Glenmeadow Residents Fundraising for the ALS Therapy Development Institute in Honor of Former President and CEO
Two upcoming events to support the $15,000 goal
LONGMEADOW—Former Glenmeadow president and CEO Tim Cotz was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) just over one year ago—several months after announcing his retirement from the life plan community.
With Cotz in mind, this year residents chose the ALS Therapy Development Institute as the nonprofit to support with fundraising.
Each year, Glenmeadow residents choose a nonprofit to fund through charitable means as they have a history of giving in their own lives. Founded by individuals in the late 1880s so that seniors without family or means would have an option to living at what was then called “the poor farm,” Glenmeadow itself also has a philanthropic mission.
“Inspired by Tim, residents have been fundraising through various events and calls for donations,” said Anne Miller, assistant administrator. “The fundraising goal is $15,000, and so they are turning to the community to invite support.”
Miller said six events have been held thus far, and two additional gatherings are planned for the year. A bake sale will be held at Glenmeadow on Oct. 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and an art festival will be held Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Proceeds from these events will benefit ALS-TDI. Donations are also being accepted; to donate, visit www.classy.org/fundraiser/1032694 or send a check made out to ALS-TDI to Glenmeadow, 24 Tabor Crossing, Longmeadow, MA 01106.
“Tim is standing strong in the face of ALS,” said Miller. “We hope to help him live out his goal to make ALS a disease of the past.”
Many individuals have made donations to date. In addition, the following organizations helped by providing gift cards and prizes that were used in raffles held at summer events: Arnold’s Meats; Belmont Laundry; Eastern States Exposition; Big Y; Comcast; Community Music School of Springfield; Delaney House; Eastside Grill; Flowers, Flowers; Golden Nozzle; Grapevine Pizzeria & Restaurant; Graziano Gardens; Harry Grodsky & Co. Inc.; House of Flowers; Kiddly Winks; Lattitude Restaurant; Mario’s Café Ambiance Secondo; Marshall Domestics; Mike’s Maze; Nails by Susan; Park Cleaners; Rinaldi’s Italian Specialties; Sayegh Jewelers; Shear Integrity Hair Design; Sixteen Acres Garden Center; A Simos & Co. Inc.; Springfield Museums; Stop & Shop; Michael Szwed Jewelers; Tucker’s Restaurant; US Foods; University of Massachusetts Fine Arts Center and University Club; Mr. Victor’s Salon; White’s; The Yellow Monkey; and The Zoo in Forest Park.
Glenmeadow is a nonprofit life plan community—formerly known as a retirement community—and it has a mission to serve seniors in the Greater Springfield region, whether they live on the Longmeadow campus or in their own homes.
Established in 1884, Glenmeadow is an accredited life plan community; it provides independent and assisted living at its campus at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow and expanded Glenmeadow at Home services throughout greater Springfield.
To learn more about Glenmeadow and its history and offerings, visit www.glenmeadow.org.
About Glenmeadow
In the 1800s, elderly individuals without family or means were sent to live at what was called “the poor farm.” In 1884, a group of civic leaders raised funds among themselves and other area families and purchased a house on Main Street in Springfield’s south end, establishing The Springfield Home for Aged Women. Quickly outgrowing that house, land was purchased on the corner of Chestnut and Carew streets, where a new home was constructed and opened in 1900. In 1960, the name was changed to Chestnut Knoll, and, in 1992, it began to admit men.
In 1993, the organization purchased a 23-acre parcel in Longmeadow to build a new community that would provide both independent living and assisted living in one building with various common areas. This was a new concept known as a continuing care retirement community. Existing residents from the old Chestnut Knoll property were moved to the new campus in 1997. Shortly after the move, the board voted to change its legal name to Glenmeadow to coincide with the name being used by the developer of the property.
Continuing care retirement communities are now referred to as life plan communities, responding to the needs of the aging population with new opportunities for care, plus creative, educational and personal exploration. Glenmeadow offerings, which include everything from senior living options and handyman services to personal care and travel programs, are provided at its Longmeadow campus and across the region through Glenmeadow at Home. Glenmeadow strives to fulfill its mission of nurturing the whole person in mind, body and spirit.
