January 21, 2020 —
On September 18, 2015, the Lorain County Urban League presented their Community Philanthropic Award to Kendal at Oberlin. The gala event, a formal evening affair, was attended by Kendal residents, staff and board representatives, along with 350+ people who attended the dinner. Kendal CEO, Barbara Thomas was delighted to accept the award for Kendal at Oberlin. Other awards included the Corporate Community Service Award, Distinguished Community Service Award and the Excellence in Education Award.
Since 1978 the Lorain County Urban League (LCUL) has been committed to its mission to empower African Americans and all disadvantaged persons in the community to participate equally in the educational, economic, and social mainstream. The Urban League offer programs in Health and Wellness, Housing and Urban Development, Education and Youth Development and Economic Empowerment.
Kendal Reaches Out to the Greater Community
Kendal at Oberlin is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community that opened in 1993 and serves more than 300 residents on its residential campus and an additional 200 annually through outreach services. Over its twenty+ years, Kendal has extended its services to the community by new development and collaborative arrangements. Kendal at Home, now 10 years old has signed on more than 250 members that reside in more than 12 neighboring counties. Since 2010, Kendal serves both Lorain and Cuyahoga County seniors by way of an partnership with Ohio Living Home Health & Hospice, offering Medicare and Medicaid certified home and community based services.
Resident-driven Organizations Serve Lorain County
Kendal at Oberlin encourages residents and staff to be fully engaged in philanthropic opportunities that bring about healthy communities and favorable intergenerational experiences. Kendal is especially proud of resident leadership that has brought into being service entities such as MANA (Management Assistance for Nonprofit Agencies)initiated by resident, Don Ilig; the Volunteer Clearinghouse that documents over 45,000 volunteer hours yearly by residents and staff; The Listening Post, serving Oberlin schools; creation of the Ninde Scholars, generously inspired by a gift from residents Richard and Nancy Ninde for students who may potentially be the first in their family to attend college, are low-income, and may be from a group that is underrepresented in higher education; ongoing support for Lorain County’s Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore through significant donations of construction materials; and contributions of household goods by Kendal’s Resale Shop bringing benefit for area nonprofit agencies.