Morningside Ministries named winner of $350,000 Humana Communities Benefit Grant in San Antonio

MM-Main-logo-300x108Morningside Ministries, San Antonio’s oldest and largest not-for-profit, faith-based senior care organization, is the recipient of the inaugural $350,000 Humana Communities Benefit grant in San Antonio, which is funded by the Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM).

Morningside Ministries currently provides residential care to more than 800 older adults in the greater San Antonio community and extensive training services for their caregivers. Using the $350,000 Humana Communities Benefit grant, Morningside Ministries will expand its web-based training program, mmLearn.org, a nationally-recognized website that provides support and educational training to caregivers of seniors. The –enhanced e-learning website will provide caregivers an all-encompassing support system with educational videos on nutrition and medication management programs, mental illness, senior exercise routines, caregiver health and other valuable resources.

“The role of a caregiver can be difficult with little resources available that address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of older adults in their care,” said Alvin A. Loewenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer of Morningside Ministries. “Thanks to the generous grant from Humana, countless families suddenly finding themselves in the role of caregiver will finally find the training and support they need to provide the best possible care to their loved ones, as well as for their own needs.”

In its inaugural year in San Antonio, the Humana Communities Benefit charitable giving program provided 501(c)(3) organizations in Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Guadalupe, Kendall, Medina and Wilson counties the opportunity to apply for this year’s grant. The Humana Communities Benefit program awards nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations a total of $350,000, provided in three installments over a three-year period.

“Morningside Ministries’ proposal to create a sustainable and life-changing support system for seniors and their caregivers exemplifies the goals of the Humana Communities Benefit program,” said Pattie Dale Tye, Vice President, Humana. “Humana has had a presence in San Antonio for more than three decades and we’re thrilled to help such a deserving nonprofit improve the quality of life for countless caregivers throughout the greater community.”

The San Antonio Food Bank, an organization that provides food and grocery products throughout Southwest Texas, and ChildSafe, a children’s advocacy center that provides hope, healing and support to children and their families who have been traumatized by abuse, were the other two finalists.

The three organizations participated in the inaugural online community vote hosted on HumanaHCBVote.com. One of this year’s many new features, the online vote gave the public the opportunity to weigh in on which organization it felt was most deserving of the Humana Communities Benefit grant. The public’s results were included during the final round of judging, which included formal presentations to a panel of community leaders and business representatives, which decided the winning nonprofit in each city.

For more information on the Humana Communities Benefit program, visit www.Humana.com/HCB.

For more information on Morningside Ministries, visit https://www.mmliving.org.

About The Humana Foundation
The Humana Foundation was established in 1981 as the philanthropic arm of Humana Inc., one of the nation’s leading health care companies. Located in Louisville, Ky., the site of Humana’s corporate headquarters, the Foundation focuses on promoting healthy relationships and healthy behaviors. We believe that people who are engaged in caring and supportive relationships, are receptive and more likely to exhibit healthy behaviors; and healthy behaviors result in healthier communities. For more information, visit www.humanafoundation.org.

Humana and the Humana Foundation are dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Our goal is to ensure that every business decision we make reflects our commitment to improving the health and well-being of our members, our associates, the communities we serve, and our planet.

About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health and well-being company focused on making it easy for people to achieve their best health with clinical excellence through coordinated care. The company’s strategy integrates care delivery, the member experience, and clinical and consumer insights to encourage engagement, behavior change, proactive clinical outreach and wellness for the millions of people we serve across the country.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:

  • Annual reports to stockholders
  • Securities and Exchange Commission filings
  • Most recent investor conference presentations
  • Quarterly earnings news releases
  • Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
  • Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
  • Corporate Governance information

 

Morningside Ministries is a Humana Grant Finalist!

MM-Main-logo-300x108The Humana Foundation announced that Morningside Ministries Senior Living Communities has been selected as one of three finalists in its highly Humana green logocompetitive Humana Communities Benefit grant program.  Chosen from among 38 applicants, Morningside will have a chance to win a $350,000 grant in early September that will benefit its web-based mmLearn.org program.  The Communities Benefit program provides funds to local, nonprofit organizations that have an impact on healthy behaviors and healthy relationships in the San Antonio area and surrounding communities.

mmLearn.org at Morningside Ministries is a web-based, distance-learning service that provides education, training and support to those caring for older adults. mmLearn.org was founded in 2007 and has been 100% grant funded ever since its inception. The goal of mmLearn.org is to improve the quality of life experienced by older adults in care, as well as to help their caregivers cope with the often difficult task of caring for an elderly person.  Family members and others can view over 300 caregiver training videos in “real-time” or “on-demand” on the mmLearn.org website for free at any convenient time, 24-7.

With grant funds from Humana Communities Benefit, mmLearn.org will significantly expand its outreach and marketing efforts to make many more caregivers throughout the community aware of the availability of resources to allow them to provide better care, reduce stress in their lives and become more knowledgeable of the aging process. As part of this initiative mmLearn.org will make its recording and webcasting facilities available to other organizations making it possible for them to promote their services, including services to older adults and their caregivers.

For media credentials please call 210-734-1176 or email Kristen Perez at kristen.perez@mmliving.org.

About Morningside Ministries
Morningside Ministries is San Antonio’s oldest and largest not-for profit, faith-based, senior care organization dedicated with the specific mission of “Caring For Those Who Cared For Us.” Morningside Ministries has served the San Antonio community since 1961 with Morningside Ministries at the Meadows, Morningside Ministries at The Manor, Morningside Ministries at Chandler Estate and Morningside Ministries at Menger Springs. Today we continue to serve over 900 residents in retirement, assisted living, nursing and memory care.

Media Contact:
Sandra Scott, V.P. of Sales and Marketing
210-734-1012 office
210-483-3959 cell
Sandra.Scott@mmliving.org

Morgan’s Wonderland ‘Free to Soar Gala’ Sept. 19 to honor five outstanding individuals

MorgansWonderland_logoOn Friday, Sept. 19, the annual “Free to Soar Gala” benefitting non-profit Morgan’s Wonderland and Monarch Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland will honor five individuals who have been champions for those with special needs.

“Each year, we salute outstanding individuals who embody character traits such as determination, caring, achievement, sacrifice and inclusion,” said Ron Morander, general manager of the world’s first ultra-accessible theme park designed with special-needs individuals in mind and built to be enjoyed by everyone.  “They will be recognized at the gala, and their names will be added to the Walk of Fame that encircles our park’s eight-acre lake.”

Details about how to nominate individuals for inclusion on the Walk of Fame by the Aug. 1 deadline can be found at www.MorgansWonderland.com.   A committee from Morgan’s Wonderland and The Gordon Hartman Family Foundation, along with special advisors, review nominations and select the five honorees.

Morander said an honoree might be a student who, regardless of a special need, perseveres at school and inspires other students; a Wounded Warrior who embraces life despite immense physical challenges and serves as a role model for other Warriors; a dedicated employee who has earned the admiration of a supervisor and peers for a job well done; a parent or caregiver who has sacrificed to make a difference for those with special needs; or someone who works directly with the special-needs community to make a difference in numerous lives.

Sponsorship information and other specifics about the Free to Soar Gala are available from Becky Thomas at (210) 493-2811.  Gala proceeds will help expand programs and services for the special-needs community through Morgan’s Wonderland and Monarch Academy.

Completely wheelchair-accessible Morgan’s Wonderland admits anyone with a physical or cognitive challenge to the 25-acre park free of charge.  Monarch Academy, located next door to Morgan’s Wonderland, helps students with special needs achieve their full potential through individualized instruction.  The school’s Bridge Program strives to equip students with valuable skills that lead to productive lives as adults.

The inspiration for Morgan’s Wonderland came from Morgan, daughter of philanthropists Gordon and Maggie Hartman, who will celebrate her 21st birthday during the gala.  Morgan’s soaring spirit despite personal challenges sparked within the Hartmans a deep desire to create a haven not only for those with special needs but also for their families, caregivers and invited friends.  “Inclusion is the overarching objective,” Gordon Hartman noted.  “Everyone can have a good time at Morgan’s Wonderland.”

Morgan’s Wonderland and Monarch Academy are located in Northeast San Antonio a half-mile west of IH 35 at the intersection of Wurzbach Parkway and Thousand Oaks Drive. For more information about Morgan’s Wonderland or Monarch Academy, call (210) 495-5888 or (210) 479-3311, respectively.  Or visit www.MorgansWonderland.com or www.MonarchAcademy.net.