SPRING 2009Tom Smith
Director of Institutional Advancement
One of the greatest concerns our residents of Friends Village at Woodstown have is outliving their financial resources. With advances in medicine and technology, people are living longer, healthier lives. The amalgamation of these two proven statements has presented Friends Village with a challenge. What happens when a resident runs out of money? To address this growing concern and impending challenge, Friends Village has created the Resident’s Benevolence Fund. This fund has been specifically designed to assist our residents who are in financial crisis.
Many of our residents enjoy a long life of quality living and care by taking advantage of the multiple living options that Friends Village has to offer. A couple of these folks have enjoyed these options for over twenty years. Unfortunately, in some cases, their funds do not last the duration of their life. It is vital for us to maintain a strong and healthy Benevolence Fund to help preserve our mission. Remember, no matter how strategically one plans, unexpected health issues, medical treatment costs, and personal financial twists can painfully alter planned costs of living. Or, as we have seen in recent months, catastrophic failures in one part of the economy such as real estate and mortgage lending can affect the income of the most prudent investors drastically.
For over 110 years, Friends Village has been the pillar of strength when our residents encounter such challenges. We have always been there to care for them during desperate times. This is the charitable component of our mission: to care for those of modest means, and when necessary, to continue to care for residents who have depleted their assets through no fault of their own. This affords our residents peace of mind, while providing them the means to remain in our care.
Friends Village at Woodstown was established in 1897 by Salem Quarter of the Religious Society of Friends. Their vision was to create a faith-based organization guided in its philosophy and practices by the teachings, beliefs, and traditions of its Quaker founders. The Friends Boarding Home was founded and dedicated to serving the residents’ personal and community needs and encouraging their active participation in the broader society, while enabling them to be fully involved in decisions concerning their care.
Today, Friends Village is a not-for-profit, continuing care retirement community operated by a board of trustees under the guidance of the Salem Quarter. Its entire operation is specifically planned to meet the continuing physical, social, and spiritual needs of its current and future residents.
Our newest addition of independent living facilities presents our residents with many new options and ensures a full complement of care for all stages of life. This additional offering of services increases the time that folks live with us, thus increasing the need for a larger Benevolence Fund. Our ambition is stronger than ever to raise the much-needed funds to properly carry out our mission.
Funding from various foundations and our Annual Appeal Campaign provide some relief for the ever-widening gap between resident fees and increases in the cost of providing superior health care for our residents. But it is the generous donations of our friends to the Benevolence Fund that directly help secure our residents’ future.
Our focus this year is to educate everyone of the importance and necessity of having a healthy and vibrant Benevolence Fund and to appeal to our friends to donate to this cause. With your help, Friends Village will continue to secure our residents’ future and carry on our 110-year tradition of caring and providing for those of modest means.
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Last modified:
Sunday, March 01, 2009 at 12:13 AM
