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Summer 2020 Vol. 30, No. 3 Masonic Villages includes locations in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster. Submissions for the fall issue of the Village Voice are due Sept. 9. Public Relations Department Masonic Villages, One Masonic Drive Elizabethtown, PA 17022 For more information, call the Public Relations Department at 717-367-1121, ext. 33383, or email pr@masonicvillages.org. Masonic Villages is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Decisions concerning admission to Masonic Villages, the provision of services and referrals of residents are not based upon the applicant’s race, color, religion, disability, ancestry, national origin, familial status, age, sex, limited English proficiency or any other protected status.
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Inside this Issue 3 Growing Fresh Hope 6 Learning to Dance in the Rain 18 A Blessing in the Midst of a Pandemic
COVER STORIES Uniquely Passionate 9 A Good Place 10 Helping Others to Fly
20 New Flags, Same Meaning
12 A Journey into the Unending World of Fractals
22 Serving Our Neighbors 2019 Community Report
14 Making a Hole-in-One Difference
25 Memorial Gifts
16 Leading by the Nose
27 Honorarium Gifts
On the cover: Resident Donna Billings (p. 10).
Growing Fresh Hope “[Resident] Sue Pederson mentioned the victory gardens of WWI and WWII. It reminded me of the stories my grandmother and parents told me. This is when I started using this name for our project.”
IN A RELATIVELY SMALL CORNER of Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s sprawling 1,400-acre campus, 61 carefully measured garden plots blossom with flowers, fruits, vegetables and, as of March, a little extra love. Mixing passion and purpose, resident gardeners have been able to continue doing what they enjoy and help others during uncertain times. In March, with the COVID-19 situation unfolding and grocery store shelves emptying, Masonic Village’s 73-member Garden Club knew there would potentially be greater needs on campus, including at the Bleiler Caring Cottage and Masonic Children’s Home, as well as at community food banks. Having produce available for residents to pick up would also decrease their need to visit public grocery stores.
they’re able to grow and provide to Masonic Village’s campus restaurants. “We all care about each other here at Masonic Village and all step up when there is a challenge. This is who we are,” Ray Horn, chair of the Garden Club, said. “Selfishly, the garden is a great place to go in times like this. As the late Jim Tarman told me, ‘The safest place is in the garden.’ It’s easy to socially distance in a garden, and many wear face masks and gloves.
A group of 12 gardeners began work on the victory gardens, deciding who would plant what and which supplies were needed. This effort became serious when on March 20, Gov. Tom Wolf closed all garden centers. Through Ken Burd’s and Jana Smith’s efforts, Seedway and Agway donate seeds to the club at the end of each growing season to use for the following year. Jim donated grow lamps and other equipment to the club to use to grow tomatoes, peppers and squash from seed. Barry Hitchcock and Ray Laubenstein started raising the vegetables for the victory gardens. Ray Horn and his wife, Pat, transplanted Egyptian Walking Onions (which came from Bill “Doc” Riley, one of the original
Emails began circulating among members as they planted the seed for an idea to take several unused plots (normally reserved for weed control) and increase the amount of produce MasonicVillages.org
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Ray Horn
Photo by resident Mick McCurdy
founders of the resident gardens) and red and green romaine lettuce from their cottage. Masonic Village’s landscape staff contributed straw bales and helped to till the plots. Ray Horn worked with Masonic Village’s culinary services manager to develop a list of what produce food services staff could use. The gardeners deliver items to campus kitchens several times a week, and their produce is incorporated into side dishes, salads and other menu items. “Residents who participate make growing decisions and tend the plots themselves, so there is empowerment in that level of management and decision making,” Robert Luckenbaugh, food controller, said. “They also enjoy the benefits of physical activity and exposure to the outdoors, especially during this unusual time of COVID -19. The idea of belonging and contributing to community, and the 4
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fellowship that follows, is evident in this project and could be felt from all the residents we met at the gardens.”
gardeners will transport the scraps to an area on campus where it is turned into compost and mushroom soil.
Victory garden crops include tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower, Romaine lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, beans, potatoes, kale, cucumber, Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, rhubarb, beets, carrots, butternut squash, raspberries, string beans, sugar peas, spinach, radishes, turnips, peppers and chilies, corn, strawberries and herbs and aromatics such as Siberian garlic, lavender, dill, thyme and parsley.
“That compost and soil is used as a foundation for their gardens, which grow us the products we use for the menus,” Adam said. “This assists the kitchen in being environmentallyconscientious by recycling and keeping reusable waste out of landfills. This is our ‘circle of life.’”
“As the residents enjoy growing, we enjoy preparing and serving,” Adam Thomas, a chef in the Eisenlohr Restaurant, said. “This is an awesome component to have as it creates a great rapport with the residents.” During the year, chefs save the organic trim left over from each day’s production. A few resident
The gardeners have donated several pounds of produce to the Community Cupboard, Elizabethtown’s food bank. In addition, residents across campus collected money for the organization, donating $12,170 in the spring. Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s campus once included self-sustaining farm operations, making residents’ efforts today a nod to the past as well as to the spirit of Freemasonry.
Elaine and Terry Ziegler
Tom Feeser and Zach Heistand
Photo by resident Mick McCurdy
“This kind of effort is in keeping with the values and mission of our Masonic fraternity,” Ray Horn said. “This is what Masons, their spouses and their friends do.”
A SMALL FAVOR CAN MEAN THE WORLD One day, during the summer of 2019, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown personal care resident Tom Feeser told food services staff he was going on vacation for a couple weeks, and that he needed someone to harvest his garden while he was away. Server Zach Heistand volunteered, because he had never been to the resident gardens before and was curious. He found more than he bargained for. “I started helping Tom with his garden at first, just as a way to help a resident out, but as time has passed, it has become something more meaningful for me,” he said. The first time Tom took Zach to his garden, he showed him the exact right time to harvest the asparagus, and after that, Zach would go out once or twice a week to harvest. When Tom returned, the cooks at the Terrace View Dining Room took the newly-picked asparagus out of the freezer and cooked it up to go along with his dinner. Tom loved it, and expressed his appreciation. Zach enjoyed seeing how a simple effort brought Tom so much joy.
Thankfully, even as COVID-19 limited resident activity, accommodations were made so Tom could visit his garden right as planting season started. He and Zach went out during late spring and early summer to plant tomatoes, transplant raspberry bushes and continue harvesting asparagus. Zach continued helping him throughout the summer and absorbed a lot of gardening knowledge Tom shared. Zach’s manager, Dolly Junk, noticed the extra work and time he was putting in to help Tom. She nominated him for a “pineapple pin,” which is awarded by food services administration to employees who show exceptional hospitality and service. Zach proudly displays the pin on his employee badge.
“Helping residents with even little things is one of the best feelings in the world,” Zach said. “It’s really great to just be a little part of their life and bring a smile to their face.”
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Learning to Dance in the Rain SINCE MARCH, THE CAMPUSES of Masonic Villages have looked a little different. Restaurants and gathering spots are empty, walking paths and hallways are absent of visitors and volunteers, and staff and residents don face masks. What is not different is how Masonic Villages feels. The Mission of Love continues to inspire staff and residents every day to embrace challenges and find joy. Food services staff have been busy delivering thousands of meals to residents’ homes. Therapeutic recreation and activities staff have assisted with hundreds of video chats and weekly bingo (virtually or in hallways). Music therapists have led hundreds of one-on-one sessions. Wellness staff have coordinated televised fitness and stretching classes, and spiritual services have been broadcast to residents’ homes weekly. Many staff have been assisting in areas beyond their normal roles to ensure services and operations continue seamlessly. They’ve been protecting themselves at work and at home, so they can provide high quality, loving care and re-assurance for residents who haven’t seen their loved ones in months. Residents have been walking outdoors when possible, catching up on books and movies, gardening, sewing thousands of face masks, cleaning and de-cluttering and discovering new hobbies. Youth at the Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown have enjoyed picnics and field days and picked up new skills, like baking. Families and the community have responded by sending cards, letters, coloring books and pencils, crosswords puzzles and more through our Sending Smiles program. Local restaurants have provided free 6
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lunches for staff. Masonic lodges and individuals have donated personal protective equipment. Donors have continued their ongoing financial support, realizing the challenges we’re facing and providing the resources we need to prioritize safety and find creative ways to thrive. Not having to worry about how they will care for those whose lives depend on them, staff can focus on meeting residents’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
KEEPING CONNECTED On her 69th wedding anniversary in May, Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill resident Rosalyn Gordon found her husband, Marvin, waiting for her with roses, anniversary balloons and cupcakes, because even under quarantine during a pandemic, love can’t wait. Although they were seated six feet apart from each other and both wearing face masks, they made the most of their time together. The couple, who are used to doing everything together, hadn’t been able to see each other in more than two months. Marvin resides in the personal care area and Rosalyn is in health care. “It was my idea to meet up with Ros, but the Masonic Village staff set it all up,” Marvin said. “We’ve been married 69 years, and the only time we have been physically separated was when I was overseas for 15 months during the Korean War. We talked about how much we missed each other and wanted to be with each other.” Despite the separation, Marvin is making
(L-R) Pearl Wenhold in Warminster; Audrey and Ken Menke in Sewickley (from February); Rosalyn and Marvin Gordon in Lafayette Hill; and Anna Wolf celebrates her 104th birthday in Elizabethtown
the best of the situation. The couple talk on the phone nearly six times a day. “When you’re young, it’s not a big deal, but when you’re older, this is hard,” he said. “We have a great love for one another. A lot of people are in worse positions than I am. I’m grateful for the way things worked out and that we are here.” Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, Ken and Audrey Menke, high school sweethearts who will celebrate their 73rd anniversary in September, would see each other daily. Ken would walk from his apartment in the personal care area one floor up to Audrey’s room in the Sturgeon Health Care Center. She was often sitting in the hallway waiting for him. “They are managing,” daughter Karen Paciorek said, “and I tell people that since they both grew up during the Great Depression, they are used to hardships and sacrifice. Ken's attitude is, ‘We just have to deal with it.’ Other than when he was in the service during World War II, this is the longest time they have been separated in 78 years.” For Audrey’s 94th birthday, on June 20, the couple met for a special lunch arranged by staff, who bought a cake and a bouquet of flowers for Ken to give to Audrey. “He was like a child going to Disney World - so excited,” Karen said. “He had laid out his sport coat, white shirt and tie the night before. I would say he benefited more from the visit since her memory has declined, but she, too, was most likely smitten with seeing her husband after such a long time.
“Everyone is looking forward to the day when we can visit, from a distance of course, but keeping our parents safe and healthy is the number one priority for my sister and me. We want to thank the staff at the Masonic Village at Sewickley for everything they do each and every day for all of the residents. We are so grateful Ken and Audrey are there.”
FROM AFAR Even from her home in Idaho, Jill Jordan, daughter of Masonic Village at Elizabethtown residents Sue and Terry Digruttolo, feels confident in her parents’ situation. “Just knowing everything possible that could be done was being done in the name of their health and safety allowed me to talk to them comfortably instead of worrying about their health, were they being fed, were they okay, etc.” Jill said. “For me, personally, it took a huge load off the stress that I had to manage on this end, 2,000 miles away from my parents who I couldn't get to if they needed me. I knew somebody was there and was caring for them.”
“If I had to live through a pandemic, there’s no other place I would’ve rather been,” Terry said. “I felt so secure here. I felt the way they handled the whole issue is far beyond anything I would’ve expected. It was fantastic.” See You Next Year: Originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 26, Autumn Day at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown has been cancelled in order to safeguard our residents. MasonicVillages.org
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Uniquely Passionate Masonic Villages’ residents pursue their passions every day, from traditional hobbies to unusual pursuits. Whether for the thrill of the chase, to satisfy curiosity, to fill a need for adventure or to cope with a difficult situation, residents have discovered unique ways to find fulfillment and joy. Life has called them to explore their world, express their creativity, help others grow and simply enjoy themselves. 8
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with end-stage renal disease, which forced her to retire from her florist job. After 40 years of residing in the same home, taking care of a large property had become increasingly difficult. Her brother-in-law and his wife lived at Masonic Village at Dallas and had nothing but positive things to say about life there. When Charlotte inquired about availability, she learned there was an apartment open right across the hall from her brother-inlaw and moved in two years ago.
A Good Place CHARLOTTE KINDLER and her children know she is in a good place now, as a resident of Masonic Village at Dallas and with an array of hobbies to keep her fulfilled and engaged. To arrive at this “good place” though, she had to deal with some of life’s hardest moments. Charlotte and her husband raised five children together and were looking forward to a blissful retirement, when at age 52, her husband died of a massive heart attack. “Grieving is the most difficult, lonely process I ever experienced,” Charlotte recalls, “but one must go through it when we lose a loved one. With the support of my children, other family members, good friends and faith, I slowly survived.” A close friend suggested she take an art course at a local community college.
Having nothing to lose, she enrolled. “A whole new world opened up for me,” she said. “The course was not only therapeutic for my grief, but it made me discover a talent I didn’t know I had. I was addicted. I couldn’t stop painting. If I couldn’t sleep at night, I would paint into the wee hours of the morning.” Charlotte eventually entered some pieces in art shows, winning awards and selling some of her work. She also used her talents to create silk flower arrangements for a local florist. She rekindled her interest in the ukulele, too. When she was in second grade, her father surprised her with an Arthur Godfrey ukulele. She eventually learned the chords herself and spent hours playing songs. She lost interest over time, but after her husband’s passing, she ordered a wooden ukulele online and began playing to pass the time. “I’m really not that good, but it’s very relaxing sitting on my porch and strumming away,” Charlotte said. Charlotte faced another hurdle in her life when she was diagnosed
“It’s a lovely environment without the hassle of home maintenance,” she said. “All my neighbors are very friendly, and there are lots of activities available. Staff are doing a fabulous job keeping us protected from the [COVID-19] virus, seeing that we can order meals from our clubhouse and giving daily updates.” Charlotte was able to use her floral design skills to decorate the apartment building and Irem Clubhouse lobby. Her apartment has plenty of space for her easel, and with COVID-19 restricting outside activities, almost every day she uses watercolors to paint landscapes, seascapes and birds. Quarantining in her apartment also means lots of video chats with her three sons, two daughters and five grandchildren. In yet one more hurdle, Charlotte was diagnosed with kidney failure last summer. She undergoes 4-hour dialysis treatments three days a week, as what she calls her “new part-time job.” “I thank God I made the move to Masonic Village,” she said. “Living here makes these dialysis sessions easier to handle. Not only am I in a secure, maintenance-free building, but I am surrounded by caring, supportive neighbors. All my children are totally happy that I found a residence that suits my needs. I only wish my husband could have lived to be here with me.” MasonicVillages.org
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Helping Others to Fly AFTER RETIRING at least five times from her role as an executive coach, Donna Billings (also pictured on cover) can’t seem to walk away from a career which has inspired hundreds of professionals and fulfilled her in ways she never expected. She no longer advertises her services, but that hasn’t stopped the calls from coming. Thanks to referrals, she consistently has at least one client. COVID-19 hasn’t impacted her work, as her coaching is done over the phone or using Zoom video chat in her apartment at Masonic Village at Sewickley. Donna is constantly motivated by seeing a light bulb go on, or “a deer in headlights look,” when she has helped a client see their potential and push through personal barriers. As someone who has worked with her own life coach, she knows the feeling of discovering what you’re capable of achieving.
BUILDING HER BUSINESS While working as a senior-level organizational development and human resources manager, Donna was tasked with devising a plan for developing top- and mid-level leaders. Working with an outside team, they combined executive assessment, strategic planning and executive coaching into a cohesive plan. “To do this, I had to gain a coaching certification myself,” Donna said, “and found this was the most perfect, natural fit for my skills and abilities.” Her self-discovery was not over. After this transition, Donna retired from the corporate world and began an independent executive coaching practice, while also serving as an assistant professor in the MBA program at Chatham University.
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Donna with two women she met while in Zanzibar
“One day, a well-known executive coach told me, ‘You’re excellent, but you’re in the wrong niche. You really shine when helping mid- to upper-level managers transition through life changes,’” she recalls. “From that point, my coaching career took off like wildfire, and today – at age 79 – I am still coaching men and women through major life transitions. “The key to my success is that I’ve become a role model for those who are stuck. They see how I made changes in my career in my late 50s through my 60s and into my 70s. More than once I’ve heard, ‘If you can do what you’re doing, then I can change my life, too,’ and our coaching takes off.” Her coaching model and philosophy in life is best summed up by “Come to the Edge,” a poem by Christopher Logue: Come to the edge. We might fall. Come to the edge. It's too high! COME TO THE EDGE! And they came, and he pushed, And they flew.
Donna’s proudest accomplishment and legacy to the coaching world was co-founding the Duquesne University Professional Coach Certification program in 2009. In 2013, she was honored for design and implementation of the most innovative coach program at the International Coach Federation Midwest Conference. This program remains a well-recognized coaching certification program with an ongoing waiting list to participate.
In 2019, she took a 3-week trip covering six countries: the Netherlands, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Kenya, Zimbabwe and Johannesburg. She saw wild animals, visited museums, tasted banana beer (yuck!), beaded a necklace with members of the Maasai Tribe and received a treasured sketch from one of her group’s helpers while staying in the Serengeti. The biggest takeaway from the trip was meeting people and learning about their culture, traditions and struggles.
“So many people have called and told me that my teaching and coaching was the catalyst that changed their lives,” Donna said. “I recently got an email from someone I taught 12 years ago. She said what she learned turned her whole life around, and now she’s doing workshops on leading across generations. She’s paying it forward. I’m very blessed. I’m proud of what I did.”
“We also lived, breathed and experienced everyday life of the African people,” she wrote in an article for the Overseas Adventure Travel website. “We saw horrendous poverty walking through humble villages where tourists do not go, and we sat in the living room of a woman who pays $5 a month for a small room with no indoor bathroom or kitchen. Yet, with each learning experience, we found the people to be open, spontaneous and welcoming.”
CLIMBING MOUNTAINS WITH WILD WOMEN Donna is also a published author. “Red and Purple Hiking Boots: An Older Woman’s Trek to ‘It’s Never Too Late’” covers her journey as a 12-year caregiver for her late husband, and how she survived by climbing mountains and traveling. After her book was published, she visited caregiver groups to talk personally about her experiences. “It’s a memoir and a coaching book,” she said. “Each chapter represents a real or metaphysical mountain I climbed, what I learned from the experience and how it helps others find their way in life.” Donna’s desire to travel was whetted when she traveled to Nicaragua while her son was in the Peace Corps, and the burning desire to travel on unique adventures only grew from there. She’s been to 51 of the country’s 62 National Parks with either her Wild Women travel group or Glenn, her partner of 10 years. She hiked Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in her early 60s, despite being “absolutely not physically ready for it.” For her 75th birthday, she spent two days kayaking 35 miles down the Allegheny River. Donna has traveled to Isle of Iona in Scotland on a spiritual retreat; from Fairbanks to Anchorage on the Alaska Railroad; to the Bay of Fundy in Canada, where she ate fresh scallops right out of the ocean; and to the Costa Rican rain forest and Iceland to hike. Another memorable and unique adventure was spending a week in Arizona with young students in a school on a Navajo reservation.
Another trip which left a big impression on her was New Zealand. Donna found the country to be clean and beautiful, with warm and peaceful people. One of the trip’s highlights was when the guide talked about a famous artist who lived in his hometown and became a hermit because of personal tragedies. As a way to pay the villagers back for their kindness to him, the artist decorated the town’s public restrooms with marble tile mosaics. Donna’s group spent an hour looking at toilets. Donna’s future travel list includes seeing the Northern Lights, paddling down Portugal’s Porto River and spending more time in Sedona, Arizona. For now, she enjoys being outdoors, hiking and kayaking. When not outdoors, she spends her time in the Masonic Art Studio, painting landscapes and teaching watercolor classes to residents. She never painted until her own coach challenged her to take a class for her 70th birthday. As much time as Donna spends teaching and encouraging others, she also invests time in herself to learn and grow every day. “Find something that excites you - a hobby or anything that challenges you,” she advised.
“Learn new skills. Live in the moment. Start a career you always wanted but didn’t have time for. Think ahead instead of living for today. Be positive. The phrase I use to keep going is ‘bloom where you’re planted.’ I’ve planted seeds, and I'm nourishing them every day.” MasonicVillages.org
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A Journey into the Unending World of Fractals FROM SATELLITE SOFTWARE ENGINEER TO ARTIST and teacher, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown resident Bill Decker has certainly lived a complex life. His long-time hobby of creating fractal artwork surely follows suit. Bill’s unique interest reaches as far back as his days as a student studying astronomy and physics at Penn State University.
These formulas always create the same shapes every time they are “solved,” so instead of saving each image that is created, the formula itself can be saved for later.
“There was a nice library [at Penn State], and they subscribed to 40 or 50 of the biggest scientific publications,” he said. “I started reading ‘Scientific American,’ and there was a story about fractals.”
“Because of the nature of fractal formulas, you can load them back into the program later,” Bill explained, “so you can return to the ones that you really like.”
In the 1980s, as personal computer technology became faster and more available, Bill’s interest in fractals and creating digital fractal art grew. He continued creating fractal artwork throughout the early 2000s, but then took a break until 2017, when he came across more free time in retirement and started teaching classes on it at Masonic Village.
Over his decades of creating, reworking and expanding upon his artwork, Bill kept those formulas organized. This means he can always find the ones he marked down as “good” and recolor and manipulate them even more to create more interesting artwork. By the time he “rebooted” his hobby in 2017, he had more than 1,500 formulas and images catalogued.
WHAT IS FRACTAL ART?
Besides having more time to focus on fractals, Bill feels blessed in numerous ways to be at Masonic Village.
At a basic level, fractals are a visual art form that use mathematical formulas to generate images of surprising 12
complexity and variety. They have patterns that can repeat infinitely and can be “zoomed in” indefinitely, showing the same pattern and shape forever.
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“I was introduced to Masonic Village by my brother. About a dozen years ago, I visited and thought it
“I started reading ‘Scientific American,’ and there was a story about fractals.”
looked nice,” he recalls. “Later, when I was looking at retirement, I was pretty set on this place.” Shortly after he moved to Masonic Village, Bill discovered the Life Long Learning Center, where he could explore new ideas with other residents and share his love of math and art with the community. Given his background in education and being a teacher’s assistant in graduate school, he decided to teach a class about fractals.
also involved in other Masonic Village groups and activities. He hosts a discussion group where attendees watch and discuss video lectures on various topics.
“It’s much better than sitting at home and watching them alone,” he said. “There’s plenty to do here, and all the activities help keep track of the days.”
“I felt like I was babbling on and on and not making a lot of sense, but people came up to me after and told me how informative I was and how much they learned,” Bill said.
Through Bill’s classes on fractals and fractal art, his fellow residents learn you don’t have to be a math whiz to make or understand fractal art. In fact, fractals – seen in objects that display complex, similar patterns – can be hiding in plain sight. Clouds, trees, leaves, ferns and foods like broccoli and cauliflower – the list of fractals produced by nature are endless and all around us.
In addition to teaching his course on fractals, Bill’s
Written by Jared Hameloth, public relations associate/intern.
He received a good reception at the first event, and a few people came up to him afterward to ask about getting into the hobby themselves.
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Making a Hole-in-One Difference WHEN A GREAT PASSION turns into a community organization dedicated to helping kids achieve their greatest potential, it’s a recipe for success. Masonic Village at Sewickley resident Bob Yeager’s love for the game of golf led to the formation of the Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation, which has mentored thousands of kids in need since 1991. “During the late 1980s, my wife and I were obsessed with golf,” Bob recalled, “although we weren’t very good at it.” Bob made many good friends through his love of the game, and realizing that he was in a relatively good place in life, wanted to give back. “At that time, we wanted to help at-risk kids who needed direction and whose futures weren’t very certain,” Bob said, “so I pulled together people I played golf with, and we started something.” The organization helped 50 kids from depressed former steelmaking towns through its first summer program, where the children learned the basics of golf. The program showed amazing promise in helping the confidence and overall mental and emotional wellbeing of the kids, and the organization took off. “One of the things that we wanted to do differently from other charities was to pay our own way,” Bob explained. “We didn’t want to rely on volunteers because there’s an inevitable drop-off of help.” Bob and his partners hired Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) teachers to ensure the instruction the kids received was top notch. As the program continued to grow, Bob and his partners’ goal was to gain a loyal group of sponsors and donors that could help ensure their mission continued. They 14
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Edith and Bob Yeager
succeeded. Over the lifetime of the charity, they have been able to teach more than 4,000 kids the joys of golf. The Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation works with around 100 - 150 kids every year through four different programs. Bob’s often asked why they use golf to help build confidence in underprivileged kids.
“Why golf? When you think about it, golf can offer some unique opportunities in learning. For instance, you have to call fouls on yourself. There isn’t a referee to call fouls,” Bob said. The foundation uses the tenets of the game to teach nine core values that help young people succeed in life: integrity, confidence, responsibility, trust, respect, courtesy, equity, accountability and the “edge” to compete in life. In addition to just learning the rules of the game in a structured format, the program also provides lunches, transportation and a “parent day” where the children can show off their new skills at the end of the summer. Bob said that although he’s the founder and was on the original board of directors for the organization, he always wanted others to lead. “I’ve been sort of on the fringes through the whole 30-year period,” he says.
“We wanted to help at-risk kids, so I pulled together people I played golf with, and we started something.” “There are so many talented people who have been able to bring the organization forward.” He jokes that he’s been the “main cheerleader” for the group over the years. Bob has been an emeritus member of the board of directors for some time now, and being in his 80s, was looking to retire. Like many who have moved to Masonic Village, he knew of its reputation within the community and had heard good things from friends. “It was a pretty easy decision to come here,” he said. “Masonic Village at Sewickley has a fabulous reputation, head and shoulders above the rest.” Bob and his wife, Edith, moved into one of the first newly-built villas last year, and found supportive staff who helped them move in and treated them like family. He remembers the story of an employee he met on campus who opened up about his personal life. “He told me about how his own family life had improved because of the sense of community that he feels while working here — through the things he learns from those he works with and the residents he meets,” Bob recalled. Bob hopes he has created the same sense of community through the youth golf foundation and is excited to celebrate the organization’s 30-year anniversary next year. They have a large event planned that will hopefully help further spread the word of the organization’s mission and its outcomes. With this celebration, Bob can rest assured of the impact he has had on countless children and their families through his organization, which started as a group of golf buddies, but turned into a long-lasting program that really made a hole-in-one difference in their community. Written by Jared Hameloth, public relations associate/intern Top: A pile of new starter clubs rests by the green at the beginning of Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation’s third year. That year, the foundation doubled the number of kids in the program to more than 150. Bottom: The foundation made it their mission to provide transportation to and from the course.
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Leading by the Nose HE’S A “SCENT-SATIONAL” DOG. That would be Riley, a 6-year-old beagle owned by Dolores Gift, a resident of Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill. Dolores’ hobby and favorite activity is guiding Riley as he competes in the sport of K9 Nose Work, a detection-style training and competition, which tests your dog’s ability to smell odors. Like other competitive sports, there is an organizing body, the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW). NACSW is one of the sanctioned organizations where you can earn Nose Work titles and awards. Dolores’ first dog, Georgie, a hound rescue who passed away two years ago, earned nine titles and ribbons for the sport at various “trials,” or competitions. Over five years, Georgie participated in 15 to 20 trials. At the trials, the dogs compete at different levels to locate scents hidden in various places. “All dogs have this fantastic ability to sniff things out,” Dolores said. “It’s just natural for them. I’m always practicing with him at home. It’s so much fun to watch. When he finds the odor, he gets a treat. He loves it.” Dolores initially became involved with scent work because Georgie was a challenge to walk and fearful of other dogs. She hired a trainer to come to her house and work with the dog. The trainer noted during one of the training sessions that Georgie’s nose was always “in the ground.” She mentioned to Dolores she might want to get the dog involved in scent work. And the rest was history. “Dogs’ noses can smell so much more than we can, like 40 times what we can smell,” Dolores said. “This sport was started by professionals [police officers, trained military] who began training their dogs for bomb sniffing and narcotics. The way professionals train is more intense than what we do, but it’s the same general concept.” With Georgie, and now Riley, Dolores begins training by placing food in little containers with holes in them and having the dog sniff out the food. After a short time, she then places an odor on a cotton swab in the
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container (scents like anise, clove and oil of birch, for example), along with the food, and the dog has to sniff out the scent. Eventually, Dolores isolates the scent without any food and hopes the dog will find it.
“He recognizes that his job is to find the odor,” Dolores said. “Give a dog a job to do, whether it’s retrieving things for you or smelling out things, and you can see the excitement in the dogs for what they are doing.” After proper training was completed, Dolores entered Georgie in trials. The trials consist of four elements: vehicles, interior spaces, exterior spaces and containers. At the first level, the dog has to locate an odor hidden in one of those areas. In level two, he needs to locate two or three odors that are hidden. The dog and handler team needs to successfully find every hidden item in each area within the time limit given. “The job of the handler or owner is to recognize when the dog is telling you that he found the odor,” Dolores said. “That’s the difficult part. You learn to read your dog and know what your dog is doing and what his body language looks like. He’ll go into a room, start looking around and, all of a sudden, he’ll do an ‘about face,’ and you know he has picked up an odor.” Her new dog, Riley, is 6 years old and started training for trials a year ago. A beginner, Riley successfully passed an “odor recognition test” and participated in a level one outdoor trial in New Jersey in July. Dolores has traveled more than six hours to compete or volunteer at a trial. There are typically 30 to 40 dogs that compete and 10 to 15 volunteers who help. The events are not open to the general public. “The judges are paid, but everyone else volunteers to run the trials,” she said. “You have a volunteer in the parking lot who calls the next dog up, someone who directs you where to go and someone who times the competition, etc.”
Dolores and her “scent-sational” dog, Riley
Dolores loves what she does and has developed a whole network of friends in the scent work community, people she never would have met otherwise. “There are all different age groups, from young people in their 20s to those in their 80s,” she said. “Any dog can be trained to do this. There are a lot of dogs who are not sociable to other dogs, and this sport has been a godsend for them.” When she’s not training Riley or showing him at a trial, Dolores can be found walking him at the dog park on the Masonic Village campus. “We just wander around the property, which is amazing,” she said. “There are all kinds of different paths.” Dolores came to Masonic Village nearly two years ago and calls it “the best decision for this time of my life.” Although her husband was ill and passed away right before moving in, Dolores said she had done her research and found that the village was the right place for them, and subsequently, for her. “This was the perfect place for us to be, in an apartment, but having the sanctuary of knowing that he could have personal care here if and when he needed it,” she said. “Of all the places we looked, this was the absolute best.” Georgie participating in a K9 Nose Work trial
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A Blessing in the Midst of a Pandemic “I love hearing their stories,” Shelly said, “and I love getting them dressed, doing their hair and making them feel good.” What Shelly wanted most was to return to normal life. Little did she know, she and the rest of the country had another hurdle to face: the COVID-19 pandemic. Shelly’s recent cancer treatment, in combination with the medications she takes for her chronic rheumatoid arthritis, makes her immunosuppressed, which put her at greater risk for complications from COVID-19. Shelly, left, with her daughter and granddaughters
SHELLY STANLEY, A NURSING ASSISTANT at Masonic Village at Sewickley, awoke one morning in December 2019 feeling sick to her stomach. She knew a stomach bug was making its rounds, but as the day progressed, so did her illness, until she could no longer stand. In the emergency room, Shelly was given fluids to re-hydrate and was taken for a full-body scan as a precaution. Doctors confirmed Shelly had a seemingly aggressive stomach virus, but they also found something else. The scan showed a mass on her kidney, which was cancerous. “The doctor came in and sat down beside me,” Shelly said, “and as soon as I heard the ‘C’ word, I got anxiety. I kept hoping they made a mistake.” 18
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She thought of her two daughters and three granddaughters. She feared she’d be leaving them far sooner than she ever imagined. The next few months were full of tests and doctors’ appointments. Shelly lost half of her left kidney to cancer, but still considers herself fortunate. “If I hadn’t had that stomach flu, they would never have found it in time to save my life,” Shelly said. “They told me because of the type [of cancer] I had, and where it was located, it could have gone undetected for years. Someone was watching over me, that’s what I know.” In March, Shelly was preparing to return to work. She missed the residents she cared for on a daily basis for the last eight years.
“When I asked about returning to work and daily life, my doctors told me if I got the virus, I might not survive,” she said. Shelly was put on personal leave and self-quarantined in her home for almost two months.
“I was sitting at home and asking God what I was going to do as the bills kept coming in,” Shelly said. “I started feeling very depressed, and I was anxious to get back to work because I missed it.” Shelly says what happened next was what she likes to call a “blessing.” “I found out about the Helping Hands Fund, and I just couldn’t believe it,” Shelly said.
After hearing about her situation, Human Resources referred Shelly to the Helping Hands Fund, which provides support to Masonic Villages’ employees across the state who are experiencing personal emergencies, hardships and/or natural disasters. These can include the loss of a loved one, financial pressures, health issues, a hindered ability to afford food, new caregiving responsibilities and other unforeseen emergencies, such as a pandemic. The fund, which provides support to employees on the basis of a counsel that reviews each employee’s situation, was created in 2019, in honor of retiring CEO Joseph Murphy. Since the creation of this fund, generous donors have contributed $347,000 to assist employees in need. “I will give a person my last, but now I was the person in need,” Shelly said. “I just can’t believe there’s such nice, wonderful people out there. When I found out I was going to get some support, I was in tears, and I called everyone in my family. They couldn’t believe what a blessing it was.”
While Shelly was off work, her Masonic Village family reached out with well-wishes. Co-workers informed her that the residents and their families were looking for her and asking about her. “I know my residents,” Shelly said. “I do things just the way they like. I think the families like that I have everything just right for them.” The work done, care given and services provided at Masonic Villages requires the tireless efforts of many dedicated and selfless employees, like Shelly (who is back to caring for her residents and doing well). Thanks to generous Helping Hands Fund donors, Masonic Villages’ Mission of Love also touches the lives of the employees who bring it to life each day.
“When everyone is going through hard times, it takes a good-hearted person to think of others,” Shelly said, “ for that, I just say, ‘Thank you.’”
Thank You for Supporting Our Heroes From nurses and doctors to housekeepers, security officers and food service workers, our staff are putting their health and safety on the line to stand between our residents and COVID-19. It’s an “all hands on deck” operation at Masonic Villages, with many non-direct care employees volunteering to work outside of their normal roles to serve on the “front line.” While our front-line heroes are taking care of others, you have helped take care of them with countless gifts to the Helping Hands Fund. Because of donors like you, this fund helps employees make ends meet during difficult times. Over the last few months, many employees have been dedicating additional hours that could otherwise be spent with their families to properly
disinfect and clean areas of the campus, screen fellow employees and deliver meals, activity books, prescriptions and other items to residents as they shelter in place. Generous donors have also given gifts to Masonic Villages during this time. You have helped us to purchase items - like masks, face shields, disinfectant products, testing equipment and reduced meals for employees - to combat this virus. You are keeping residents and staff safe and healthy. Thank you. Top photo: Vaughna Coppersmith, LPN. Middle photo: Joyce Miller, CNA. Bottom photo: Eric Mummert, security shift supervisor; Francis “CJ” March, maintenance mechanic 1; and Gerard Polizzi, maintenance craftsperson. MasonicVillages.org
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New Flags, Same Meaning THE AMERICAN FLAG IS A SYMBOL of freedom and unity. For resident Anne Gratz, the flags that line the Veterans Grove at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown for patriotic holidays have always meant this and so much more. “They bring everyone here so much joy,” Anne said. “Seeing them displayed makes people so grateful to live here and for the freedoms we have.” Since 2010, the Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407, Order of the Eastern Star (OES), has maintained the flag display. Each of the original flags was purchased by an individual in memory or in dedication of a loved one. Proceeds from the “sale” of the 206 flags helped to support one of OES’s charitable missions: to provide children and veterans with service dogs. The success of the project, led by resident and Past Grand Matron of Pennsylvania OES Jo-Anne Karnes, inspired other OES chapters to take part in “selling” and displaying flags. All five Masonic Village locations supported the project. From 2009 – 2012, $1.2 million was raised by OES members in the United States and Canada. With no administration costs, all donations supported the service dog program, benefiting children, veterans and those in need. Jo-Anne was honored and humbled to see her idea make an impact on an international level. “The project has made a difference for so many people,” Jo-Anne said. “The members of the Order are leaving paw prints on the hearts of others.” As years passed, sun and wind damaged the original flags and poles located at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. When Anne heard of the need for replacements, she offered to replace all 206 flags and poles without hesitation. “I was inspired by one of my good friends who is a resident and part of OES,” Anne said. “She has told me for years the flags on campus need to be replaced, and I know I have always enjoyed them.” “Anne’s gift brought this project to life again,” Jo-Anne said. “It’s like seeing the display for the first time.”
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Pictured (l-r): Jo-Anne Karnes, Anne Gratz and Sue Ostermueller
In 2014, the last of the original flags were purchased in memory or in dedication of someone. Jo-Anne has hopes of expanding the flag display and offering flags for “purchase” once again in support of service dogs. Jo-Anne and Sue Ostermueller, chairman of the Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407’s flag team, along with more than 15 other volunteers, place and remove the flags for each holiday. “Anne has made our mission here much easier,” Sue says. “It’s definitely a labor of love.”
“We just can’t thank Anne enough,” Jo-Anne said. “People may think we’re old-fashioned, but we’ll always salute the red, white and blue.” The new flags Anne donated line the Eternal Flame Monument, the newest addition to Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s Veterans Grove. At the foot of the Eternal Flame Monument are inscribed pavers. In recognition of Veterans Day, these pavers are available for purchase in honor or in memory of a loved one who has served or is currently serving in the U.S. military and can be inscribed with a personal message. Pavers that surround the Veterans Garden at Masonic Village at Sewickley are also available for purchase (see right).
As a way of honoring or memorializing an individual, a paver can be inscribed to permanently recognize an individual’s service to our country. Indicate the location where the paver is to be installed: Elizabethtown Veterans Grove Sewickley Veterans Garden
Name (donor) Address City Phone ( )
M astercard
American Express
Zip
Choose a paver size: 12”x 18” Paver ($500) accommodates 5 lines with no more than 20 characters per line 8”x 12” Paver ($250) accommodates 4 lines with no more than 14 characters per line Please print paver inscription exactly as you would like it to appear; spaces are included in character count.
Credit Card VISA
State Email
Discover
Card #_______________________________________________________ Exp. Date _____ /_____ Security Code __________ Phone _______________________________________________________ Signature____________________________________________________
To purchase a paver, complete this form and enclose it, along with your payment, inside the attached envelope. Checks payable to “Masonic Charities.”
VVSummer2020
Elizabethtown Veterans Grove
Sewickley Veterans Garden MasonicVillages.org
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Serving Our Neighbors 2019 Community Report Whether it’s providing experience for students, hosting support groups or developing initiatives to protect the environment, Masonic Villages seeks to use our resources to enhance the lives of people in all stages of life. Making surrounding communities even better places to live, work and enjoy life is a valuable investment in the future. In 2019, Masonic Villages provided charitable care and community services worth $33.4 million across the state. This consists of approximately $10.4 million (at cost) of free care and services and $23 million (at cost) for care and services above the amount reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and other third party payers. In addition to these life-changing services for those unable to afford the care they need, we reach beyond our walls and family to those in local communities who can benefit from our Mission of Love. Between awarding scholarships to teen volunteers, donating to local emergency service providers, hosting interns and inviting community groups to use our facilities free of charge, we also gave back more than $487,205 to the Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster communities in 2019.
PARTNERSHIPS Masonic Villages opens their facilities to assist various community efforts, including charity runs, health fairs, blood drives, fitness classes or educational opportunities, some of which also benefit our residents. Staff partner with local schools for mutually beneficial intergenerational programming among our residents and youth at all our locations. In partnership with Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services (ECHOS), which runs a winter shelter at St. Paul’s Methodist Church for those with emergency living needs, Masonic Village’s Environmental Services Department washed 3,440 pounds of sheets, blankets, comforters and towels free of charge, donating staff time valued at approximately $1,995. 22
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“We'd like to express our gratitude to Masonic Villages for providing laundry services to the Winter Shelter this past season. Volunteers would drop off sheets, blankets, comforters and towels to be cleaned each week and return with fresh laundry. Your partnership in support of our community is outstanding!” ECHOS shared on their Facebook page.
BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC SUPPORT As a not-for-profit organization, Masonic Villages is not required to pay real estate taxes; however, we value municipalities’ services and understand their plights, as costs impact local taxes. Through Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements signed in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill and Sewickley, we paid $2,201,442 to local boroughs, townships, counties and school districts in 2019. Supporting the local economy is also a priority. Through contracts with 371 businesses in the Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill and Sewickley areas, Masonic Villages generated expenditures of $4,832,593. For the past 13 years, Masonic Villages has been implementing a comprehensive sustainability plan, including renewable energy projects, energy auditing and more than 80 individual efficiency projects. Eco-friendly operations and initiatives are an important commitment to our community’s and planet’s future, whether it’s restoring a portion of the Conoy Creek, expanding solar power or protecting soil and water resources while operating a beef cattle and farm enterprise in Elizabethtown. Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s solar panel array is paying off in more ways than one. Not only does it reduce energy costs by $250,000 per year, it earned Masonic Villages a $151,242 rebate in 2019 from PPL Electric Utilities, which through Act 129, pays companies that find ways to cut back on electricity usage.
DONATIONS Masonic Villages seeks ways to support other charitable groups whenever possible and contributed more than
$28,450 to fire and EMS companies, three libraries and other causes. We provided furniture and other items to four child care providers in Elizabethtown. Staff and residents in Warminster collected clothes and toiletries to donate to a women’s shelter in Doylestown. Staff, residents and visitors in Elizabethtown donated items for Toys for Tots, and the Adult Daily Living Center collected items for the Pet Pantry of Lancaster County. Masonic Village Hospice raised more than $15,647 for the 2019 Relay for Life of Lancaster, benefiting the American Cancer Society. The Masonic Village Farm Market donated food and gift certificates to local food banks, Meals on Wheels and civic, scout and religious groups for fundraisers. We contributed $15,000 to the Elizabethtown Area Education Foundation to help generate support for the foundation’s grant program to enhance learning experiences in the classroom and beyond. At our Elizabethtown and Sewickley locations, we awarded $22,500 in scholarships to graduating seniors who volunteered at least 100 hours with us during their high school years.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES Working with local schools and universities, Masonic Villages’ staff welcome students seeking internships and job shadow experiences. In 2019, across the state, interns joined us in the Public Relations, Marketing and Maintenance Departments and at the Masonic Village Farm. In clinical settings, including the Adult Daily Living Center, Baird Wellness Center and in the Nutrition Services, Pharmacy, Physical and Occupational Therapy, Music Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Food Services, Social Services, Hospice, Environmental Services and Health Care Administration departments, staff supervised 270 students for more than 6,543 hours – time valued at approximately $41,731. Based on national community benefits reporting standards, 20% of staff time overseeing students in a clinical setting may be quantified as a community benefit. Masonic Village at Elizabethtown has teamed up with Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 to offer students internships and real world job experiences in environmental services. We hosted 32 students in 2019, as well as two from the Vista School. Four Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Life Skills students worked with Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill’s Food Services and Environmental Services Departments at the start of the fall school semester.
Students from La Salle University complete their clinical experience at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill
Over the summer, Masonic Village at Dallas’ marketing office hosted intern Jordyn Pavelitz, a student at Misericordia University working toward a degree in health care management with a minor in gerontology. “I gained valuable knowledge and immense insight,” Jordyn said. “It was a wonderful learning experience that exceeded my expectations. I was given the opportunity to work on different projects/assignments, which gave me an understanding of the health care and business industry. I am grateful to Masonic Village for helping me build upon my skills and education. It is a wonderful place with a tranquil atmosphere and compassionate care.
“Without hesitation, I would definitely recommend Masonic Village to anyone looking for employment, an internship or a wonderful place to live.” OUTREACH Masonic Village’s Outreach Program distributed $12,290 in home assistance support to six individuals and families last year. The program also operates a Durable Medical Loan Equipment Closet, which provided equipment to 13 individuals in 2019. Community members at any stage of life can find assistance at Masonic Villages. Last year, in Elizabethtown, an average of 15 individuals, including community members and Masonic Village residents, participated in the monthly Dementia Caregiver Support & Education Group. An average of 16 individuals per month attended meetings of the Bereavement Support Group at Masonic Village.
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After the passing of Billie Jane Bailey’s significant other, Jim, her family doctor recommended she attend some form of therapy to help her work though her grief. She saw a notice in the Elizabethtown/Mount Joy Merchandiser newspaper for a bereavement support group through Masonic Village Hospice. “I didn’t feel I needed one-on-one counseling,” Billie Jane said. “I just needed to be able to talk with people. I’ve connected with others. It’s been good for me. Heidi [Young, hospice bereavement coordinator] has been really good with the group. She makes everybody feel welcome to open up and talk. It really helps being around others going through the same thing as you. People say they know how you feel, but they don’t know until they go through it. Everyone’s situation and how you feel is different.” Funded through generous contributions, the Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown does not charge individuals, organizations, or the state or federal government for its services. It provides a home for up to 40 youth who are orphaned, being raised by aging grandparents, or who come from various social or economic environments which do not provide necessary security and support.
RESIDENT CONTRIBUTIONS Masonic Villages residents are active in their communities, contributing to local service projects, international humanitarian efforts and more. Residents of the Bleiler Caring Cottage participated in bi-monthly community services projects, including hosting a breakfast for the Elizabethtown Borough Police Department and baking cookies for Northwest EMS. The Woodworking Club at the Masonic Village at Sewickley crafted wooden toys and raised money for the Shriners Hospitals for Children. A dozen members of the PLARN (plastic yarn) group meet weekly to knit plastic mats for the New Life Community Church in Pittsburgh, which donates them to homeless individuals. Residents in Sewickley also volunteered hours of their time sorting and folding clothing donations at World Vision. Masonic Village at Dallas residents participated in an Adopt a Road project to help clean up nearby Country Club Road and volunteered at the Back Mountain Food Pantry, as well as donated to its mission. In Lafayette Hill, residents donated puzzles and books to Fox Chase Cancer Center and clothing and other miscellaneous
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Residents of Bleiler Caring Cottage with members of the Elizabethtown Borough Police Department
items to Whosoever Gospel Mission, the Salvation Army and the National Federation for the Blind. Since 2017, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s Loving Loomers have hand-made 2,764 hats for hospitals, churches, schools and cancer treatment centers. Craft Group members, through the sales of handmade floral arrangements, jewelry, blankets, cards and gift bags, have donated proceeds to numerous Masonic and community charities. Through Operation Christmas Child, residents contributed 190 shoe boxes full of toys and supplies for kids in need across the world and $1,310 for shipping costs. The Grey Lions of Elizabethtown, Masonic Village’s Penn State alumni interest group, awarded four $1,000 scholarships in 2019 to deserving Penn State students who are employees of Masonic Village or children or grandchildren of employees. Through the Congregation of Sell Chapel’s Community Outreach ministry, in 2019, members donated $38,554 in offerings toward ECHOS, The Children’s Playroom of Lancaster, Hope Within, Communities That Care, Naaman Center, Christmas Shop, Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown and CROP Walk. Members of the congregation volunteered with ECHOS’ winter shelter, The Children’s Playroom and other programs in Lancaster County. To read more ways Masonic Villages supports local communities and hear from those who benefit, view our full Community Report online at MasonicVillages.org/about/community-report.
Thanks to Our Donors Memorial Gifts The following memorial gifts were made Feb. 1 - April 30, 2020. Below is a list of individuals (names shown in blue) whose loved ones have made a gift in their memory to one of the five Masonic Villages. We have taken great care to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of the names listed below. If an error has been made, please contact the Office of Gift Planning at 800-599-6454; 717-367-1121, ext. 33430; or by emailing giving@masonicvillages.org. Thank you. John Adkinson Cheryl Adkinson James and Jane Albert Wendy McDonald Petrea S. Barley Kenneth Rainey & Judith Rainey Barone Families Paul W. Bartek Franklin-St. John’s Trinity Lodge No. 221 Howard A. Beiseigel John Beiseigel Stanley Berkowitz Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Charles L. Besspiata Franklin-St. John’s Trinity Lodge No. 221 Ray Beyers Nora Beyers Richard M. Biggs Robert and Barbara Zeiders Minna Blank Albert and Anita Boeschen Manuel Brandow Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 M.C. Broadbent Bruce and Joyce Broadbent Donald Brous Houseman Lodge No. 211 Carl Brown Sarah Link Olin and Gladys Brubaker Karl Buus Adelaide C. Buehler Tom and Noreen Weld Kitty Byk Applied Energy Group Gay Klapman Adam Lazer Philip H. Chamberlin Alice Chamberlin Rita C. Christian Dennis and Susan Christian Karen Johnsen and Harold Moddel Howard Clark James and Carole Clark Samuel K. Clark Joseph Clark Eugene S. Cohan Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Bernard K. Corwin Debra Segal Kowaleski Raymond H. Dahlheimer Bill Kern, Susan Paiva and Tom Kern Jacqueline Linsey Marjorie Pokopec-Gerhart Josephine Dare Robert Dare Jason L. Dean Richard Dean Chester A. and Marian E. Derk, Sr. Chester and Barbara Derk Ord L. Dixon Jean Dixon Jane Douglas Carl and Dorothy Shull Laura W. Dove Albert Dove Manon Duck Don and Shirley Miller Cheryl Dunkle Matthew Mayo Karoline M. Dunn Edwin and Rita Leedy James Silvius Annette Spinosi Martin Duretz Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19
Walter F. Dyer George Ullrich Mary Elanjian Paul Elanjian James T. English Margery English Jack R. Eshenour Catherine Eshenour Stanley G. Evans Dorothy Evans Yvonne M. Fafata Robert Fafata Mathias M. Fath Richard and Louise Brown Edwin J. Filchner Anonymous Herman Fineberg Max and Sylvia Rabinovitz Michael C. Frank, Jr. Doric Lodge No. 630 Barbara L. Frantz Robert Frantz Leroy K. Frey Matthew Mayo Gwen Roberts Jack R. Fries The Grim Foundation Warren and Alice Gift The Booth Family Trust Gertrude (Trudy) E. Goff Paul Block Robert and Cynthia Feldman Jim Schell The Hillman Company Trudy and Joe Goff Carolyn Schenck Moores and Family Joan M. (Purcell) Grier Sheryl Long Despina Grimes Robert Grimes Barbara Hahn Andrew and Doris Zelez Barry Lee Hassinger Joan Hassinger Mary Ann Hawk Stanley C. Hawk Warren Heidelbaugh Bruce and Joan Howarth Masonic Village Travel Club Sterling P. Hepler Duane and Nancy Hepler Sidney Hersh Joel Hersh and Cynthia Tyger Sylvia Hersh Joel Hersh and Cynthia Tyger Paul Hess Judith Hess Gladys Hill Helen Heimel Jerome L. and Kathryn Hitz Paul Thompson Virgie L. Hoffer Glenn and Ruth Hoffer George T. Hoffman Janet Hoffman James Horan Bruce and Joan Howarth John F. and Violet J. Hull Glenn Hull Rudolph Hummel Joan Hummel David and Alicia Hunsberger Timothy and Fay Pletcher David and Lee Hunsberger James and Becky Lafreeda Howard M. Hyman Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 MasonicVillages.org
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Etta L. Irwin Amy Achey and Dennis Kantner Sue Bullock, Theresa Kirchner, Ginny Lloyd, Lisa Lynch, Ellen Rogers and Jane Wissinger Denny and Carmen Boll, David and Debbie (Boll) Hinton, Chuck and Julie Boll Arbutus Curvey Marquerite Felegi George and Helen McDermott, Gene and Rose Ann Hepler, Jim and Theresa Hepler and Dottie Ann Mylin Barbara and Mark Valenza Carolyn Jochen Albert Jochen Sheldon Kaplan Patricia Hill-Kaplan Adrienne J. Keiser Larry Keiser Alvin Kemper Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Marjorie Kepner Fred Kepner Earl M. Kline Eugene E. and Anna K. Kline Ethel B. Klopfer Anonymous Leon Knapp Richard and Alice Temple Carole Knies Corinthian Chapter No. 13, OES Rick Knowlton Matthew Mayo Betty J. Kuntz ASF-Keystone, Inc. Julene Bechtel David and MaryAlice Green White Rose Chapter No. 360, O.E.S. Ann Wildasin Clarence “Skip” W. Lance Rachael Getis Charles and Rita Ledig Alan Ledig Jacob and Paul Lehman Ralph Lehman Sherrie Letcher Roxanne Tavakkol Jerry W. Leutze Reading Chapter No. 251, O.E.S. Donald Levine Marcia Levine Harris Levine Marcia Levine John H. and Irma B. Lewis John and Carolyn Lewis Gene O. Light Richard and Jane Carnell Judy Harris Preston Van Deursen Arthur Linington Charles and Carol Curry Bruce and Joan Howarth Marshall Littman Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Dominick Lizzi David and Alda Lizzi Harry W. Locke Lee Locke Harry K. Longenecker Vicki Gillmore Doris Longenecker Charles and Elona MacMath Wayne and Maureen MacMath Rowland B. Mahany Richard and Pamela Mahany James Maples Virginia Maples Masonic Parents Allan and Kathleen Ziegler Audrey J. McBride Gregg McBride Lisa McBride Austin McGrath Carol L. Aeberli Marvin Merin Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Roland and Marguerite Messick John and Marguerite Ziegler 26
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Dorothy Meszaros Kenneth and Rebecca Reigle Paul E. Meyers Donald Meyers Forrest (Woody) James Miller, Sr. YMCA of Frederick, MD Patricia Lefever Miller Patti Pisarek Rhoda Miller Dick and Betty Garman Lillian Milliron Eric and Lois Milliron Harry S. Mills Skip and Elizabeth Mills Nancy A. Moore Bryon Jones William L. Moore Isabel Carmen Moore Georgina (Ina) Morgan Randi Carr Margery English Debra Rodgers Gertrude K. Myers Stephen Kiessling Charles Myers Joe Myshko Lois Reynolds Robert J. Nagel Judith Nagel William (Bill) Nelson David Kuhn Charles and Barbara Wright Jane M. Newcomer Elizabethtown Chapter No. 407, O.E.S. James C. Nickle Thomas and Terry Kamerzel Linda Oneto Bryan and Eileen Hill Charles Ortega Matthew Mayo Scott William Patterson Franklin-St. John’s Trinity Lodge No. 221 Jack D. Paul Hackenburg Mount Moriah Lodge No. 19 Kathy A. Peifer Kenneth Peifer Gaylord L. Peters George Jenkins Beatrice K. Phillips John Phillips Martin E. Piper McKinley-Stuckrath Lodge No. 318 Joseph F. Polak David Skyrca Arwyn Potter Stephen Musser Darrell E. Powell Frederick and Waunetah Powell Sylvia Proctor Olinthia Spragins Patrick G. Proud Doric Lodge No. 630 Paul D. Purnell Judith Purnell Shelagh Purnell Hugh Purnell H. L. Wyatt & Virginia B. Rainey Kenneth Rainey & Judith Rainey Barone Families Eleanor S. Rankin Margery English Joanne Lazzaro Lois Reynolds Nelson Williams Berneice Reigle Kenneth and Rebecca Reigle David and May Schirm, Sr. David and Deb Schirm Claude C. Schneck AkzoNobel Powder Coatings Dale Goodyear Mark and Sherry Moyer Bill and Barbara Quinn Lloyd and Gloria Schneck Loretta Schneck Holly Smith
Claude C. Schneck Marvin and Shirley Speicher The Mosaic Company Ray E. and Margaret M. Seamens Howard and Donna Seamens Charles R. Seibert Association for Institutional Research, Directors and Staff Jessica Shedd John M. Shaud, Jr. Mary Shaud David B. U. Shearer George Ullrich James G. Sholly Betty Sholly Dolores Shott Thomas Shott Jean Silvius James Silvius Bill Simons Bryan and Eileen Hill Morris Slosberg Barry and Joann Slosberg David Smith Robert and Barbara Zeiders John Edward Smith, Jr. Steve and Patty Swope John J. Snyder Whitfield Lodge No. 622 Earl and Myrl Speicher George and Sandra Martin Gordon Steer John and Laura Hunsberger Jean L. Strohm Sue Beam Bruce and Regina Briody Carl and Kathleen Elser Kenneth and Linda Strohm Tom Strohm Jerry and Diann Tressler Larry and Carol Wolford
Ken and Jean Strohm Ron and Michelle Yerger Derwood A. Strunk Matthew Mayo Helyn Swobe Elaine Swobe Sylvan Tether Charles and Ivaloe Tether Nancy Marie (Hitz) Thompson Paul Thompson Ronald L. Toomey Patricia Toomey Royden Tyger Joel Hersh and Cynthia Tyger Dale E. Vaughn Bronda Luxenburg Diane Vaughn Howard W. Viguers Joan Viguers Harry R. Walter Houseman Lodge No. 211 Herman and Blanche Walters David and Alice Bechtel Emma Adelaide Wambach Margarete Ehmann Harry Kern Edward and Deborah Schiesser Patricia J. Weaver John Weaver Robert B. White Martha White Donna Jean Whitenack Gift Planning Staff Rose Wible Don and Sandra Kunz Richard A. Wirth Joan Wirth James E. Youden McKinley-Stuckrath Lodge No. 318 Betsy Zimmerman George Zimmerman
Honorarium Gifts The following honorarium gifts were made Feb. 1 - April 30, 2020. Below is a list of individuals (names shown in blue) whose loved ones have made a gift in their honor to one of the five Masonic Villages. Kelly Ann Brown Richard and Louise Brown Joanne DiBattista Anthony and Susan DiBattista God Robert King Evelyn Hackman Carl Hackman, Sr. Tom & Kathy Kuhn’s 50th Anniversary Bryan and Eileen Hill Gregg D. McBride, Jr. Lisa McBride Heidi Anne Moore Isabel Carmen Moore
Joe Murphy Betty L. Nickle Linda Rohrer Stephanye Smith Shirley Stach Deborah Valiton-Carnish
Pittsburgh Stained Glass Studio Thomas and Terry Kamerzel Robert and Judie Bistline Heath and Holly Mackley Olinthia Spragins Estate of Jean L. Strohm
Financial information about Masonic Charities can be obtained by contacting us at 1-800-599-6454. In addition, Masonic Charities is required to file financial information with several states. Colorado: Colorado residents may obtain copies of registration and financial documents from the office of the Secretary of State, (303) 894-2680, http://www.sos.state.co.us/. Florida: SC No. 00774, A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE, WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. Georgia: full and fair description of the programs and activities of Masonic Charities and its financial statement are available upon request at the address indicated above. Illinois: Contracts and reports regarding Masonic Charities are on file with the Illinois Attorney General. Maryland: For the cost of postage and copying, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Secretary of State, Charitable Division, State House, Annapolis, MD 21401, (800) 825-4510. Michigan: MICS No. 11796 Mississippi: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office by calling 1-888-236-6167. New Jersey: INFORMATION FILED WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONCERNING THIS CHARITABLE SOLICITATION AND THE PERCENTAGE OF CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE CHARITY DURING THE LAST REPORTING PERIOD THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE CHARITABLE PURPOSE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BY CALLING (973) 504-6215 AND IS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity. REGISTRATION WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT. New York: A copy of the latest annual report can be obtained from the organization or from the Office of the Attorney General by writing the Charities Bureau, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271. North Carolina: Financial information about this organization and a copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 1-888-830-4989. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Masonic Charities may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free, within Pennsylvania, 1-800-732-0999. Virginia: Financial statements are available from the State Office of Consumer Affairs, P.O. Box 1163, Richmond, VA 23218. Washington: The notice of solicitation required by the Charitable Solicitation Act is on file with the Washington Secretary of State, and information relating to financial affairs of Masonic Charities is available from the Secretary of State, and the toll-free number for Washington residents: 1-800-332-4483. West Virginia: West Virginia residents may obtain a summary of the registration and financial documents from the Secretary of State, State Capitol, Charleston, WV 25305. REGISTRATION IN THE ABOVE STATES DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION OF MASONIC CHARITIES BY THE STATE.
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