed his gratitude for the recognition and shared that one of the most fulfilling parts of his role is getting to know the residents of PPH. The second Guardian Angel honoree was Wellness Director Maureen Solomon, who was nominated by Alpha residents John and Jan Levenson (bottom photo, with PPH Executive Director Kyle Ozimkiewicz). In their nomination, they wrote: "Capable, confident, knowledgeable, inspiring, contagiously upbeat, and funny, Maureen is devoted to residents' well-being. A long-standing PPH presence, we are so fortunate to have you here. You keep us moving with your enthusiasm and caring! Thank you, Maureen." Honor a team member’s compassion, quality care, and service with a $300 Guardian Angel gift. Each Guardian Angel receives a $50 gift card, a custom lapel pin, public recognition in communications materials, and eligibility
for PPH’s Service Excellence Award. The remaining $250 supports Benevolent Care at PPH, helping ensure residents always have access to quality care and peace of mind. For more information, contact Senior Director of Advancement Marianna Calabrese at 215-697-8508 or mcalabrese@pphfamily.org.
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Hispanic Heritage Month PPH will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with a variety of programs and activities throughout September and October. The celebration includes cabinet displays of various aspects of Latino life, Latin dancing, Spanish Bingo, presentations by our residents and staff, movies and a trip to a Latino restaurant. For events and activities, see the September (and later the October) IL calendar, and tune into PPH's inhouse channels. Hispanic Heritage Month will
be celebrated from September 15 through October 15, 2026. It is an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Hispanic communities. The theme for this year's celebration is “United We Are Many.” Hispanic Heritage Month was first introduced in 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown. On September 17, 1968, Congress passed Public Law 90-498, officially authorizing the president to issue annual proclamations declaring September 15 to mark the beginning
of National Hispanic Heritage Week and calling upon the “people of the United States, especially the educational community, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.” The timing of Hispanic Heritage Month coincides with the Independence Day celebrations of several Latin American nations – among them Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those five nations declared their independence from Spain on September 15, 1821.
Garden Party - from page 1 carved specialties, fresh seafood, creative fall cocktails, and an assortment of seasonal desserts. The evening will also feature specialty beverages, a variety of raffle baskets, and live music performed by Turning Point, returning once again for this year's Garden Party. The adjacent indoor Fountain Room will offer a comfortable space for guests to relax and enjoy the festivities. Proceeds from the PPH Garden Party benefit Benevolent Care, which supports PPH residents who have outlived their financial resources, through no fault of
their own, and can no longer afford the cost of their care. In 2025, PPH provided nearly $1 million in Benevolent Care to residents in need. With a growing senior population and rising healthcare costs, this need continues to increase each year. Your generous support helps ensure that PPH residents enjoy the peace of mind that comes from knowing quality care will always be available when they need it. Together, we can continue providing compassionate care and security for those who call PPH home. For more information and to register for tickets, visit pphfamily.org/gardenparty2026/.
Please register by September 10. Residents may also register and submit payment through the Resident Drop Box. If paying by check, please make checks payable to The Philadelphia Protestant Home. If mailing payment, please send to: Philadelphia Protestant Home 6401 Martins Mill Road Philadelphia, PA 19111.
Employee of the Month:
Volunteer of the Month:
Congratulations to Jean Charles of Culinary Services on being named PPH Employee of the Month! Jean consistently goes above and beyond to foster a positive and collaborative work environment. He is always willing to step in where needed, offering help without hesitation. To nominate a PPH team member, please contact HR Generalist Medjina Stphar at #8193 or mstphar@pphfamily.org.
Congratulations to Gateway resident Harry Morrissy, our PPH Volunteer of the Month! Harry regularly volunteers as a cashier at PPH’s Tabor Market, where his helpful nature and positive attitude make a difference. He is always willing to lend a hand and often steps in when additional coverage is needed. To nominate a PPH volunteer, please contact Bill Conaway at #8193 or wconaway@pphfamily.org
Jean Charles
Harry Morrissy
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Speak the right words of wisdom “A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” -Proverbs 25:11 By Linda Lewis PPH Chaplain Dear PPH Family and Friends, As summer fades, we enter the harvest season, with its welcome variety of delicious apples. Fruit must be picked in season — not too early, while it is still green and hard, and not too late, when it is rotting on the branch. In the same way, “a word aptly spoken [at the right time] is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” King Solomon understood the remarkable power of words when he wrote Proverbs 25:11. Some words are beautiful and sacred. Others make us laugh or move us to tears. But harsh words can wound like a sword, leaving scars that may never fully fade.
Our text shows that Solomon valued carefully chosen words. In his day, when a king held a banquet, silver filigree baskets filled with gold-covered apples were often placed before the guests. As they departed, guests received the apples, which became treasured possessions. Proverbs 25:11 reminds us that a word spoken at the right time can be just as valuable. Thoughtful words, offered in the right moment, can be priceless to someone who needs them. Words of encouragement spoken to someone who is filled with anxiety or fear are examples of words aptly spoken. There are also times you may need to share constructive criticism seasoned with gentleness and compassion. If shared at the appropriate time, your words will feel like a comforting gift and not a personal attack. Speaking the right words at the right time takes wisdom and discernment.
Likewise, it takes wisdom to know when to say nothing at all or just listen or wait to speak at a more appropriate time. Reflect on the advice you have recently given others. Have you been handing out gold apples in the proper settings of silver? If so, that is wonderful. But if your words have been harsh, poorly timed, or offered when they were not appropriate, seek wisdom from God to help you use your words more wisely. Our world needs more people who know what to say and when to say it. You can be one of them by learning to place your apples of gold in settings of silver. Blessings, Linda C. Lewis Chaplain
Medical Mission Sisters, Associates and Friends PPH’s Medical Mission Sisters community gathered during the week of Aug. 16 for its annual Retreat. Morning sessions were held virtually, while the PPH MMS community gathered for afternoon sessions in the Learning Center. Some members of the group, along with a few neighbors, also came together for a special dinner in PPH’s Private Dining Room.
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THE PPH MISSION Guided by Christian values, the mission of The Philadelphia Protestant Home is to provide a caring senior living community that affords its residents the opportunity to achieve their highest possible quality of life.
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