September 24, 2025 —It’s been a remarkable few months for Kendal, and I’m feeling energized by the collective spirit and progress I’ve witnessed as we head into the fall.
I recently had the privilege of attending several Kendal System Gatherings across the country. The sense of connection and shared purpose at these events is powerful. It is wonderful to see so many dedicated Kendal teams connecting and inspiring one another to lean into our mission and search for best practices and new ideas to accomplish it.
I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the twenty-one Kendal Leadership Fellows program graduates, representing a remarkable cross-section of talent from across Kendal. The 2024-2025 Kendal Leadership Fellows Program brought together professionals from all Kendal Affiliates, creating a rich learning environment that exemplifies the strength of the Kendal System. The Kendal Leadership Fellows Program continues to embody Kendal’s commitment to and investment in next generation leadership in the field of aging as a national leader.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Annual Report. This year’s Kendal Annual Report, themed “Leading with Purpose,” offers a lens into how the Kendal System honors Quaker values while transforming the narrative around aging. Across Kendal, 2024 demonstrated our continued commitment to this partnership.
Looking ahead, we continue to enhance The Kendal Corporation’s (TKC) team through strategic new hires and departmental initiatives to best support Affiliates and advance our shared mission. We have a lot of work ahead, and it matters who we work with to get it done.
Weare advancing the plan to strategically grow Kendal in ways that benefit the System, while meeting community-based demands and needs for high quality and differentiated aging services and senior living. I am excited about the critical and exhilarating work ahead.
I am also pleased to report that we are moving forward with the Kendal brand refresh. In anticipation of exciting updates and a refreshed brand planned for a system-wide rollout in early 2026, we are hosting a brand lab workshop in October. This is fun and important work to ensure our brand remains relevant and respected, communicating to the world at large who we are, what we do, and why.
We are in dynamic times. Thank you to all who make this journey so worth it. I am continually inspired by what we can achieve together.
-Vassar