MARIETTA – Glenwood Community and Harmar Place, both United Church Homes communities, hosted their Donor Appreciation Dinner on Aug. 13, 2019. The event honored individuals who donate time and offer financial support to the UCH mission.
This year, the communities gave two awards: the Ben M. Herbster Award to devoted donors and the Spirit Award to faithful volunteers.
Roger and Sally Roberts, residents of Glenwood Community, and the late Phyllis Buckley Ayers received the prestigious Ben M. Herbster Award for their financial support of Glenwood and Harmar Place, respectively.
The Robertses have lived at Glenwood since July 2010. They were instrumental as liaisons between Marietta Memorial Health System, United Church Homes and Glenwood residents when UCH merged with Glenwood in 2016. More recently, they spearheaded an effort to establish an endowment fund for Glenwood, which will be administered by United Church Homes to benefit Glenwood for years to come.
Ayers was a resident of Belpre, Ohio, and 91 at the time of her passing Nov. 1, 2016. Prior to her passing, Ayers visited Harmar Place regularly as her brother, Howard, was a resident there. She was pleased with the care provided to him and became like family with staff.
After her passing, Harmar Place learned that Ayers had made a generous estate gift to the community, totaling over $90,000. With the gift, Harmar Place purchased a new bus to transport residents to medical appointments and on activities trips.
Sharon Sutton, a Glenwood resident, and Stephen Carr received the 2019 Spirit Award for Glenwood and Harmar Place, respectively.
When Sutton moved to Glenwood, she found great interest among residents in starting a bell choir. She now leads a bells group that has been making music for about four years. In addition, Sutton crochets lap blankets and donates them to local causes, such as Strecker Cancer Center at Marietta Memorial Hospital.
“What an honor it is to be rewarded for something you really enjoy doing,” Sutton said. “The staff at Glenwood creates opportunities to live a full and enjoyable life. … Adventures abound at Glenwood. I’m really thankful to be in a place where I can be active in many ways.”
Carr’s first involvement with Harmar Place was as a trustee of Marietta Memorial Health System. He became more personally involved with the compassionate services provided when his mother moved to Glenwood Community. Over many years, Stephen’s mother transitioned from Glenwood to the Pines Assisted Living and then Harmar Place. She spent her final years in the Haven memory care neighborhood at Harmar.
In addition to thanking these outstanding individuals, more than 110 additional donors and volunteers attended the event. Gloria Hurwitz, vice president of advancement and communications, praised them for living UCH’s mission, vision and values.
“Your gifts transform aging by helping us build a culture of community, wholeness and peace,” she said. “Your advocacy for the residents and families we serve at Glenwood and Harmar Place makes a huge difference in their lives, each and every day.”
In 2018, over $140,000 in donations, including charitable estate gifts, were invested at Glenwood and Harmar Place.
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Media Contact: Alissa Paolella, Communications Coordinator, (740) 382-4885 or apaolella@uchinc.org