A Culture of Generosity
Those involved in the beginning set the tone of generosity. The Kendal System and Kendal Charitable Funds (KCF) has always kept Kendal’s mission uppermost in our minds: together transforming the experience of aging.” At the heart of that work, you’ll find KCF providing funding for meaningful initiatives both within the Kendal System and beyond.
Kendal Charitable Funds is led through outstanding service by uncompensated Board of Directors.
Impacting Lives
Engaging Communities Initiative
We aspire to reframe society’s understanding of what is POSSIBLE as we age. This bold initiative has granted in excess of $500,000 and impacted the lives of more than 17,000 older adults.
Your Donations at Work
Your gift to KCF provides valuable resources to support Promising Innovations and Kendal Affiliate Grants – as well as support for our Kendal People Development programs.
- The Promising Innovations Fund – provides grants to non-profits innovating new programs, projects and solutions that positively impact the lives of older adults in our society.
- The Affiliate Grant Fund – provides support to Kendal Affiliates to initiate inventive programs that impact, engage and enrich older adults outside of their prospective communities.
- People Development Fund – provides resources to support the development of quality, consistency and relevancy in a values-based series of educational programs that engage Kendal as a larger “learning organization.”
Our History
The Seed
Kendal began in the late 1960s with a gift and a charge. The gift was a $300,000 grant provided by the Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of Friends to a group of retirees living in Southeast Pennsylvania. The charge was to “find a better way in retirement.” The result was the founding of Kendal at Longwood, a Continuing Care Retirement Community.
1989
The Kendal Fund (now Kendal Charitable Funds) was incorporated in 1989 as a 501(c)(3) to support the charitable goals and aspirations of the Kendal Corporation, its system of affiliates and the wider world of aging services.
2007
Kendal Charitable Funds approved the creation of the Lloyd Lewis – Promising Innovation Fund to support advances in serving older adults.
2008
Kendal Charitable Funds launched its first campaign in support of the Lloyd Lewis – Promising Innovations fund.
2012
The first Kendal Charitable Funds – Promising Innovations Grant awarded to the University of South Florida in support of the development of an Alzheimer’s screening tool for low-income communities.
2016
Kendal Charitable Funds approved the creation of the People Development Fund in recognition of the retiring CEO/President John Diffey. The program has gone on to support numerous training programs as well as the Leadership Fellows Program that provides professional and personal development training to staff within the Kendal system since 2013.
2017
Kendal Charitable Funds launches Impacting Lives…Engaging Communities.
Innovation and Grant Updates
Michigan LGBTQ Aging Project
Kendal Charitable Funds awarded a $25,000 Promising Innovations grant to the Michigan LGBT Aging Project to develop resources and trainers to improve support for caregivers of LGBTQ older adults.
Improve Living Conditions for Native American Older Adults
A grant was awarded to the Red Feather Development Group for a yearlong pilot project to make the homes of older Hopi Tribe adults safer and healthier.
Reduce Isolation & Suicide Among Older Adults
KCF funded an initiative to engage older adults who are at risk for depression, substance abuse and suicide through home visits, support groups, educational programs and referrals.
My Life, My Legacy
Barclay Friends collaborated with its local senior center on a “My Life, My Legacy” storytelling and video project. Paula Wagner, Ph.D., has developed a storytelling interview and video process for older adults.
Delay the Disease™ Fitness Program
A “Delay the Disease” group exercise program is being offered at no cost to Kendal at Granville residents and those in the surrounding community suffering from Parkinson’s disease.
Training for Police
The program provided hands on and proven skills training on specific approaches law enforcement officers can use when interacting with those with dementia or other behavioral illnesses.