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Three Different Stories, Three Different Types of Giving

Supporting The Foundation is Meaningful to Residents and Team Members

When Candy Bishop’s mother had a stroke in 2002, it brought to light a difficult realization – her best friend was no longer able to care for herself. 

After a thorough search, Candy and her husband, Rob, eventually transitioned her mother to an assisted living community where, with regular therapy, she thrived for years. With no children of their own, the Bishops used the experience to reflect on their own lives and future. 

“We needed a game plan,” she said. “There wasn’t a long line of folks wanting to look after Aunt Candy and Uncle Rob.” 

So began their search of local senior living options. They looked at three communities and immediately knew Beacon Hill was the place for them. They toured on a Friday and brought a deposit back four days later. 

“There isn’t a day we haven’t been grateful for Beacon Hill,” she said. “The best decision we made was to marry each other; the second best was to move here.”

Rob passed away a few years ago and Candy made the decision to establish an estate gift to benefit Beacon Hill residents. She has designated 10% of her remaining estate to support the community’s Benevolent Care – A Home for Life Fund. 

“Knowing you have a home here, even if you outlive your assets – it’s incredible,” she added. 

June Kleeman, a resident and Foundation Advisory Committee member at The Waterford in Juno Beach, Florida, shares Candy’s affinity for the place she calls home. For years, June has made monthly contributions to benefit the residents and team members right there in her community.

“I offered to give monthly when I began to understand the concept of The Foundation,” she said. “I feel it is one of the ways that we can help our people who work and help us here daily. I don’t give a lot, but every little bit helps.” 

It is not just residents who make financial commitments to support The Foundation. As a legacy gift, Friendship Village of South Hills Sales Counselor Lori Seuss bestowed a meaningful and remarkable outright contribution of $10,000. This is earmarked to benefit The Lifespace Foundation’s Team Member Emergency Assistance Fund for team members at Friendship Village of South Hills in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania. 

“I wanted to honor my father, as well as my mother,” said Lori, adding the fund supports Lifespace team members who face unexpected financial crisis. “We grew up learning to be givers, from tithing to donating money from our allowances. It was something that was always important in my family.”