Why We Give

Our donors share their thoughts about their gifts to St. Ann’s Foundation:

• Stanley Jachimczak: Taking pride in his work and his workplace
• Tony Malone: Honoring a loved one with a named gift
• Robert Norton: Volunteering made him want to give
• Seth Norton & Kathy Mueller: Making a difference with a gift of Life Insurance
• Mary Moffitt: A special way of remembering

Stanley Jachimczak: Taking pride in his work and his workplace

I can hardly believe it’s been 31 years since my first day as an employee of St. Ann's Community. From the very beginning, I knew St. Ann’s was a special place. Everyone works hard to ensure a sense of community; a place where Residents, patients, program participants, family members and employees know each other by name. We truly are an extended family, with friendships being formed each and every day.

From the time you pull into the driveway you know the place is well kept. The grounds are impeccable and the services are top notch! I love working here and being part of that “full of life” spirit that encompasses all of us.

In October of 2003, when asked if I would serve as one of the “in-house champions” for the annual Employee Giving Campaign, I didn’t hesitate to say yes! I have supported St. Ann’s for many years by making a financial contribution to the Annual Appeal. I have seen first hand the difference my dollars, and those of the community, make in the lives of those who come to St. Ann's Community.

I am so proud to have been part of the very successful 2004 Employee Giving Campaign. I am equally proud of the commitment and dedication shown by so many of my fellow employees. Together, we did it!

Through the hard work and continued financial support of St. Ann’s management, employees, volunteers and community support, we will continue to be one of Rochester’s most recognized providers of senior and rehabilitative care.

(Stanley is an Environmental Service Supervisor at The Heritage, a St. Ann's Community.)

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Tony Malone: Honoring a loved one with a named gift

Leading By Example

Anthony J. Malone, Member, St. Ann’s of Greater Rochester, Inc. and St. Ann’s Foundation Board

Tony will tell you he had very little experience with senior living when he was asked to join the St. Ann’s Community Board of Directors twenty-three years ago. Much has changed since then. He quickly learned what the mission and values of St. Ann’s were, and today advocates for St. Ann’s not only as a board member, but also as a family member and generous benefactor.

Tony has served St. Ann’s Board in several different roles including a term as Chair of the St. Ann’s Foundation Board of Directors. During his tenure as a Board member, Tony has witnessed the tremendous growth in this country’s senior population, an increase in health care costs, and a decrease in reimbursements. “Organizations like St. Ann’s Community must rely more and more on charitable contributions if we are to maintain our excellent reputation of providing quality and compassionate care to the seniors we serve.” A man who leads by example, Tony has been a pacesetter for board giving.

Tony is also a family member – the son of a Resident of St. Ann’s Home. When the time came that Tony’s mother, Anne, required more care than she could receive at home, there was no question that St. Ann’s was the right choice for every member of the Malone family. For over seven years now, Anne has called St. Ann’s home. (She recently celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends.)

In recognition of the quality and compassionate care Anne and her family has received, Tony and his wife Judy have dedicated one of the rest stops along St. Ann’s walking path. “This provided us with the perfect vehicle to acknowledge and commend the care staff at St. Ann’s. There is an open and genuine affection for all Residents. Mom’s physical, spiritual and emotional needs are always foremost in their minds. At St. Ann’s, people take time to stop and say ‘hello.’ They chat with Mom and the other Residents, listen to their stories, and become just like family.”

St. Ann’s position as a leader in the delivery of quality senior services is due in part to the vision, generosity and kindness of people like Tony and Judy Malone.

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Robert Norton: Volunteering made him want to give

Bob isn’t exactly sure what led him to St. Ann’s Community 13 years ago. He just knew he wanted to do something meaningful; something hands-on that would help others. He speculates it might have something to do with his wife being a former social worker, or perhaps the influence a nurse had on him many years ago. He believes it might simply have been the “good Lord at work.” Whatever it was, all of us at St. Ann’s Community are grateful he chose to walk up our sidewalk and through our doors.

Bob’s contributions to the Residents of St. Ann’s Community have been many. Twice a week, he supports Rehabilitation Services and Medical Support Services by helping Residents get to and from their scheduled appointments. Bob has served on a number of advisory committees, and is the first to rearrange his schedule for special programming. In 2001, Bob joined the esteemed group of Charter Volunteers when he achieved a total of 3,000 volunteer hours!

In addition to volunteering, Bob joined the St. Ann’s family of donors several years ago with a contribution to the Annual Appeal. “You need to be in a skilled care environment in order to really understand it. Quality of life is everything, and the staff at St. Ann’s is committed to providing the absolute best. In an environment that can be very challenging, there are visible expressions of love and compassion everywhere. Through the service they provide, the staff at St. Ann’s exemplifies the true meaning of “love thy neighbor.”

It is out of this admiration that Bob was motivated to make his first annual contribution. “It has to do with wanting to do what is right and good; the desire to help others.” I’ve been blessed, but recognize that for whatever reason, not everyone is as fortunate as I have been. I am happy to support St. Ann’s with an annual gift. I know that my contribution will help provide the little extras that brighten Residents’ lives.”

Through his continued support of the Annual Appeal, Bob has made the decision to include St. Ann’s as one of his annual charities of choice. It is this sustaining support from donors like Bob that has been instrumental in positioning St. Ann’s as a premier provider of senior care and services.

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Seth Norton & Kathy Mueller: Making a difference with a gift of Life Insurance

From the comfort of his favorite chair, Seth Norton well remembers the day he arrived at St. Ann’s Community. “I was very ill when I got here, but now I’m in great shape,” he said, grinning. “I can’t imagine a place where I’d be any more content than I am here.”

Seth is grateful to St. Ann’s Community for the restorative care he received—both in the Transitional Care Unit on the ninth floor and in his bright, window-ringed room on the fifth. “St. Ann’s was so good to my mother and then to my wife” Seth said. “Now, they have been so good to me—since I arrived here, I’ve gained back 20 pounds I’d lost during my illness, and I’ve started doing things for myself again.”

Seth wanted to show his gratitude for this great care so he made the decision to remember St. Ann’s by making St. Ann’s Foundation the beneficiary of a life insurance policy.

Before changing his insurance policy, Seth consulted with his eight children, and they wholeheartedly supported his decision. “We knew it was important to him” said Kathy Mueller, Seth’s daughter. “Dad always gave us a lot of gifts, both monetary and spiritual. Now he’s giving us the gift of contentment, making it easy for us to accept the next phase of life. A person doesn’t have to donate all of their assets to make a meaningful gift. You can pick a little portion of something in your life, and have it make a difference.”

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Mary Moffitt: A special way of remembering

Years after her mother had passed on, Mary Moffit remembered the excellent, compassionate care her mother received at St. Ann’s Community—so she made the decision to make a planned gift to St. Ann’s.

Mary did her best to care for her aging mother when Parkinson’s Disease robbed her mother of her independence … until the day in 1997 when the elderly lady fell in her home and could no longer walk.

“I was very leery when the social worker said ‘nursing home,’” she said. “But then I came here to St. Ann’s, and I looked around, and the first thing I noticed was how clean it was. I began to feel better about it.”

Mary sees her future gift to St. Ann’s as a tribute to her mother, and to the wonderful staff who took care of her in her final years. “Mother got very good care while she was at St. Ann’s. They did a much better job than I could have done myself—I was just running on empty,” she explained. “Some people say it’s a chore to visit a nursing home, but I looked forward to coming and seeing these people. They took good care of my mother, and I got good care, too.”

Mary’s gift has already been acknowledged in the lobby of St. Ann’s on the Tree of Life, a colorful, permanent wall sculpture that bears the names of people who are remembering St. Ann’s in their estate plans. When Mary received the invitation to join, she responded right away.

Now retired from BOCES, Mary is very active and involved in the lives of her nieces and nephews. “But if I needed it, St. Ann’s would be the first place I’d come,” she said. “I know I’ll get the best care there.”

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