2024 Community Impact Report

Outreach, donations and support

Masonic Village

As part of our Mission of Love, Masonic Village extends services to neighboring communities and individuals of all ages.

Masonic Village proudly provided $40.8 million worth of charitable care and services across Pennsylvania in 2024. This amount consists of approximately $11.3 million (at cost) of free care and services and $29.5 million (at cost) for care and services above the amount reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and other third-party payers.

In addition, Masonic Village provided more than $329,708 in scholarship and donations to local emergency services providers, as well as to support internships and community assistance for our neighbors in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster.

As a nonprofit organization, and as part of our Mission of Love, Masonic Village extends services to surrounding communities and individuals of all ages. Throughout 2024, our efforts focused on enhancing local businesses and nonprofits, supporting economic development, enriching students, engaging children, assisting those in need and encouraging residents’ participation.

Community Engagement & Support

Masonic Village at Dallas co-hosted Visiting Angels of Scranton’s Senior Network Alliance meeting to bring together local senior living and health care providers

Residents volunteered to help at the Mother's Day 5K

Cub Scout Pack 65 joined residents at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown for a cozy "campfire" chat. The youth performed skits, told jokes and sang songs and asked residents questions.

Masonic Village works with other organizations to help fulfill needs in the community, some of which also benefit our residents.

For the 11th year, Masonic Village at Dallas collaborated with the physical therapy department at Misericordia University on a Balance & Fall Prevention Program. The program encourages good health, exercise and well-being, while giving students real-life field experience.

To benefit Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services (ECHOS), which runs a winter shelter at St. Paul’s Methodist Church for those with emergency living needs, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s environmental services department washed 4,755 pounds of sheets, blankets, comforters and towels free of charge, donating staff time valued at approximately $2,757.

Masonic Village at Elizabethtown hosted the Mother’s Day 5K (sponsored by the Elizabethtown Rotary Club) on campus. Community groups, including the Elizabethtown Chamber of Commerce, Elizabethtown United Soccer Club, Penn State Extension and others, used facilities on campus for meetings, trainings and programs. Masonic Village donated approximately $20,025 in space for this purpose in 2024.

The Greater Elizabethtown Area Recreation & Community Services (GEARS) hosts fitness classes on our Elizabethtown campus. Masonic Village donated approximately $2,375 worth of space for these programs in 2024. There is no charge to GEARS, thanks to a mutually beneficial agreement. Willowood Swim Club has worked in a partnership with Masonic Village at Elizabethtown for almost six years to use the indoor pool to train their lifeguards and swim lesson instructors and, in turn, shares lifeguards for summer and year-round employment at Masonic Village.

Providing a high quality child care option for staff and the local community, the Sewickley YMCA child care center, located at Masonic Village at Sewickley, cared for 99 children from 86 different families in 2024. Approximately 15% of these children have parents who work at Masonic Village at Sewickley and the remaining 85% are from local neighborhoods. One of the great benefits of a child development center on campus is the intergenerational opportunities it provides, which included trick or treating and visits with Mr. and Mrs. Claus last year.

Students from Prodigy Learning Center spent more than 45 hours visiting with residents at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill throughout the year for intergenerational bonding, including bowling, crafts and more.

Children from U-GRO, located at Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, enjoy regular story time sessions with residents, and both groups work together on an intergenerational sensory garden in warmer months.

Business & Economic Support

As a nonprofit organization, Masonic Village is not required to pay real estate taxes; however, we value municipalities’ services and understand their plights, as costs impact local taxes. Through Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) agreements signed in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill and Sewickley, we paid $2,336,839 to local boroughs, townships, counties and school districts in 2024.

Supporting the local economy is also a priority. Through contracts with 331 businesses in the Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill and Sewickley areas, Masonic Village purchased approximately $6.2 million of products and services.

Through the “PA Beef to PA Schools Program,” the Masonic Village Farm supplies the Donegal School District and Manheim Township School District with approximately 500 – 900 pounds of Masonic Village beef monthly.

“Our farm does a good job of creating a value-added product. Providing beef to the schools is a big part of our mission,” Scotty Miller, farm manager, said. “Getting good solid protein into schools and on the trays of kids that might not normally have access is really important.”

Advocacy

On behalf of all senior living providers, Matt Mayo, assistant executive director/health care administrator for Masonic Village at Elizabethtown, contributed to LeadingAge PA’s advocacy efforts to increase Medicaid funding.

“If the Medicaid rate for our most vulnerable does not keep the pace for top quality care, health systems will see a replication of early pandemic times,” Matt said. “We are calling on legislators now for their support.”

Sustainability

For the past 18 years, Masonic Village has been implementing a comprehensive sustainability plan, including renewable energy projects and energy auditing. Eco-friendly operations and initiatives are an important investment in our community’s and planet’s future, whether it’s restoring a portion of the Conoy Creek, utilizing solar power or protecting soil and water resources while operating a beef cattle and farm enterprise.

Donations

Masonic Village Walk to End Alzheimer’s team (photo courtesy of Karlo Gesner Photography)

(Front row, L-R): Mike Rowe, executive director, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown (prior to his retirement), presented a check to Joseph Murphy, president, Elizabethtown Area Education Foundation, and the foundation’s board

Recipients of the EASD Community Partner recognition

Masonic Village supports other charitable organizations whenever possible. We contributed $59,420 to fire and EMS companies, chambers of commerce, ministries and other causes in 2024. Efforts also included:

  • Donations of clothing and books to Salvation Army, United Churches of Elizabethtown, libraries and other local thrift stores, and collections for local food banks. In Warminster, residents and staff collected food items for the Warminster Food Bank and sponsored a community blood drive.
  • The Masonic Village Farm Market donated produce weekly to the Community Cupboard of Elizabethtown, East Donegal-Conoy Food Banks and the Elizabethtown First Church of God meal program.
  • Masonic Village Hospice raised $11,000 for the 2024 Relay for Life of Lancaster, benefiting the American Cancer Society, and they sponsored Caregiver Haven ($2,500) and self-care activities during the event. Masonic Village’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s team organized several fundraisers, and individuals raised their own funds, resulting in a $6,123 contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association in 2024.
  • Masonic Village sponsored the entertainment for Senior Citizens Night at the Elizabethtown Fair, and the Masonic Village Farm Market handed out free apples.
  • Masonic Village at Elizabethtown made donation deliveries to UNTO Global Logistics, which provides humanitarian aid and resources for those in need around the world, and collected donations for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to support the Lancaster County Toys for Tots collection.
  • We contributed $15,000 to the Elizabethtown Area Education Foundation to help generate support for the foundation’s grant program to enhance learning experiences in the classroom and beyond. Recent initiatives include a supplemental elementary literacy program, a flower and plant project to enhance STEM skills and occupational learning innovations including pre-apprenticeships.
  • Masonic Village’s Elizabethtown and Sewickley locations awarded $19,700 in scholarships to seven graduating high school seniors and college students who volunteered at least 100 hours with us during their high school years.

Masonic Village was among 24 community organizations celebrated by Elizabethtown Area School District (EASD) as a Community Partner for our invaluable contributions to enhancing the learning experiences of the school district’s students and strengthening connections within the community.

“I really enjoyed spending time with the residents and getting to know them. When I volunteered to deliver mail to the residents, it was so fun to talk one-on-one with them and hear stories about their lives. I also loved planting with the residents outside and watching them interact with the different sensory plants while sharing their knowledge of the plant. After volunteering at Masonic Village, I gained a deeper appreciation for interacting with senior adults. Their lifelong knowledge and experiences, along with their enthusiasm for sharing stories with me, gave me a unique connection with the residents and love for spending time at Masonic Village. I will always treasure my time volunteering at Masonic Village.”

Grace Wiehe

Grace, a Quaker Valley High School student and Masonic Village volunteer and scholarship recipient, will attend the University of Utah to major in kinesiology and minor in nutrition.

She started volunteering at Masonic Village at Sewickley as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which included creating a sensory garden and related activities for residents in the Sturgeon Health Care Center. Residents helped plan and plant the garden. Grace also delivered mail and assisted with bingo, board games, mini golf, manicures, movies nights and other activities.

Educational Opportunities

Civic Engagement students from Elizabethtown College worked with residents

Event at LCCTC for high school students in the culinary arts division

Masonic Village works with local schools and universities to welcome students seeking internships and job shadow experiences to enhance their formal education.

Masonic Village at Elizabethtown and Penn State University established a mutually beneficial partnership in 2018 that allows students to gain practical experience and complete academic requirements, while working to advance Masonic Village initiatives, through efforts in sustainability and improved use of technology. In a partnership with Elizabethtown College, biology students have the opportunity to earn a 40-hour nurse assistant certification, which includes classwork, direct interaction with residents and a competency test.

Elizabethtown College partnered with our Volunteer Services Department to offer opportunities for over 70 students in 2024, including:

  • Engineering students worked on a page turner for residents to use when reading.
  • Civic Engagement students offered technology open forums to residents.
  • Sociology students offered their assistance with a Veterans Day program, including making posters for each resident.
  • Community Outreach students offered their time to help with the campus campfire, providing one-on-one visits to residents and assisting with a Resident Council questionnaire.
  • Physician Assistant students conducted a Community Day at Masonic Village and helped with bingo.

In clinical settings, including the Pharmacy, Food Services, Hospice, Home Health, Nursing, Music Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Social Services, Wellness and Environmental Services Departments, staff supervised students for an estimated 6,646 hours – time valued at approximately $42,330*. A college student also benefited from a summer internship with the Public Relations Department.

*Based on national community benefits reporting standards, 20% of staff time overseeing students in a clinical setting may be quantified as a community benefit.

Included in the values above, students from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, and La Salle University School of Nursing completed public health clinicals with Masonic Village.

For several years, Masonic Village at Elizabethtown has teamed up with Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13) to offer students internships and real-world job experiences in environmental services and other fields through the Work Immersion Program.

Masonic Village at Elizabethtown’s Food Services department has partnered with Lancaster Career and Technology Center’s Mount Joy campus since 2015 to provide internships for the culinary arts degrees. One staff member is involved in the Lancaster Chamber’s Discovering Paths mentorship program, which offers high school students the opportunity to explore and navigate options to support them in their professional studies and future careers.

Four Life Skills students from Plymouth Whitemarsh High School observed and worked in the Laundry and Food Services Departments at Masonic Village at Lafayette Hill bi-weekly. Two Quaker Valley High School students partnered with the Resident Technology Advisory Council at the Masonic Village at Sewickley to hold weekend technology help sessions twice a month.

“The growth and maturity we see in our interns wouldn’t happen without the mentors, supervisors and residents who take the time to get to know them, guide them and help them learn. Their support makes all the difference.”

Ally Devine, IU13 work immersion program instructor

“The staff have helped me get out of my shell,” she said. “I was honestly a bit frazzled at first, but there are people here to help me. We get along really well. I plan to go to college in the future, and this job has really helped me. I’ve learned how to handle different situations. The Masonic Village program is amazing.”

Mackenzie

Mackenzie was a IU13 student intern with the Food Services Department

Outreach & Home Assistance

Funded through generous contributions, the Masonic Children’s Home in Elizabethtown does not charge individuals, organizations or the state or federal government for its services. It provides a home for up to 40 youth who are being raised by aging grandparents or who come from various social or economic environments which do not provide necessary security and support. Children do not need to have a Masonic affiliation in their family to be eligible for services. In 2024, the Elizabethtown Area School District received $454,536 through reciprocity agreements with the school districts from which the children come to us.

Masonic Village’s Outreach Program distributed $16,800 in home assistance support to individuals and families. The program also operates a Durable Medical Loan Equipment Closet, which provides equipment to families on a short-term basis at no cost. We supplied wheelchairs, walkers, canes, shower chairs and other equipment to 10 individuals in 2024.

Last year, in Elizabethtown, an average of nine individuals, including community members and Masonic Village residents, participated in the monthly Dementia Caregiver Support & Education Group. The Bereavement Support Group served 312 family members during meetings held in Elizabethtown, Mount Joy and Lancaster. Masonic Village contributed approximately $6,758, including 139 hours of staff time, materials and classroom space, toward these support groups.

Masonic Children's Home residents assist with the Massing of the Colors display at Masonic Village

Masonic Children's Home residents assisted with the Massing of the Colors display at Masonic Village

Resident Contributions

Masonic Village at Dallas residents collected money and purchased gift bags for residents of the Meadows Nursing Home

Masonic Village at Dallas residents donated goods to fill gift bags for residents at the Meadows Nursing Home

Masonic Village at Sewickley Woodworking Group make a donation to the Shriners Hospitals for Children

Team MVS

Residents make blankets for Project Linus

Residents made blankets for Project Linus

Bleiler Caring Cottage residents handed out thank you cards to Elizabethtown Fire Department Station 74

Many of Masonic Village’s residents are active in the community. Last year, residents contributed to service projects that benefited children, students, older adults, emergency service providers and those with food and housing insecurities.

Masonic Village at Dallas residents participated in an Adopt a Road project to help clean up nearby Country Club Road and contributed $3,710 and 321 pounds of food donations for the Back Mountain Food Pantry, which serves over 1,100 clients in the local community. The Resident Social Committee collected money and donated goods to fill gift bags for 115 residents at the Meadows Nursing Home during the holidays.

As “Team MVS,” Masonic Village at Sewickley residents and staff raised over $15,000 for breast cancer research as part of their participation in the 2024 Susan G. Komen West Pennsylvania “More Than Pink” walk. Resident Edie Yeager was the top individual fundraiser in Pennsylvania, while Team MVS was the top group fundraiser.

Sustainability has become a focus of many residents in Sewickley. The Plarn (plastic yarn) group spend countless hours every year making mats out of used plastic bags for the New Life Community Church in Pittsburgh, which donates them to homeless shelters. The Committee for Sustainable Living is working on reducing plastic use and increasing recycling, among other initiatives.

Residents in Sewickley raised over $150,000 for the Dining Services scholarship program and awarded $4,400 scholarships to 16 students working as dining room servers in 2024. To qualify, servers must have worked at least 312 hours, submitted a short essay and application and already be attending or accepted to college. The additional funds collected will be used for 2025 scholarships.

Through the sales of handmade floral arrangements, jewelry, blankets, cards, gift bags and more, the Craft Group at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown raises money to support others, including $2,500 for the Friendship Fire and Hose Company in 202. The Masonic Village Piece Maker Quilt group, comprised of about 30 women, gave money from their sales to various charities, including $1,000 to Municipal Emergency Services Authority of Lancaster County (MESA). The group also donated quilts to the tornado victims in Kentucky.

The Grey Lions of Elizabethtown, Masonic Village’s Penn State alumni interest group, awarded six $1,000 scholarships in 2024 to deserving Penn State students: Zachary Dellinger, Madeline Gahr, Abraham MacDerment, Laura Saint Cyr, Addison Large and Nevin Rutherford. The group also collected items to be sent to the victims of Hurricane Helene and solicited donations from local businesses. Their donations filled half of a box truck.

Knitting and sewing blankets keeps residents busy while contributing to their local communities. Residents in Elizabethtown and Sewickley meet throughout the year to make blankets and give them to Project Linus, a national nonprofit organization which donates them to hospitals (including the Shriners Hospitals for Children), shelters, social service agencies or anywhere a need arises. In Elizabethtown, residents donate an average of 100 blankets.

Residents of the Bleiler Caring Cottage participated in several community service projects, including providing thank you cards for the Elizabethtown Fire Dept Station 74, MESA and Elizabethtown Borough Police Department, as well as to veterans at Masonic Village. They picked up trash around Elizabethtown, including the train station and parks, donated items to Goodwill and local shelters and helped pack meals for children in need in Hershey though Cocoa Packs.

Sell Chapel

Through the Congregation of Sell Chapel’s Community Outreach ministry, members donated $48,098 in offerings toward Elizabethtown Community Housing and Outreach Services (ECHOS), Hope Within, Communities That Care, Naaman Center, the Christmas Shop and Cornerstone Youth Center. Members of the congregation volunteered with ECHOS and the winter shelter and other programs in Lancaster County.

Staff Contributions

(L-R): Brooke Zubeck, home health social work outreach coordinator (left), with staff from the Early Childhood and Special Education Services at IU13

The Home Health Department sponsored a Mitten Tree to support Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 (IU13). Each of the 20 mitten ornaments had a few wish list items for a child, ranging from clothes to diapers to educational toys. Their department, as well as the Finance Department, collected and donated items for the local emergency shelter operated by ECHOS.

The Finance Department adopted a Jeans for Charity fundraiser whereby staff donate $5 to wear jeans on Mondays. They raised more than $1,800 for: ECHOS, Goodwill Keystone Area, Set Free, Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development and a church.

Beyond regular office hours, many staff are active leaders in professional associations where they share their expertise while gaining knowledge and connections to enhance their work at Masonic Village. Staff serve on:

Staff also commit their time as volunteers with local churches, emergency service providers and other not-for-profit organizations, including:

Community Benefits Financial Summary

Masonic Village proudly provided $40.8 million worth of charitable care and services across Pennsylvania in 2024. This amount consists of approximately $11.3 million (at cost) of free care and services and $29.5 million (at cost) for care and services above the amount reimbursed by Medicare, Medicaid and other third-party payers.

In addition, Masonic Village provided more than $329,708 in scholarship and donations to local emergency services providers, as well as to support internships and community assistance for our neighbors in Dallas, Elizabethtown, Lafayette Hill, Sewickley and Warminster.