Did you know that generosity benefits everyone, including the giver? Being generous can improve both your emotional and physical health, according to Michelle Carlino, instructor at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey. Because philanthropy is an integral part of our Elder Care Alliance not-for-profit culture, we’re growing opportunities for giving. An example of this commitment is the recent addition of our Director of Philanthropy Cynthia Gregory.
Our work at Elder Care Alliance goes far beyond our brick and mortar and our traditional work in senior living. Our visionary nonprofit is engaged in path-breaking work to combat ageism and ableism. We actively encourage programs that serve older adults better, and work to create the kinds of communities that are particularly supportive of people living with dementia and their care partners. Examples of this include our Erasing Boundaries dementia-inclusive communities, and our Mercy Mural Project that brings together students from California College of the Arts and residents of Mercy Retirement and Care Center for intergenerational collaboration.
None of that work is possible without the generosity of others. Many Elder Care Alliance programs are funded by donations, including our Charitable Care Fund, which helps support our residents who may have run out of the resources needed to continue living with us.
“A growing number of studies suggest that selfless giving lowers stress and eases depression symptoms — regardless of a person’s culture or income,” Carlino said.
According to a Harvard Business School study, giving triggers feel-good chemicals like endorphins, dopamine and oxytocin. When you make a gift of gratitude to Elder Care Alliance, you’re helping more than just our residents. You’re helping the lives of many older adults who benefit from our programs.
“It’s really about the impact of philanthropy, how lives are touched and improved that counts,” Gregory said. “Every gift, added to others, has the power to benefit real people. In our case, that means elders who have led amazing lives and, at this stage, may just need a helping hand.”
As we grow our culture of philanthropy, we hope it will offer people the opportunity to make contributions that are meaningful to them. We invite your generosity to help us expand our work.
If you’d like to donate to Elder Care Alliance or have questions about ways to give, contact Cynthia Gregory at cgregory@eldercarealliance.org.
