Communities

United Methodist Retirement Communities Foundation Awarded Grant to Support Health and Wellness

August 9, 2019

CHELSEA, MI–The United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC) Foundation, has received a grant of $15,000 from the Edward F. Redies Foundation, Inc. to support capital needs for UMRC’s Kresge Courtyard and Wellness Walk at its Chelsea Retirement Community campus.

“We are grateful to the Redies Foundation for its continued commitment to older adults in our region,” said Wendy Brightman, President of UMRC Foundation and Porter Hills Foundation.  “This generous gift will help us create the Kresge Courtyard and Wellness Walk, supporting UMRC’s health and wellness initiatives. This beautiful outdoor space will connect our recently expanded Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center with our newly opened, state-of-the-art McMullen Wellness Center.  We are thrilled that this grant will help us create an outdoor oasis that will bring joy, health, and fitness benefits for the older adults we serve, as well as their families, and members of the wider community.”

With “Joy” as its theme, this barrier-free, intergenerational space will include walking paths, exercise stations, raised vegetable and flower gardens, outdoor games, and more.

“As we age, we become less likely to engage in physical activities, even though regular physical activity has been shown to help older adults remain independent by reducing the risk of falls, improving strength and stamina, and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression,” explains Brightman.  “We look forward to people of all generations and abilities to find enjoyment and opportunities to move and play in this lovely new space.”

Since its inception in 1998, the UMRC Foundation has provided over $16,000,000 through its Benevolent Care Fund to help UMRC residents remain in their homes when they outlive their resources.  The mission of the UMRC Foundation is to promote the wellness, dignity, and independence of seniors by supporting UMRC residents, staff, and the communities UMRC serves.

Building on a foundation of 113 years of service, UMRC is a faith-based, nonprofit organization that promotes the wellness, dignity and independence of older adults, by providing high quality, innovative and compassionate senior residential and supportive services. UMRC recently affiliated, under shared governance and leadership, with Porter Hills, based in Grand Rapids, MI. Together, these organizations represent the second largest nonprofit senior living organization in Michigan. With a tradition of exceptional quality and a commitment to cutting-edge care, these faith-based organizations and their affiliates combine to serve more than 6,700 older adults each year, from 24 locations and service lines, across 22 counties in Michigan’s lower peninsula.

The Edward F. Redies Foundation, Inc., based in Saline, MI, supports hospitals, parks, and organizations involved with education, child welfare, and human services.

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