[Updated: November 28, 2022 | Published: November 28, 2022]

It’s that time of year again! As the world celebrates Giving Tuesday on November 29th, Friendship Village of Dublin is grateful for the blessings our nonprofit senior living community gives and receives through charitable giving.

Tax-exempt, nonprofit senior living communities like Friendship Village of Dublin can accept charitable donations from a wide range of sources. Our community has grown through the generous giving of our Residents, Associates, Board members, resident families and local businesses.

“Friendship Village of Dublin is a community of giving,” said Charitable Giving Director Betsy Gillespie. “We’re proud of the many ways our community gives back year-round – inside our community, in Dublin and Columbus, and beyond.”

“We’re also grateful for the support of many generous donors in the four decades Friendship Village of Dublin has operated as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization,” she added. “Donors have helped us create a community where Residents thrive at every age!”

If you would like to contribute to our community on Giving Tuesday or at any other time, please visit our Charitable Giving page to learn about the many ways you can support our community. Or, you can make an immediate donation using our secure donate now form.

All-Volunteer Board of Directors Donates 2,200 Hours of Time

Since 1978, a local, all-volunteer board of directors has guided Friendship Village of Dublin to become central Ohio’s premier senior living community.

“We’re so grateful for board members’ dedication to ensuring that Friendship Village of Dublin continues to fulfill our mission and vision: to enhance the quality of life of older adults, and to be central Ohio’s premier provider of high quality, comprehensive, cost-effective LifeCare services for older adults,” said Executive Director Rita Doherty.

Individually, each board member dedicates over 100 hours each year to govern every aspect of our operations. Collectively, they donated 2,200 hours in the last fiscal year.

Residents Give Back

Our Residents are passionate about giving their money, time, energy, and talents to causes they care about. The LifeCare safety net and maintenance-free lifestyle they enjoy at Friendship Village of Dublin gives them the confidence to give back, and we’re proud to support them in their efforts!

Read on to learn about just a few of the ways our Residents are making a difference.

Scholarships for Associates and their Dependents

In 2023, our community will mark its 23rd year of awarding scholarships for Friendship Village of Dublin associates and their eligible dependents.

Supporters include Residents, families, board members and local businesses.

Over the years, these donors have supported 111 scholarships, totaling nearly $280,000. The program awarded 14 scholarships in 2022!

Supporting the Dublin Food Pantry

We are proud to partner with Dublin Food Pantry to Feed Dublin!

Since 1976, this vital local resource has served an area that spans three counties around Dublin. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the pantry has been called to feed more families than ever before.

As part of the 52-week challenge, our Residents and associates collect pantry staples and monetary donations to feed the Dublin Community.. In 2022, donation totaled over 600 pounds of food and $3,660 – a testament to the generosity of our Residents and Associates.

The Needleworkers Club

A group of Friendship Village of Dublin Residents gathers for conversation and needlecrafts like knitting, crocheting, cross-stitch and quilting. With their fast fingers, this group creates over 1,500 handworked items each year to donate to local charities.

Friendship In Bloom Horticultural therapy program

Friendship in Bloom, our therapeutic horticulture program, is supported entirely through philanthropy.

“This program helps Residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments connect with memories through their senses,” says Director Barbara Holliday. “While Residents with dementia lose short-term memory, many can still connect with memories through multi-sensory stimulation like these garden activities.”

Meeting twice each month, the program pairs Residents of our Alderwood and Waterford Place communities with Franklin County Master Gardener volunteers, independent living residents and family members.

Together, Residents and volunteers plant flowers, herbs and vegetables, then use their harvest in creative ways.

In 2022, the program harvested 22 pounds of produce from four raised beds and several container gardens. Staff used this produce in dishes for residents to try, ranging from simple herbal syrups and lavender cookies to roasted eggplant and pimento cheese spreads and zucchini basil and pumpkin loaves.

Special thanks go to Co-chairs Sandy Murray-Scott and Suzanne Kull for administering this unique program!

Charitable Giving Supports Our Community

“Our Residents, Associates and programs all benefit from the generosity of our donors,” Betsy said.

“Charitable giving enhances our ability to fulfill our mission, funding essential programs and providing extras that help residents thrive.”

In addition to the initiatives described above, Charitable Giving supports funds and programs including:

• The Greatest Need Fund, which supports our community’s greatest philanthropic need as determined by our Executive Director and volunteer Board of Directors.
• The Residents’ Benevolent Fund, which ensures that residents experiencing unforeseen financial challenges continue to enjoy the comfort of a lifelong home through LifeCare.
• The Associate Emergency Program, which assists Associates affected by natural disaster, or personal and family emergencies.
• The Rea and Genell Secrest Health Services Fund, which helps secure the health and comfort of Residents through health services at Friendship Village of Dublin.
• The Capital Projects Fund, which provides funding for capital projects, construction and major equipment.
• The Community Enrichment Fund supports projects, such as landscape, library, arts and entertainment, that enrich the community and enhance quality of life.

Light the Way Event Thanks Donors and Raises Funds

“We were thrilled to recognize the Legacy, Waterford and Friendship sponsors at our second annual Light the Way event,” Betsy said. “This gala served two purposes – it allowed us to thank our generous donors with a very special evening while also raising funds for the future Rowan House memory care.”

Funds raised through sponsorships are supporting our associate training with the Center for Applied Research in Dementia, which will train our team to use the Montessori Inspired Lifestyle philosophy of care in Rowan House. This philosophy challenges assumptions about what is possible for persons with dementia and will help Rowan House Residents thrive in an environment built around their specific needs.

Learn More About Charitable Giving Opportunities

There are nearly as many ways to support Friendship Village of Dublin as there are donors.

“Many of our Residents enjoy supporting the community they call home and remember the community they love in bequests,” Betsy said. “We’re also fortunate to receive funding from family members, local businesses, board members and associates.”

If you’d like to talk about how you could become involved in supporting central Ohio’s premier nonprofit senior living community, contact Charitable Giving Director Betsy Gillespie by calling 614-734-2151 or emailing BetsyG@fvdublin.org