Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation
GIVING
matters
SPRING 2022
A newsletter for donors and friends of Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation
Driving Together
YOUR GIFT PAVED A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR DENNIS & DAWN WHITE
DRIVING TOGETHER
With your donation, Dennis received his scooter. “Freedom! We have a social life again. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the donors. Our life is so much better,” – DAWN WHITE
Driving Together
YOUR GIFT PAVED A NEW WAY FORWARD FOR DENNIS & DAWN WHITE
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our gift, yes YOUR gift, to PVM did another really good thing!
Because you gave, Dennis & Dawn White can stay living together at The Village of Holly Woodlands. Dealing with the progression of Dennis’ dementia forced Dawn to the brink of exhaustion. Dawn needed your help to purchase a much needed mobility scooter as Dennis’ health was starting to fail. “Dennis was trapped in our small apartment. He did not have the strength to get around the campus. He really needs to participate in activities to keep him mobile and his mind sharp,” said Dawn. Thanks to your donation Dennis has a scooter. He is staying active and engaged even in the face of his progressing memory loss. However, the White’s story is about so much more than the scooter. The White’s are an exceptional couple with an exceptional story of giving back even in the face of dementia. Enjoy their story on the next page and be proud of how you helped to pave a new direction forward for them.
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DRIVING TOGETHER
The Whites are faithful servants of God. So it makes sense they were Youth Pastors together in a Port Huron, MI church. “He played the piano and I sang”, said Dawn. They went on to start their own church and subsidized it by running a small accounting business. For 23 years they balanced both the running of the church and their business. “It was a labor of love. Basically all the money went to help the church or its members,” Dawn states.
“Use this donation to support other residents that need help, just like us. Pay it forward!”
As time moved on, Dawn noticed that Dennis was slipping. “His accounting, normally flawless, had mistakes; his focus was not there. I knew then our life had to change,” says Dawn with a tear in her eye.
– DAWN WHITE
drivers mentioned he saw Dennis down the road by himself. I dropped everything and jumped in my car, my heart was racing. Luckily I found Dennis at the local Rite Aid buying shampoo, which we didn’t need. He didn’t know how he got there. I resigned from my post at Meals on Wheels shortly after.”
They closed the business and regretfully the church too. “It was a tough time, not having much savings and living off of $2,000/month in Social Security. We needed to find a new place to live that could fit our new financial reality. The good news is we found The Village of Holly Woodlands! I loved it here from the moment we arrived,” Dawn proudly proclaims.
With a much slower schedule and Dennis’ mobility really decreased, life was spent primarily in their apartment. “If Dennis only had a scooter he could leave the apartment. Living on $2,000/month does not afford many extras and we couldn’t afford a scooter,” says Dawn.
From day one at their new home, the Whites did so much. They formed a resident chorus, and helped with Sunday church service. Both actively participated in PVM’s Senior Olympic type games called the Village Victory Cup (an event supported by your donations). They even won medals!
With your donation, Dennis received his scooter. “Freedom! We have a social life again. From the bottom of my heart, thank you to the donors. Our life is so much better,” Dawn says with a smile from ear to ear.
During that same time Dawn was asked to take over the distribution of Meals on Wheels for all of Northern Oakland County. 5 days a week 200 meals/day would be delivered to Holly Woodlands. This provided hot meals for residents as well as for delivery throughout parts of the northern county. “Each morning sorting and packing the meals for delivery was a production! I even recruited 15 fellow residents to help.” states Dawn.
True to the Whites’ giving spirit, when a friend recently passed and left them a modest amount of money, they donated it to the PVM Foundation. “Use this donation to support other residents that need help, just like us. Pay it forward!” Dawn proclaims. The Whites have always given to those in need. When the Whites needed help as dementia crashed into their life you were there for them.
Dawn’s schedule was always packed. The problem was Dennis needed her, his dementia was getting worse and his short term memory was all but gone. Dawn reflects on one day that changed her life. “One of the
Thank you for changing lives for the better one kind donation at time!
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Your GIVING matters
SPRING 2022
YOUR DONATION AT WORK
YOUR DONATION IN ACTION RECLINING AND HEALING AT THE VILLAGE OF MILL CREEK 100 LBS. LATER! Your donation celebrated and rewarded resident Steve Crose for losing over 100 pounds, yes 100 pounds! After years of being 400 pounds and taking a very serious fall, Steve faced knee replacement surgery. Through lots of hard work and diligently going to the local VA to work out, Steve lost the weight and last September he had a successful knee replacement.
Steve at 400 lbs.
One catch, he did not own a proper chair to help him in his recovery. The only chair he had was a very old computer chair. Because of your donation to the Resident Emergency Help Fund, Steve was able to receive a brand new recliner chair. This recliner made all the difference in Steve’s knee replacement recovery.Living on $800/month did not afford Steve with the means to purchase his own chair. He needed your help.
Through exercise and changing his diet (plus lots of encouragement from Administrator, Jennifer Bouchard), Steve is now living an active lifestyle at The Village of Mill Creek.
Steve said he felt so loved and appreciated receiving this gift. Your donation changed a life! Way to GO!
Because of your donation to the Resident Emergency Help Fund, Steve was able to receive a brand new recliner chair. This recliner made all the difference in Steve’s knee replacement recovery. 4 Your GIVING matters
SPRING 2022
pvmf.org
GIVE LOCALLY
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
SUPPORT YOUR HEART & HOME! FRIENDS & FAMILY APRIL 1 TO APRIL 30 It’s time to give locally. When you give during Friends and Family you will help a resident stay active and engaged. YOU will support social activities. Activities like field trips, birthday celebrations, holiday gatherings and physical activities. Why are these social engagements so important? Because an older adult is more susceptible to social isolation. YOU can change that.
Every gift YOU give will get a Village closer to an additional
Help get an older adult out of their room and engaged in fun stimulating activities. YOUR gift will make an older adult healthier and keep them connected. Are YOU ready to help a senior to live a happy, healthy life?
$5,000!
To donate: Visit PVMF.org or use the reply envelope enclosed with this newsletter. Thank you!
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SUPPORT LOCALLY – FRIENDS & FAMILY APRIL 1 – 30 would like to to support a Village(s): YES! I_____________________________________________
❍ Here is my gift of: $_________________________ To donate: Visit PVMF.org or use the reply envelope enclosed with this newsletter.
Thank you for your support!
NAME COMPANY NAME
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Thank you!
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Your GIVING matters
SPRING 2022
MY GIFT WILL DO GOOD THINGS
“I WANT PVM TO LIVE ON!”
JOSEPHINE REDD– CARES ABOUT FUTURE OLDER ADULTS
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having a house to take care of made the move to Hartford Village a no-brainer. I really enjoy living here.”
osephine Redd, a current resident at Hartford Village in Detroit, is a brand new Calvin Society Member. This means that she has left PVM an after life financial gift. Thank you Josephine for remembering PVM/Hartford Village with a gift to support future residents!
A Charitable Gift Annuity is how Josephine is leaving something for PVM/Hartford Village. A gift annuity offered Josephine a way to support PVM and also receive an annual cash payment back to her for life. “My gift will do good things and it gives me back some cash too. It’s a nice deal!,” says Josephine. See the inserted flyer to learn more about charitable gift annuities- this is a very popular option.
“I want PVM to live on, well into the future. If people don’t keep supporting, maybe PVM goes away? I want to do my part, so that it never happens,” says Josephine. A long standing member of Trinity Community Presbyterian Church, she was involved 20 years ago in establishing the first PVM Village in the City of Detroit, The Village of Bethany Manor. “I liked being part of creating something new that had never been done before,” states Josephine.
Please consider joining Josephine as a Calvin Society Member by making a gift in your will to PVM or other avenues like a charitable gift annuity, or gifting of a life insurance policy. Thank you Josephine for caring about the future of PVM and the older adults it will serve in years to come. Well done!
Josephine eventually became one of the original residents at Hartford Village. “Living close to family, in the City of Detroit and not
Any bequest, large or small, can make a difference. Contact us at 248-281-2040 or email pvmfoundation@pvm.org to learn more, or visit pvmf.org. 6 Your GIVING matters
SPRING 2022
pvmf.org
DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY
DID YOU KNOW? Don’t Worry Be Happy – Secret to a Long Life? 1988 the first a cappella song to reach #1 on the charts was Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry, Be Happy. If you were around in the 80’s, you know this tune and it’s probably now going to be stuck in your head! If each of us follow the title of the song, will our life improve? Will we live any longer?
PAUL MILLER, PVM FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
At one point the oldest living man was a 112 year old from Niigata, Japan. He lived by the same motto of Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry, Be Happy.
He was asked the secret to long life. His response was simple but profound, “Don’t get angry and keep a smile on your face.” Did you know smiling could extend your life by 7 years! A Wayne State University Study looked at which Major League Baseball Players smiled on their 1952 baseball card to determine life expectancy. These results should keep you smiling! 1. Not Smiling: Average lifespan of 72.9 years 2. Partial Smile: Average lifespan of 75 years 3. Full Smile: “Say Cheese!” Average lifespan of 79.9 years
Smiling faces! Maybe the key to a long life?!
Because of your donation PVM can keep the residents smiling. The donor funded Resident Activities Fund is a prime example. From birthday lunches, holiday parties, painting classes to trips to the DIA and the theater —smiling faces always result, lots of them! Don’t Worry, Be Happy! Thank you for donating and keeping PVM smiling.
Paul J. Miller, CFRE
GIVING matters
A publication of the Presbyterian Villages of Michigan Foundation. For more information, questions or story ideas, please contact Paul Miller, at 248-281-2045 or email pmiller@pvm.org.
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Your GIVING matters
SPRING 2022
love
DONOR NOTES
CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?! Your donation restored her hearing.
FRAN LEVASSEUR RESIDENT AT THE VILLAGE OF HAMPTON MEADOWSIN BAY CITY
THANK YOU!
Housing and Healthcare are too expensive for too many seniors.
Let’s change this!
Delivering truly affordable healthcare and housing like you’ve never seen before! PONTIAC The Village of Oakland Woods
PORT HURON The Village of Lake Huron Woods
WESTLAND The Village of Westland
FLINT McFarlan Villages
Learn more
Visit pvmf.org/CFTA or scan the QR code