In 1993 the Board of Directors at Orlando Lutheran Towers incorporated a separate entity known as the Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide partial financial assistance to members of our Life Care Community, who are unable to meet their financial obligations.

Together the Foundation and Orlando Lutheran Towers strive to ensure that residents live their best life regardless of their financial situation. Since 1993, the primary purpose of the Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation has been to make a difference in the lives of all our residents by encouraging charitable giving through a variety of special events and gift planning programs. We strive to create the willingness, as well as the means to sustain the many life enhancing programs and services our residents have come to rely upon.

The Foundation has an independent Board of Directors with two Directors from the Orlando Lutheran Towers Board, two members from the Resident Council and one person from the business community.

The following people are currently on the Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation Board: General William E. Carlson, President; Robert Buckner, Secretary/Treasurer; William L. Johnson, Director; Frank Moletteire, Director; Jean Asher, Director. The Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation is a 501 (C) (3) Corporation.

Donations

A gift to the Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation can significantly reduce your income taxes, while providing meaningful support for us and our residents so they can live life with peace and security.

At Orlando Lutheran Towers we consider our residents “life’s precious gems.” Donations to the Foundation can be in the form of cash, securities, property, tangible personal property or real estate. The following are three different funds you can donate to Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation.

Unrestricted Fund Gifts, contributions or bequests to this fund may be given in memory of, or in honor of family or friends, or for special occasions such as anniversaries or birthdays.
Restricted Funds This fund is comprised of donations given to the Foundation for an expressed specific intent regarding the purpose for which the funds are used. All donations to this fund require written specifications for the use of the donations.
General Endowment Fund This fund is for donors who desire to restrict a donation for disbursement of interest earned on investment only. The use of this fund shall be limited to providing help for current or future residents who may be in need of financial assistance.

The Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation contributors are residents, families and others. Per the By-Laws the Foundation had to build up funds in order to begin assisting residents. Since January 1, 2006 the Foundation has assisted fourteen residents and is currently averaging $13,769 per month assisting residents with room, board and other essential needs.
Some examples of the aid that the Foundation offers include:

Hearing aids / Eye Glasses Home health care Shingles Vaccine For All Residents Groceries

Prescription drug costs Durable medical equipment (e.g., wheelchairs) Basic living expenses Senior living facilities

As of June 30, 2007 the Foundation’s net assets are $1,653,860. The funds are invested and managed by Wachovia Bank and Securities Research located in Winter Park. The by-laws dictate how to invest the funds. To date the Foundation has bought new porch furniture, four computers/printers for resident computer room, provided computer classes to residents, Shingles Vaccine for Residents, dental care for a HCC resident and sponsors the annual Wellness Center Christmas party. The Foundation does not provide assistance to people outside of Orlando Lutheran Towers.

Future Use of Funds

The Orlando Lutheran Towers Foundation is dedicated to our residents being in good health, empowerment, and enjoying life more. Wellness can encompass physical, intellectual, social, emotional, spiritual, vocational and environmental health. It is a lifelong process of consciously optimizing one’s well-being. At the Wellness Center activities are adapted to residents’ different abilities. The most important outcome of having a Wellness Center is improving residents’ quality of life. Residents participate in our fitness center because it’s a positive place to go. It feels good to be where people are maintaining, not losing, their edge on life.

Our goal at the wellness center is to optimize the physical, mental and spiritual well being of our clients. Increasing physical activity and focusing on prevention helps enhance the overall health and quality of life for our clients. Our programs are designed to assist residents in maintaining a higher level of independence and helps prevent many debilitating conditions common to the elderly population.

The Orlando Lutheran Towers has a HUD Wellness Center Community Help program which provides the following:

•Free educational seminars and health fairs on Arthritis, Osteoporosis, fall prevention, basic life support and pain management.
•Free On Site Exercise Classes
•Discounted transportation to and from local downtown facilities
•Senior discounted massages
•Discounted personal training with discounted membership
•Free morning walking program around Lake Eola
•Free Tia Chi classes with discounted fitness center membership

As Orlando Lutheran Towers grows, and as interest in fitness and wellness grow, we would like to expand our fitness center and purchase additional equipment in order to meet the needs of our elderly residents and other seniors in the community. This new project is not just building more space, its more diverse space that would allow us to enhance resident care and the overall health and quality of life for our residents. We would like our residents/clients to maintain a higher level of independence and help prevent many debilitating conditions common to the elderly population.

Our goal at our Wellness/Fitness Center is to optimize the physical, mental and spiritual well being of our residents and clients. Increasing physical activity and focusing on prevention helps enhance the overall health of our residents. Our goal is to maximize our resident’s ability to be independent and to preserve their dignity as they age.