FALL 2015
inside
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Giving Society Annual Lunch Event At Comerica Park
3 Campaign Updates
A report on the latest campaign fundraising efforts
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Friends & Family
A report on the April 2015 fundraising efforts by the Villages
Finance 6 Senate Committee
Approves Expired Giving Incentives
6 Calendar of Events
matters
GIVING
DONOR SPOTLIGHT: RUTHENIA HENDERSON “Contributing to Presbyterian Villages of Michigan is contributing to a better life for a senior,” says Ruthenia Henderson, a longtime Board member and donor. “It doesn’t matter how much because a contribution to help someone – that’s what life’s about.”
Ever since she was a small child, Ruthenia has “If I can help someone before I pass, then my lived her life helping othliving will not be in vain.” ers and has always loved – Ruthenia Henderson, Board Member, older adults. Something The Village of Harmony Manor (above right) about the camaraderie fascinated her; they were through the church and volunteered so smart and she would just sit and in hospitals and nursing homes. listen. At ten years old, she would sit Ruthenia knew of PVM through on the porch with her neighbor, who committee work with the church and taught her to knit. “She was special,” was first approached in the 1960s to says Ruthenia. “I didn’t have a grandbecome involved. Finally persuaded mother so she took on that role.” by Rev. Dr. Lawrence Glenn in 1994, They would knit squares to send to she joined the essential task force the American Red Cross that would charged with identifying property for eventually become blankets for World PVM’s first senior housing site in the War II soldiers. City of Detroit. She served on the As she grew older, Ruthenia Board of what became The Village developed a love for this exchange of Bethany Manor and helped develop of knowledge and it created a desire five other Detroit Villages. “Each for older people to live a quality Village we developed was so neceslife, be happy and share their sary and it was gratifying to be a part experiences. She dedicated her life to of something of this nature,” says serving seniors – she got a degree in Ruthenia. In all, she served on five gerontology, worked with older adults continued on page 6