September 11, 2023 —
Kendal Charitable Funds has supported over 17,000
people with grants to community nonprofits
and Kendal affiliates. While each set of funds has
its distinct purpose and audience, they share a
common vision to positively impact the lives of older
adults in our society.
This year, Kendal Charitable Funds (KCF) awarded
the Promising Innovations Grant for $50,000 to the
Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School in
Washington, D.C. This grant is provided to a nonprofit
for a project that will improve the lives of older
adults through creative, innovative and replicable
strategies or programs.
Academy of Hope’s proposal easily met these
criteria, with funding being used to directly support
its Healthcare Career Pathways program, which
includes Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training
for a 24-month grant period. Through clinical
training and job shadowing opportunities, Academy
of Hope will equip 50 adult learners for healthcare
jobs, specifically in aging services, and is focused on
meeting the needs of adult learners who are seeking
economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their
families. KCF is optimistic that the program has the
potential for replication and will ultimately help
address the shortage of qualified healthcare workers
in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as help others
become more aware of opportunities within the
field of aging services.
Within Kendal, the Affiliate Grant Fund supports
initiatives that impact, engage and enrich older
adults. This year, funds focused on impactful
initiatives that advanced diversity, equity, inclusion
and belonging (DEIB) as it relates to workforce
challenges. Affiliates impressed with their ambitious
grant submissions, including training, employee
retention initiatives, hosting open forums and more.
For example, Kendal at Lexington took a spin
from the popular television show “Shark Tank,”
providing a welcoming environment for staff to
present their innovative ideas in front of a panel of
judges. Three ideas were awarded based on criteria
including representing Kendal values and mission,
addressing workforce challenges, improving a
sense of community and addressing diversity and
inclusion. The competition took place in the fall, and
three winners were selected. The top idea included
purchasing specialized mannequins to help train
new staff on best care practices.
Barclay Friends utilized the Affiliate Funds to
kickstart a community recruitment and retention
program for CNAs. A barrier to completing this
training is out-of-pocket costs and unpaid training
time. By using the funds, Barclay Friends provided
a paid opportunity for candidates to train onsite,
empowering them to take this next step and
ultimately provide a better income and better
financial stability for their families. The program
was hugely successful, creating a pipeline of diverse
CNAs for the organization and providing increased
revenue and future career opportunities for staff.
Creating solutions and implementing projects
that improve the lives of older adults is a shared
responsibility.
Through the support of Kendal
Charitable Funds and The Kendal Corporation
Board of Directors, Kendal staff, annual corporate
partners and other supporters, Kendal Charitable
Funds has distilled this culture of generosity Systemwide.
Thank you to our corporate partners, Warfel
Construction, Johnson Kendal Johnson, Marsh
McLennan Agency, CliftonLarsonAllen and Core BTS,
for your support.