Are you looking for a great way to honor or remember your mother, father, spouse, or a special mentor?

The Season of Giving at Covenant Village, taking place now through the end of June, provides a way to celebrate those special people in your life. Covenant Village designates this time of year to highlight the many ways giving helps support the mission and future of Covenant Village.

The Legacy of Care giving program at Covenant Village was developed in response to residents’ requests for a way through which they can show their appreciation and financial support for the place they call home.

The concept for the term Legacy of Care comes from a person’s innate need to create a legacy that lasts beyond his/her lifetime – coupled with the incredible ambiance of care that characterizes all aspects of the culture at Covenant Village: an environment in which love, concern, and encouragement are hallmarks.

The Legacy of Care Committee, comprised of current and future residents of Covenant Village, a Board member, and external community leaders, initiates specific goals and opportunities to encourage support for the educational and philanthropic initiatives of Covenant Village.

In April, Covenant Village kicked off the second annual Season of Giving, that time of year when residents, families of residents, Board members, employees, and friends of Covenant Village donate to one or more pillars of the Legacy of Care giving opportunities. Elder Statesman Tete Pearson – resident, community leader, and an initial fundraiser on behalf of Covenant Village more than 40 years ago – joined us to light the Giving Tree, signifying the opening of the 2025 Season, and members of the Legacy of Care Committee added ornaments to the tree, recognizing the people they honored with their 2025 gift. Everyone who donates to Legacy of Care will add an ornament to the tree, which is displayed in the resident mailroom lounge area. Residents who are honored by a gift will also receive a rose to celebrate a donation made in their honor.

The five pillars of Legacy of Care

Resident Benevolence Endowment — Legacy: Peace of Mind

The Benevolence fund never changes. It is the cornerstone of giving opportunities at Covenant Village and has been since our founding in 1982. Giving to the Resident Benevolence Endowment supports the basic needs of Covenant Village residents who have outlived their resources. Even with careful planning, some residents gracefully outlive their resources through no fault of their own. As Covenant Village residents live longer, assistance is sometimes needed in healthcare services. The Benevolence Endowment ensures that no resident will be asked to leave his/her home for outliving their available financial resources.

When you support this pillar of the Legacy of Care, you are:

• Ensuring our mission
• Preparing for future needs in a rapidly changing healthcare environment

Capital Support — Legacy: Stewardship

Supporting this pillar provides funding for campus development projects and naming opportunities such as: a new activity bus, construction of the woodworking/hobby shop, outdoor furniture for the Health Center Courtyard and Outdoor Pavilion, and a large, commissioned piece of art for the Hearthstone Dining Room fireplace.

“Sometimes there is angst about capital improvements happening at one time, yet there is equal enthusiasm about them as well, especially one of the projects – the pavilion. An anonymous donor has made it possible to provide outdoor amenity space that can be accessed by every resident who lives at Covenant Village. I can only imagine the many ways it will be used when it is completed later this year, hopefully in the fall for a big celebration,” shared Debbie Windley at the recent resident quarterly meeting.

Financial donations for capital projects make what is already exceptional at Covenant Village extraordinary! It is a way for residents, families of residents, future residents, and all who love Covenant Village to contribute to the overall stewardship of senior living excellence in Gaston County.

Enrichment and Innovation — Legacy: Vision

Support for this pillar creates or renews life enrichment programs and amenities for residents, beyond the exceptional service, programs, and amenities provided.

Often resident-initiated, recent enhancements have centered around technology and include the large digital screens in the Assembly Room, which have elevated events and resident meetings, and the Tovertafel projection system that has transformed engagement and activity among residents who benefit from memory care and healthcare services in our Health Center.

Workforce Investment — Legacy: Purpose

Our employees are the life force of Covenant Village. As Covenant Village invests in its employees, they, in turn, invest their skills and dedication to providing quality services and compassionate care for our residents. Many staff members have made Covenant Village their life’s profession, serving 20, 30, even 42 years! Support for this pillar provides professional development opportunities for Covenant Village employees.

• Scholarships, certifications, and licensing programs
• Educational opportunities and leadership development programs
• Programming to introduce and sustain the CV CARES Core Values
• A provision to provide financial assistance to employees who are facing personal hardships

Creating scholarships or supporting the cost of important certifications and licensing ensures the professional service Covenant Village is known for and helps retain exceptional staff members for years to come. As you consider donating to the Legacy of Care this season, we invite you to consider the value of financially investing in Covenant Village’s workforce by supporting educational scholarships.

Where the Need is Greatest — Legacy: Community

In a 40+-year-old community like Covenant Village, there will always be unexpected needs to service, replace, or update transformers, chillers, and aging infrastructure like plumbing. While such expenses are planned for through the capital budget, some challenges become big surprises that exceed budgeted expectations, requiring immediate attention.

Conversely, some big surprises are opportunities. Having the ability to respond immediately, without waiting for future budgeted resources, enables Covenant Village to provide amenities, programs, and innovative services sooner rather than later.

These are just some examples of how Legacy of Care’s fifth pillar, Where the Need Is Greatest, undergirds the promises Covenant Village makes to all who call our community home. Your financial support of this pillar reflects an investment in a Legacy of Community and enables leadership to respond confidently to significant needs or opportunities that may arise.

2025 Special Projects and Giving Opportunities

Residents, leadership, and the Legacy of Care Committee have identified special projects and giving opportunities for 2025. Some of the most pressing needs right now include:

Capital

• Activity Bus – A significant need as maintenance to the current buses increases
• Woodworking Shop – This capital project provides a home for a resident’s donation of an entire woodworking shop and equipment. A resident planning team foresees multiple uses, including hobbies and the ability to offer services for residents, such as repairing furniture etc.
• Commissioned painting for the Hearthstone Dining Room fireplace – As we walk by the renovated dining room, we grow more and more excited by its welcoming beauty and the grand re-opening.
• Naming Rights for the Library – The Library has seen significant changes this past year. We love seeing the visibility of the library books on display and how the space draws residents for meetings and relaxing.

Technologies and Innovation

• An improved way-finding signage system throughout the Health Center
• Smart home technologies, such as lighting and temperature sensors
• Fall management systems that detect movement and anticipate fall risk
• AI Advancements for operational efficiencies

Workforce Investments

• Scholarships, certifications, and licensing programs
• Educational opportunities, leadership development
• Employee hardship support

Giving opportunities are limited to these examples. If you would like to discuss your legacy giving plans, please contact Debbie Windley ([email protected]) or Dale Melton ([email protected]).

For over forty years, Covenant Village has provided the highest quality of retirement living and care based on its CV CARES values of Community, Vision, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence, and Safety. Providing opportunities for giving enriches this legacy and brings to life the many ways we aspire to be a community that lives longer, better … together.

As you consider donating to the Legacy of Care this season, we celebrate the value of your financial investment as it:

• Undergirds the promises to every resident who makes Covenant Village his/her home.
• Offers innovative programs, amenities, and services without placing undue burden on current residents
• Builds financial reserves to protect and steward our assets and remain prepared for unexpected challenges

Donating is Easy

You can donate securely at https://covenantvillagenc.com/giving/ where you can designate your donation for a specific project (or multiple projects) in one pillar and designate the donation in honor of or in memory of a loved one. During the Season of Giving, gifts to Legacy of Care will be commemorated on an ornament that will adorn the Giving Tree. Each ornament will include the name(s) of the donors, the supported pillar(s), and those being remembered or honored. As a reminder, your donation can be made anonymously – if you prefer. Simply note this request.

If you prefer to mail your donation, download the giving form and mail it with your check to:

Covenant Village
Legacy of Care
1351 Robinwood Road
Gastonia, NC 28054

It truly does “take a village” at Covenant Village, and we are grateful for your consideration of supporting this year’s Season of Giving.

The Legacy of Care Committee for Covenant Village: Frances Crockett, Daphne Friday, John McDonald, Mick McMahan, Mary Trimmer, Lauren Vanacore, John Weisenhorn, Sarah Wentz, Debbie Windley, and Dale Melton