Commun ty Matters Wichita Presbyterian Manor
Sending ‘Angels’ to the Good Samaritan Program Special angels will soon be adorning Christmas trees and holiday displays at every Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica (PMMA) senior living community. The “angels” are paper ornaments that will arrive throughout the holiday season along with gifts to the annual Christmas Angel Appeal, which raises funds for the Good Samaritan Program for Benevolent Care. Donors who make gifts are asked to return paper Angel ornaments along with their gifts. The ornaments pay tribute to donors’ family members or friends and are displayed at PMMA communities designated by the donors. During the past two years, donors to the angel appeals have given more than $90,000 to the Good Samaritan Program. The program assists PMMA residents who have out-lived their financial resources through no fault of their own. Since PMMA began 66 years ago, no residents have been asked to leave because they exhausted their financial resources. If you would like to participate in the Angel Appeal, please email development@pmma.org or call 800-336-8511.
November 2015
Change is in the air
Future Westerly residents gather for celebration The future residents of The Westerly Residences at Wichita Presbyterian Manor gathered for a celebration dinner Sept. 28 at the Hilton Doubletree at Eisenhower Airport in Wichita. Amidst great conversation among the soon-to-be neighbors, talk of the changes ahead took center stage.
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“Embracing change and growth is a one-way Jill Coleman addresses attendees. direction through the seasons of life,” said Mary Jane Fitts, who works for Greystone Communities, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s partner in the Wichita campus redevelopment. “I hope you will feel an incredible sense of, ‘I did it,’ and feel lighter and freer, and that you realize the valuable gift you have given yourself and your children.” Rick Cumberland, senior vice president of management services and operations for Greystone, continued on the theme, saying many in the room were mulling over the 60-day letters they received earlier in the day during informational meetings about the upcoming opening of The Westerly Residences. “What are you not ready for?” he asked. “The move? We’ll help you with that. Don’t be afraid of the moving boxes.You can’t enjoy The Westerly unless you move in.” Cumberland stressed the benefits of living in the community, including PMMA’s faith-based approach to services and care and the attitude of service excellence the staff is working toward at the campus. PMMA CEO Bruce Shogren was the evening’s final speaker. He recalled sharing the redevelopment plans with the residents of Wichita Presbyterian Manor in 2012. Dorothy Rowden approached him after the meeting and shook her finger at him. She told Shogren she was mad at him because the changes were long overdue and she didn’t believe she’d live to see them to completion. Dorothy will be one of the first to move into the new residences. “I can’t wait for The Westerly to open,” Shogren said. Construction continues on the apartments. The first residents are scheduled to move in beginning in December.