Volume 11, Issue 2 - Summer 2017

Golden Years Golf Outing Sets Record

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Jim Ne� , full-time director for the Green-croft Communities Foundation for the past � ve years, has moved on to greener pastures. His last day with us was on June 2, the day of the Golden Years Golf Out-ing (see page three). First State Bank of

Middlebury (Ind.) invited him to serve as an assistant vice president and commercial loan o� cer. We thank Jim for his exemplary service to the residents of our retirement communities (see map below) and wish him well.

“I would like to thank all the residents and donors for their generosity,” Jim says. “My time at Greencroft Communities was extremely rewarding. I look forward to seeing how the Foundation grows to support the needs at each community. Blessings to you all!”

Ne� , originally a native of South Bend, Ind., graduated from Bethany Christian High School, in Goshen, Ind., in 1996 and from Goshen College in 2000 with a B.S. de-gree in business. He currently holds several certi� cations including Chartered Financial Consultant and a Certi� ed Fundraising Executive. Ne� is a member of the Rotary Club of Goshen and serves on the board of directors for Menno-Hof, an interpretation center for Amish and Men-nonite culture in Shipshewana, Ind. Prior to joining the Greencroft Communities Foundation sta� in 2012, Ne� served as a consultant with Everence Financial Services for eight years in Ohio and Indiana. 

Jim and his wife, Kelly, have two children and are members of the Sunnyside Men-nonite Church in Elkhart, Ind.

� anks, Jim, and best wishes!

Thank You, Jim!By Everett J. � omas

Volume 11, Issue 2Summer 2017

Giving is published regularly for donors and friends of Green-croft Communities Foundation. Printed in the USA. Copyright ©2017 by Greencroft Communities Foundation.

Editorial TeamEverett J. Thomas, Executive Director, Greencroft Communities Foundation

Lynn Nelson, Greencoft Communities Administrative Assistant

Our MissionGreencroft Communities Foundation is committed to creating a passion for our communities and inspiring generosity.

Greencroft CommunitiesFoundation includes:Golden Years Homestead Foundation, Fort Wayne, Ind.Great Lakes C. H. Foundation, Holt, Mich.Greencroft Goshen Foundation, Goshen, Ind.Greencroft Middlebury Foundation, Middlebury, Ind.Hamilton Grove Foundation, New Carlisle, Ind.Oak Grove Foundation, DeMotte, Ind.Southfi eld Village Foundation, South Bend, Ind.Walnut Hills Foundation, Walnut Creek, Ohio

Greencroft Communities Foundation Board of Directors:Randall Jacobs, ChairRenee DrakeSteve HerendeenMarty LehmanDavid Litchfi eldScott PuckettDeb StaufferLeRoy TroyerVince TurnerShannon White

Suggestions? Requests?Email us at foundation@greencroft.org

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Golden Years Golf Outing Sets RecordA June 2 tournament at the Cherry Hill Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind., netted a record $18,602 for a retirement community that is part of the Greencroft Retirement Com-munities system. � e funds will be added to the Residents Assis-tance Fund for those with needs at the Golden Years Homestead retirement community in Fort Wayne.

After expenses for the tour-ney, the amount raised was 19 percent more than the previous record set in 2014. � e 2017 golf outing also saw more golf-ers and more corporate sponsors participating in the tournament than in 2016. While 48 golfers participated in 2015, 56 partici-pated in this year’s outing.In 2015 Golden Years and a sister campus joined the Green-

croft system of eight retirement communities in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. It is operated by Christian Ministries, Inc., which also has a campus in Holt, Mich., called Great Lakes Christian Homes. � e two cam-puses were founded by inde-pendent Christian churches in Indiana and Michigan. Between the two they host 401 residents and employ 251 sta� members.

COVER: Everence Financial Services was one of the sponsors for the Golden Years Homestead golf outing on June 2 and provided a foursome that included Erik Hersted, John King, Ben Sprunger and Alan Ringger.

Bottom: Golfers receive instructions and pause for the invocation before the start of the golf outing at the Cherry Hill Golf Club in Ft. Wayne, Ind. The annual tournament generates funds for the Golden Years retirement community’s Residence Assistance Fund. Right top: Staff members from Golden Years Homestead serve pork chops and ribs grilled by retired CEO Tom Garman (seated) at the luncheon following the golf outing. Right bottom: During the golf outing, the island green on the 165-yard sixth hole offered an opportunity to win $15,000 cash with a hole-in-one. No one was successful. Here Art Moynihan, Executive Director of the Samaritan Alliance, takes a shot at it.

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THE GOLD LEAF LEGACY SOCIETY CURRENT MEMBERS AS OF June 1, 2017:

Donnabel and William AndresenJohn and Martha BenderDavid and Ruth BennerMiriam BirkyDarell BowmanKathy and Claude BrewtonMabel Brunk

Wilkie and Betty BushDebi CopelandRichard “Dick” CraigMary DieterRod and Gwen DillerSusan FisherConnie Fulmer

Connie and Donald GarberJoan GaryJane GlendeningWilda GoeringDelmar and Lou Ann GoodChris and Monica Gra� AnnaMae Graybill

Laurie HardieGreg and Eudora HartzlerBob and Nancy HawkinsJennifer HayesDavid and Naomi HelmuthRoger HippsleyLois Holcomb

Greencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyPurpose: � e Gold Leaf Legacy Society honors, memorializes and thanks those friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.

Membership: Membership is open to all who wish to make a lasting gift; there is no minimum donation for society membership. � is includes gifts through wills, retirement plans and insurance policies, as well as life income and other deferred gifts.

Eligibility: To become eligible for the Gold Leaf Legacy Society, a prospective donor informs the Greencroft Communities Foundation in writing that the foundation of his or her choosing has been included in their estate plans. Please call Everett � omas for more information at 574-537-4106. Greencroft Communities Foundation in writing that the foundation of his or her choosing has been

Membership: no minimum donation for society membership. � is includes gifts through wills,

Eligibility: Greencroft Communities Foundation in writing that the foundation of his or her choosing has been Eligibility:

Purpose: friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.Purpose: Purpose: friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.

� e Gold Leaf Legacy Society honors, memorializes and thanks those friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.

Eligibility: Eligibility: Eligibility: Eligibility: Eligibility:

Greencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyPurpose: � e Gold Leaf Legacy Society honors, memorializes and thanks those friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.

Membership: no minimum donation for society membership. � is includes gifts through wills, retirement plans and insurance policies, as well as life income and other deferred gifts.

Eligibility: Greencroft Communities Foundation in writing that the foundation of his or her choosing has been

Greencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy Society

friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.

Eligibility:

friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.friends who arranged to leave a charitable/planned gift or a bequest.

Eligibility: Eligibility: Eligibility:

Greencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyGreencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyGreencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyGreencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyGreencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyGreencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy SocietyGreencroft Communities Foundation Gold Leaf Legacy Society

Foundation DonorsWe thank and recognize those who have helped provide for the benevolent needs of the residents and staff of our communities. Contributors during January 1, 2017 through May 31, 2017 (excluding Employee Appreciation and Honor/Memorial gifts) are:

GOLDEN YEARS HOMESTEADAdams County Memorial Hospital Education & Development FndAnonymousDennis and Karen AlbroBZW Master PaintersLori CarsonCarter Hearing ClinicsCedar Creek Church of ChristDavid and Jacqueline ChenChrist’s Church at GeorgetownChrist’s Hope Ministries and ChurchChristine ConleyKent and Suellen CraneDale and Janet DeanJe� rey DowntonRachel EachenCynthia M. ElickESCO CommunicationsGene and Val EvansFirst Church of ChristTom and Mary Garman

Gibson Teldata, IncFamily of Bonnie GladieuxAmanda GrawcockGreencroft CommunitiesHeartland HospiceLeland and Frances HobeckLynette and Eli JohnsonKevin Steury Management, LLCCarl LeechMcIntosh Energy Co., Inc.Medline Industries, Inc.MobilexMary Helen MooreMr. Plumber, Inc.Nieter and GoegleinNorth Highlands Church of ChristSharon and Gordon OrrParkview Home HealthP� ster Sprinkler Systems, Inc.Steve and Tamara SchaafSenior Life NewspapersShambaugh and Son

St Joe Church of ChristLouie StoneGrant Ulm and Melonie HartmanVan Contracting, Inc.Andrea and David VanwyngardenWaste Management, Inc.Mike WeisheitWicks Air Filter

GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN HOMESAnonymousWilliam and Betty BellBruce and Dolores KenneyJames MahonEstate of Addison L. MoorePine Run Church of ChristLewis SchnabelrauchCharles and Edna SeeleyIva SimpsonKathryn StehleCecil Stevens and Dorothy BotimerRobert and Elizabeth Wise

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Melissa HughesGladys JohnsMyrtis JustinianoLola Kau� mannMark and Pushpa KingAlbert and Dorothy LaneMatthew and Connie LentschRobert and Gail MartinPatricia W. McKinneyEdwin and Louise MeekEd and Irene MercerBertha MillerPat Darling MillerDick and Becky MillerJim and Kelly Ne� Alfred and Margaret NelsonMyrl and Phyllis NofzigerDoris OakesFrieda OettingR. Crews PerkeyHarold and Gracielee PlattLester and Dawn PutneyRobert RantaLes and Veva ReidKenneth and D. Jane Schroeder

Dick and Jo SnyderKathryn StecklyEdna � omasEverett and Barbara � omasBurl and Rhoda TroyerGertrude WarkentinDale and Karen WeaverJohn and Rebecca WetzelMarie YoderSandra and Jim YoderGordon YoderGene and Fern Yoder

IN LOVING MEMORY OF:Harley BirkyElizabeth BowmanAlma BrubacherSel and Frances CopelandJames CopelandAgnes CripeJack CripeGeorge DupreeEvelyn DustAgda FarberWilliam Follett

L. Craig FulmerVera GalindoPaul GoeringElbert and Marion GrovesAbram HallmanFloyd HartmanWilliam H. and Mary HartmanLaurence HorstEdith HuberMargaret Hu� Jane Hu� tC. Margarite InbodyJohn and Pauline JenningsDewayne JohnsAlbert and Christina JonesVercoe and Berdean JonesMaxine Kau� manIvan Kau� mannHazel KinzerRussell LehmanRobert LundbergHelen MannAlice MartinBetty Jean McKeever

Mildred OdchodnickyJo PerkeyLois RantaMary RicheyIrene RiegseckerHelen RinehartEarle RooseRaymond and Romaine SalaPaul ShankBetty SpringerMarianna StutzmanRaymond and Ruth TysonVirginia Van NuysEugene WeaverA. Lois WeaverEdgar WeldyEdith King YoderEsther A. YoderEsther E. YoderMartha V. YoderRuth Evelyn YoderRuth E. Yoder

GREENCROFT COMMUNITIESTane and Gregg AdamsDeb BrubakerKathy and Claude Brewton

GREENCROFT GOSHENTane and Gregg AdamsAnonymousSandra and Ryan BeckCathy Beery Berg and Terry BergBennington MarineJames and Marilyn BerkeyGloria BoltonKathy and Claude BrewtonDeb BrubakerBurkhart AdvertisingDonna CaskeyJacqueline ColemanKathy CollinsCommunity Foundation of Elkhart CountyMary and David DavidsenLori DellMary DieterDebra DietrichRod and Gwen DillerDonald DriverEdward JonesPamela Eldridge

Glenn and Deidre EldridgeEverence FinancialJohn and Lois FidlerAmy GarciaMary Lou GarrattCatherine GetzRuth GetzBob and Pam GibsonGIBSONGoshen HealthCrissie and John GraberAbe Graber Memorial FundChad HahnBrian HartmanAnne HendersonSteve and Ann HerendeenPhyllis A. HershbergerCecelia HornJeremy HostetlerIndiana Wood Products, Inc.Gladys JohnsJanice JohnsMartha JonesSuzanne and Dan KincaidBrian and Andrea KingElizabeth KlippensteinKopf Leasing, Inc.Kuert Concrete, Inc.KZRV, L.P.

Susan LanningMelissa LantzLaVanture Products Co. Inc.Meribethe LawtonVickie LaymanBeverly LecountRobert and Annabelle LerchErika LestaJim and Lori LindzyManor IV Gift Shop CommitteeMaplecrest Insurance, LLCMargaret Broni Miller and Kenton MillerDonna MyersJim and Kelly Ne� Nina Newburn and Don MishlerPhil NusbaumOaklawnPalmer Funeral HomesKathleen PattyDebra and James PowellPrint Management Solutions, Inc.Robert RantaAimee RiemkeJulie RozinskiKelly and Daniel SchrockDoug and Jeannine SchrockDale and Karen ShenkAngela ShepherdCheryl Shreiner

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Patricia SmithKaren SpencerDonald StutzmanEarl and Margaret SutterEverett and Barbara � omasNiki and Michael TinkeyLorna TroyerJulie and Mike TruexLindsay VanderpoolVeada Industries, Inc.Juan and Ruth VegaDelia and Tim WaitsWelch Packaging Group, Inc.Edgar WeldyLyle WilsonLisa and Gary YoderGalen and Esther YoderSusie M. YoderYoder, Ainlay, Ulmer & Buckingham, LLP

GREENCROFT MIDDLEBURYEd and Irene MercerBertha and Jay Rhodes

HAMILTON GROVELorrie AckermanLeila CookChristine DelaterSusan DoveHamilton GroveEstate of William H. and Mary HartmanJoanne HodorDawn KruegerDavid and Vera Litch� eldKen McKay

Danielle MillerTomme OwensCarol and Cli� SwopeWaggoner TrustElizabeth West

OAK GROVEAmerican Reformed ChurchRenee BalboaBethel Christian Reformed ChurchKaitlyn BurdenChristopher DalyFirst Christian Reformed ChurchStephanie FogarassyLoretta HeidlerBrenda HenleyDiane Hu� Jenny JeskoKevin KorthCarla and Ed LudzadderMelissa McMahanJim and Kelly Ne� Pamela NorthcuttSheryle NushHui SchmidtSelena SchneckenburgerRoberta SebbenRosario TelfordJim and Dee TerborgWilbert Hamstra, Inc.

SOUTHFIELD VILLAGEAnonymousDonita BortonDolores BrittonPatricia CatanzariteRobert Christman

Joseph and Karyn DoranMonica EatonRochelle HurtMaria KilMaureen KuceraBarbara LinarelloJune RhodesClyde Joel and Joan RughDishona ShieldsArkeena SmithSteven SummersLynn SzwedaShauna TurleyKaren Van AckerMary WeberRosalie White

WALNUT HILLSCindy and Merle BeachyHarold and Anne CrawfordWarren and Sylvia FosterMarcia HawkinsDeborah HershbergerRita HochstetlerRonalee and Gary HochstetlerJeremy and Christy Kau� manJean KleinBill and Eileen KobelHoneyrun Miller FamilyCarol and Rod MillerPhisamay PhaonesyHeather RaberIva SwartzentruberMatthew and Tammi WengerdTeresa and Todd Yoder

Honor/Memorial Contributors ListWe gratefully acknowledge the following individuals and organizations who, during the period of January 1, 2017 to May 31, 2017, made a contribution to the Foundation in honor or in memory of a loved one.

GOLDEN YEARS HOMESTEADIN MEMORY OF: Ralph Baker David and Cheryl Brackemyer Virginia Carpenter Lysbeth Noyes Betty Gagen Agape Church of the Brethren Project Design & Management Randee and Peggy Bell Robison

Lynn and Dave Shipe Dale and Jody Warner

GREAT LAKES CHRISTIAN HOMESIN MEMORY OF: Karina Cates Anonymous Great Lakes Christian Homes Janet and � omas Hummer

GREENCROFT GOSHENIN MEMORY OF: Richard Boling, Sr Shannon and Florann White Ruth Alice Craig Richard “Dick” Craig Isabelle Rogers Duna� n Jesse and Amy Berger Bremtown Fine Custom Cabinetry Susan Schrameyer

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Melvin Elliot Manor III Gift Shop Martha Fehring Anonymous Ted and Eloise Garman Vanette and John Kashmer Rosemarie Gehlbach Richard “Dick” Craig Mary Gibson Arlene Hart Barbara Humbarger Tamara and Robert Schuller Wayne and Lois Sousley Barbara and Wayne Stutsman Glen Gunden Manor IV Residents Mary Edna Hostetler � elma Swartzendruber Ken Houtz Richard “Dick” Craig Juniper Place Residents John and Carol McClure Shannon and Florann White Gene and Fern Yoder Betty Kau� man Manor III Gift Shop Ivan Kau� mann Myrtis Justiniano Manor IV Gift Shop Committee Henry Kehr Manor III Gift Shop Edith King Richard “Dick” Craig Coe Kramer Richard “Dick” Craig C. Joseph Martin Vanette and John Kashmer Myrl Nafziger Richard “Dick” Craig Gene and Fern Yoder Kathy Ortiz Manor III Gift Shop Janet Randolph Manor III Gift ShopRay Rhodes Manor II Gift Shop Walter and Helen Rinehart M. Kathleen and Gary Hendricks Wilma Srof Gloria Bolton Barbara Brumbaugh Clayton Sutter Sem Sutter Barbara Tribble Carolyn and Don Hardman

Ray Tyson Pegg Malott Carol Jean Valencourt Frank and Julie Weldy Edgar Weldy Garnett Heeter Dorothy Weldy Ruth Evelyn Yoder Richard “Dick” Craig

GREENCROFT MIDDLEBURYIN MEMORY OF: Edgar Weldy Donald and Keri Anderson Anonymous Kathy Crain John and Carolyn DeWilde David and Linda Greene Rosealene Long Linda Miller Carolyn Mosson

Don and Berneita Smucker Dana and Nelda Snider Allen and Kimberlie Weldy

HAMILTON GROVEIN MEMORY OF: Geraldine Juanita Murray Richard Murray and Family Evelyn and Craig Kirkwood

OAK GROVEIN MEMORY OF:Grace May Bush Selena Schneckenburger Lynn Marie Demain Selena Schneckenburger

Shirley Gilbert Selena Schneckenburger James Van Gilder, Sr Selena Schneckenburger Goldie, the Dog Selena Schneckenburger Kevin Groeneveld Selena Schneckenburger Rose Ann Hageman Selena Schneckenburger Hugo Jimenez Selena Schneckenburger Amelia Nelson Joyce and James Hart June C Stetler Selena Schneckenburger Joseph N Verthein Selena SchneckenburgerIN HONOR OF:Haley Miller’s College Graduation Selena Schneckenburger

SOUTHFIELD VILLAGEIN MEMORY OF: Charles Ebright Dwight Handschu � omas J and Virginia L Nace Marcia Stahl Mary Swihart James and Nancy McBride Florence Ullery Raymond and Martha Caston

WALNUT HILLSIN MEMORY OF: Mary Yoder Wayne County Clerk of Courts

� e enclosed donation in memory of my brother is from some friends. � ey asked that the donation go toward funding programs because he very much enjoyed the ones he attended. � anks, again, to you and the rest of the sta� for taking such kind and comforting care of my brother during his time at Oak Grove. —A note (adapted) to Oak Grove Christian Retirement Community

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PO Box 819Goshen, IN 46527-0819www.greencroft.org

[To worship] bring your burnt o� erings and sac-ri� ces, your tithes and special gifts, what you have

vowed to give and your freewill o� erings, and the � rstborn of your herds and � ocks.—Deuteronomy 12:6

In the Christian faith tradi-tion we understand that plac-ing our o� ering in the Sunday morning collection plate is one of the ways we worship God. In fact, the word “worship” comes from “worth” and “ship.” Or as one wag said of the Sunday morning o� ering, “� is is how much God is worth to us.”

Sprinkled through the Old Testament are commandments to bring tithes to the priests as a way of supporting them

since they did not grow their own crops or have their own � ocks. Eventually the word tithe became synonymous with “� rst born” or “� rst fruits.” In the ancient Near Eastern world that mostly relied on bartering instead of cash, wealth was measured by the size of a man’s � ocks, the harvest of his crops, the number of servants he owned, the number of wives he took and the number of children—especially sons—he fathered. So the way a man worshipped was by bringing to the priests the � rst born of his � ocks and the � rst fruits of his harvest.

� e most dramatic example of this form of worship was when Abraham was willing to sacri� ce his only child, Isaac, in Genesis 22. While the notion is

horri� c to our modern minds, the practice of child sacri� ce has been part of numerous cultures over the centuries. However, some Bible scholars suggest that the Genesis 22 event may have been God’s way of commanding the children of Israel to prohibit this awful practice.

But in the story, Abraham says to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you” (emphasis mine). Abraham’s act of worship was his willingness to give to God the � rst fruits of his intimacy with wife, Sara. We continue this form of faithfulness to God when we, too, give of our � rst fruits and tithes as an act of worship.

First Fruits and TithesBy Everett J. � omas, Greencroft Communities Foundation Executive Director

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