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. “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

$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 (shown in top photo).

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.

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.

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

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.