Commun ty Matters Emporia Presbyterian Manor
April 2015
PMMA observes its Founders Day Employees of Emporia Presbyterian Manor will observe the founding of Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica this month as the company celebrates 66 years of providing quality senior services guided by Christian values in Kansas and Missouri. Each Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus will have its own celebration with residents and employees during April, acknowledging the importance of making life “the way you want to live.” “Many of our employees view what they do as a calling, not just a job,” said Bruce Shogren, president and CEO. “Our dedicated employees make it possible for us to sustain PMMA’s mission, which directly impacts the wonderful care our 2,400 residents receive every day.” Emporia will observe Founder’s Day from noon to 2 p.m. on April 20. Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica’s roots go back to 1947. Alice Kalb, a widow from central Kansas, appealed to a Presbyterian Church organization to establish a home for seniors. Her vision became the first Presbyterian Manor community in Newton, Kan., and inspired others to do even more. FOUNDERS, continued on page 2
Mission of mercy
Health services director participates in event About 1,400 Kansans received free dental care at the Kansas Mission of Mercy dental clinic in Salina this February. They were served by more than 600 volunteers, including Debra Thornton, health services director at Emporia Presbyterian Manor. It was the fifth time Thornton volunteered for the mission, which is sponsored by the Kansas Dental Charitable Foundation. She was recruited several years ago by her sister and brother-in-law. Mildred Bergstrom, a dental hygienist, is the foundation’s treasurer, and Bruce Bergstrom is the former executive director of the America’s Dentists Care Foundation. “They just dragged me along on vacation one year to one in New Mexico,” Thornton said. “It was so much fun meeting all these people and hearing their stories. They are so grateful.” About $120,000 was donated for the 2015 mission, which takes place in a different Kansas town each year. A dozen Salina-area dentists organized the two-day event, and 133 dentists participated. There also were 103 dental hygienists, 187 dental assistants and 676 volunteers involved. According to the dental foundation, they performed $1.2 million worth of cleanings, fillings and extractions for both adults and children. MISSION, continued on page 2