Parsons Community Matters March 2021

Parsons Presbyterian Manor

March 2021

Art is Ageless® call for entries underway at Parsons Presbyterian Manor Parsons Presbyterian Manor is seeking artists age 65 and older for is annual juried art exhibit and competition April 6 – 9, 2021.

Entries of artistic works will be accepted from any area artist who is 65 years of age or older to exhibit and/or compete for an opportunity to be featured in the 2022 Art is Ageless calendar.

COVID-19 updates continue

Due to the uncertainty created by COVID-19, Parsons Presbyterian Manor plans to hold its event virtually for friends of the program on the community’s Facebook page, Facebook.com/ParsonsPresbyterianManor, and to announce winners during a Facebook live event. Works will be on exhibit at the community for residents only.

Get the latest updates on visitation status, ongoing safety measures and PMMA’s response to COVID-19 on your community website at ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org/ covid-19. Visitation status is updated weekly on Mondays and as needed as our COVID status changes. You can also send a message to any resident with the Art is Ageless® e-greeting cards. Find a link on the COVID-19 update page.

Vaccine distribution has begun in our community. Every person who receives the vaccine will strengthen the protection for all residents, staff and the community at-large.

PMMA strongly encourages our families, employees and residents to carefully consider obtaining a vaccine for themselves as well as their loved ones. u

Artists may choose to enter works for exhibit only. For the competition, the artist must have been 65 at the time of creation and have completed the work in the past five years (since January 2016). There are nine categories, ART IS AGELESS – continued on page 4

Parsons Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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Community Matters 620-421-1450 u Fax: 620-421-1897 3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | March 2021

is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor

by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

To submit or suggest articles: vwhite@pmma.org Maegen Pegues, executive director Victoria White, marketing and admissions counselor

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

PEOPLE GIVING TO PEOPLE

An update on how gifts are changing lives in PMMA communities

IN HER LIFETIME A donor's story

Recently, a longtime friend of PMMA, we’ll call her Agnes, was concerned about burdening her sister with financial decisions and responsibilities when she passes. In order to eliminate the burden for her sister, Agnes wanted to get all of her affairs in order now, but also wanted to accomplish her wishes of helping others. After sharing her thoughts with her advisor and visiting with PMMA’s regional development director, Patti Christen, Agnes was able to spare her sister the task and put her gift to work now.

Agnes made a gift from her donor advised fund for the benefit of the Good Samaritan Program - a program she has supported and appreciated for more than 30 years. She wanted to see the gift in action while she was living. Thanks to Agnes, so many residents have the assurance of the PMMA mission of quality senior services guided by Christian values.

“I’m so thankful for the blessings I have received in my lifetime. It’s my obligation to share it with others. And, I’m so glad my sister doesn’t have to worry about this when I die,” said Agnes, 84. (not her real name to ensure her anonymity)

Spring 2021

(continued)

BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE

by Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA

“It is better to give than to receive.” Why does this old saying still ring true? Isn’t it because the gift giver takes pleasure in seeing their gift in action? That pleasure may cause a donor to give too much.

Sometimes donors give too little, cheating themselves out of the pleasure of giving because they fear running out of money and don’t know their true capacity to give or their giving options.

In the old days, frugal folks made gifts from items at hand, like a quilt from fabric scraps or a dress from flour sacks. Today, a knowledgeable, trusted advisor can help you develop a gift giving budget and help you explore alternative methods for your charitable giving. You may find your ability to give during life may be more than you think!

Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA

If you were taught to never touch your invested assets you may be surprised to learn there are strategies to help maximize your donations by using those investments. For example, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a tax-advantaged way for those over 70

½ to

donate IRA dollars directly to charity and avoid taxation on the IRA withdrawal. Or, you might benefit from donating appreciated non-retirement assets, like stocks and mutual funds and when you transfer those assets directly to a charity, neither you nor the charity pay capital gains taxes on the appreciation.

Seeking advice on a charitable budget and/or utilizing one of the strategies above may help you increase your gift giving ability and your pleasure in seeing your donations in action. Plus, if you budget your donations correctly, you won’t need to revert to giving or wearing a flour sack dress or shirt!

The information in this article is not presented as personal financial or legal advice and should not be relied upon as a substitute for obtaining advice specific to your situation.

Please seek advice from a trusted financial, tax or legal advisor.

Barbara J. Braa, CTFA, MBA is a Vice President & Relationship Officer with Central Trust Company in Lawrence, Kansas. Contact Barbara at 785-865-1065 or Barbara.Braa@centralbank.net.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 316-685-1100

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DEVELOPMENT@PMMA.ORG

Introducing Marketing and Admissions Counselor Victoria White Victoria White brings more than 14 years of health care experience to her new role as marketing and admissions counselor for Parsons Presbyterian Manor.

Working with seniors has been the focus of her career. Most recently, she served as the marketing, social services and activity director for Cherryvale Senior Living. Prior to that, Victoria held a wide range of positions over her nine years at a senior behavioral health unit.

Victoria White

“I love making seniors realize they are important,” Victoria said. “Their stories are wonderful and just getting to know them and their families is very rewarding.”

The Neodesha, Kansas, native has a bachelor’s equivalent in corporate venue/event planning and graphic design. She also holds social services director, activities director, and KanCare liaison certifications.

Victoria joined the Presbyterian Manor leadership team in January.

So far, she enjoys the variety of her day-to-day work life. She spends two to three days a week in her office, assisting with admissions or meeting with potential residents.

The rest of the time she is out in the community raising awareness, fundraising and providing education to area health care providers.

“I love interacting with others,” Victoria said. “Face-to-face engagement out in the community

is by far the most rewarding and enjoyable part of my job.”

She meets her varied responsibilities with a diverse skillset.

“I am very skilled at digital marketing and coming up with unique, out-of-the-box strategies for fundraising,” she said. “I am very self-motivated and innovative, which is a must for my position.”

Outside work, Victoria turns to audio books for “stress relief.” She has listened to more than 200 over the past couple of years. Many are thriller novels, her favorite genre.

One thing you might not guess about Victoria: She’s a professional

solitaire player who competes in national and international online tournaments.

Victoria has two “awesome little boys,” Camryn, age 11, and Chase, age 6. She spends a lot of her time at their baseball tournaments and other sporting events.

The “fur children” include dogs Luna and Zeke, cat Michael Bob, two guinea pigs named Kevin and Creed (from Victoria’s favorite show, The Office), and a fish named Baldi.

Sometimes things get a bit hectic, but that’s the way Victoria likes it.

“We live a crazy life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” she said.u

Parsons Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Art is Ageless – continued

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as well as designations of amateur or professional. Works to be entered for judging need to be at Presbyterian Manor by March 31. To arrange drop-off of artwork or obtain entry forms and other information, contact Victoria White at 620-421-1450 or vwhite@pmma.org.

Local competition winners will join winners from 14 other PMMA communities to be judged at the systemwide level.

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COMMUNITY MATTERS | March 2021