Category: About the Foundation

On Thursday, October 11, the Immanuel Foundation will host our first public event.  We are inviting the community to join us at 5:30pm in the lobby of Buffalo Hill Terrace for drinks, heavy appetizers prepared by our marvelous dining team, and the unveiling of the Passions Project photos.  And we’re extra lucky because photographer Heidi Wagner will be present to discuss her creative process and the story behind the Passions Project.

If you’ve been following this blog, you’ve read quite a bit about the Passions Project by now.  We’re excited to share these photos.  Moreover, we’re excited to offer you a glimpse of the amazing, engaged seniors who live at Immanuel.  Whether they’re sharing their collections, walking beloved pets, or playing games, these residents continue to pursue the activities that bring them the most joy.

Immanuel Lutheran Communities participated in the Passions Project because we think it’s important to show our community how active and interesting residents remain.  That’s partly why the Foundation wanted to sponsor this project, of course.  We think it says a lot about the vision of aging we want to promote—one that’s active, engaged, and joyful rather than isolated and dull.

But the Foundation also chose to be part of this project because we want to show you who we raise money for.  All nineteen of the faces you’ll see at the Passions Project opening are Immanuel residents.  They live in all parts of community, from independent living to skilled nursing.  While some of them might need more philanthropic assistance than others, they are all real people engaged with their passions right here, in this community.  They all have stories.  Every single Immanuel resident has a lifetime of experience behind them, and every single one of them has something to share.  We’re hoping that The Passions Project will highlight some small part of the wisdom—and just plain interesting stories—housed in our community.

We’ve chosen to celebrate The Passions Project and the Foundation launch at the same time because both things are, in some ways, about celebrating the wonderful seniors who call Immanuel home.  The Passions Project celebrates them in obvious ways, by highlighting their skills, talents, and passions.  The Foundation celebrates them by seeking funds to make sure their lives remain as joyful and engaged as possible.  All of us, no matter our ages, need support to pursue our passions.  Immanuel wholeheartedly supports residents in living life in the ways that make them happiest.  The Foundation’s work helps make this support possible, and as we get our work off the ground, we look forward to learning more and sharing more about the people who live in our community.

So please join us on Thursday the 11th!  There’s still time to RSVP by clicking on the link below.

Welcome to the Immanuel Foundation! If you’re from the Flathead, you probably know Immanuel Lutheran Communities—or maybe you know the “Lutheran Home” up on Buffalo Hill. We’ve been here for over 60 years, so we’re something of an institution in the Valley. The Immanuel Foundation is a brand-new 501c3 organization founded solely to secure donations for Immanuel Lutheran Communities; we want the organization to be here, serving seniors, for at least another 60 years.

If you’re reading this page, chances are that you have some connection with Immanuel. Maybe you’re one of the 200 residents who call our campus home. Or maybe you’ve had a short-term rehab stay in the Retreat. Maybe, like me, you work here—or, also like me—you’re a resident’s family member. Whatever your connection to Immanuel, you know how important our work is, and you know how well we do it.

If you’ve driven past our campus recently, you’ve probably seen the big construction project. This physical expansion of our campus is very exciting, and we look forward to adding more independent residents to our community. But we’re building something else, too, something less visible but even more vital. We’re building the Foundation, which will insure that not only independent residents with financial means but also the most vulnerable seniors in our community, those with health problems and limited funds, will have safe homes in vibrant communities.

As we launch the Immanuel Foundation, this blog will be a place where you can learn about the work we do. I’m the Grants and Communications Manager for the foundation, but I began my work at Immanuel in the administrative office of our Residential and Assisted Living Community and have had the opportunity to get to know many of our wonderful residents. One is particularly dear to my heart—my grandfather lives here, and I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about him in the coming months. I look forward to sharing with you some stories of our community and some thoughts on aging services. After all, the people we serve are at the heart of our work as a Foundation, and this is a place where you can learn more about them.

Lauren Davis, Ph.D.
Grants and Communications Manager