November 2024
Honoring Veterans, with MVH
At Michigan Veteran Homes, we're fortunate to honor and serve America's veterans 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Nonetheless, every November, the Veterans Day season brings a special time of year to our Homes. At MVH, you might find ceremonies with distinguished guests offering their reflections and gratitude, or school children singing songs. You might find crafting activities or social hours with snacks, all generously provided by our communities of supporters. You'll find smiles, and probably tears. Whatever you find at MVH, it will include special people sharing their gratitude for and with our veterans.
Some things change annually, and new traditions are started, while old ones are left behind. What remains the same, however, is our important mission of caring for those men and women who bore the burden service for our nation, and we're grateful for our communities and partners that support of our members and our mission.
We're grateful to serve those who've served us, and we're fortunate to have so many supporters. If you're looking to give, get involved, or otherwise support MVH and its members this season, reach out. We're changing veteran lives for the better. Join us.
For those who already involved in supporting our members' lives: thank you.
We hope you all have a wonderful Veterans Day.
Not sure how to honor those who've served, or looking for a unique way to impact? Join Michigan Veteran Homes at Grand Rapids on Saturday morning, November 9th, for the annual 'Veterans Day 5.' The annual event offers options for a .5-Mile Remembrance Walk/Roll, a 5k, or a 5-Mile run, and concludes with a pancake breakfast at the Veterans Home. In early, and out before lunch, the event - inclusive of people of all abilities - offers a unique and fun way to get out, exercise, enjoy community and camaraderie, and honor those who've worn the uniform.
Register at the link below. Can't join us? Consider donating, as all proceeds from the event are deposited in the Home's Charitable Support Fund, supporting life-enriching experiences and opportunities for our vets.
Veterans Day 5 (runsignup.com)
When people and organizations get close to Michigan Veteran Homes, its mission, and its members, they quickly see and feel the impact being made on veterans' lives. And quite often, it's an impact they want to stay close with, be a part of, and positively impact veterans' lives. That impact and partnership started decades ago for Ishpeming resident Lois Westman. Lois has been volunteering with MVH D.J. Jacobetti in Marquette for more than twenty years, where - amongst other things - she helps plan, sponsor, and carry out special events and activities at the Jacobetti, and treats members and staff to her wonderful singing and musical talents on multiple different instruments. Lois' selflessness, presence, and service truly makes MVH D.J. Jacobetti a better place for those who work there, and those veterans who call it their home. She's a champion for other causes as well. For example, she's raised more than $32,000 for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life Walk on a team with her sister. And those are just a few of her endeavors of impact.
MVH is more than thrilled to share that Lois was recently selected as a recipient of the 2024 Governor's Service Awards. She's one of just 38 Michiganders to be honored with the prestigious awards, that will be presented at the Governor's Service Awards ceremony on November 14th at the Detroit Opera House. The awards have been presented annually since 1994, and recognize Michiganders for their commitment to volunteerism, service, and philanthropy.
MVH is proud to have Lois as a supporter of our mission and our members, grateful for her well-deserved recognition of her decades of selfless generosity, and inspired by who she is and how she lives her life.
Thank you, Lois, for all you've done - and all you continue to do for our veterans.
Every season provides differing opportunities to impact the quality of life of MVH veterans. Halloween at each MVH location brings unique fun, from social events, to haunted houses, to trick-or-treating: it's a fun time of year.
"One of the most enjoyable things for our veterans is being able to connect them with the younger generation," said MVH at Grand Rapids Administrator Carly MacDonald. "When these kids come into the home, they think they're just trick-or-treating - and they are - but it's so much more. They're learning about service and the importance of caring for our veterans. And our veterans get to see the smiles and laughter and costumes of youth in the community. It's special. The smiles we see from our veterans - and the trick-or-treaters - lights up our community."
Halloween was, again, a great time of year at MVH. We're humbled by the generous support we receive for our mission and our members, and are grateful for the impact that support has on veteran quality of life.
Generosity, in many forms, continues to impact veteran lives at MVH at Chesterfield Township (MVHCT). While the Home has established itself as a provider of exceptional care and quality of life for veterans needing nursing home-level care and services, monetary giving continues to rise, allowing the Home to grow and expand the quality-of-life initiatives and programming it is able to offer to its members. The Home does more for veterans, thanks to private gifts.
For example, MVHCT and their Volunteer & Donations Coordinator, Maxine Butler, recently partnered with Marie Gomez of the American Legion Auxiliary, Dept. of Michigan. Marie's support helped secure a gift of more than $12,000 from the Auxiliary that the Home used to purchase a Tovertafel, and two 'Hug by Laugh' sensory products. The Tovertafel was developed in the Netherlands and is Dutch for "Magic Table." It is a system that combines a projector, infrared sensors, and specialized software to transform any surface into an interactive area for gaming and activities. The Tovertafel is an award-winning dementia care innovation system that supports social, physical, and cognitive engagement.
Indeed, it's private giving and generosity that allows MVH to do more for veterans and their loved ones. If you or your organization seeks to make a positive impact in veteran lives - in later-in-life and end-of-life care - contact us at dmva-MVHgiving@michigan.gov. We'll strive to collaborate and put your generosity to work for the lives of Michigan veterans.
In late October, our friends at Grand Valley State University's School of Public, Nonprofit, and Health Administration & Hospitality and Tourism Management joined staff of MVH at Grand Rapids (MVHGR) for a 'Day of Service' on the historic MVHGR campus. Dozens of staff, faculty, alumni, and students generously gave their time and energy volunteering to conduct a number of activities across MVHGR's grounds.
Arriving in the morning, the group was treated to a tour of the Veterans Home, and enjoyed coffee and donuts. When appropriately caffeinated - and following a tour of the new(er) facility - everyone got to work landscaping, conducting fall clean-up, cleaning headstones, and decorating for a forthcoming Halloween event at the Home. In addition to the generous giving of their time, GVSU also provided lunch for all involved, and by the end of the day it became clear that impact was made, and new friendships were forged.
MVH provides exceptional care and quality of life to veterans, but to provide the highest level of care and quality of life, it truly takes a village: a community. At each of our locations, MVH is fortunate to have many community partners that enhance the lives our members and further the mission of our organization. Our friends at GVSU are certainly one of those impactful partners. Thanks, Lakers! We're incredibly grateful for their day of service, the impact on our veterans, and for the new friendships. The best is - always - yet to come.
The annual 'Vegas Days' at MVH D.J. Jacobetti was - again - a resounding success this October. Our friends from Ojibwa Casinos generously give their time every year to run the 'High Roller' tables, while our Jacobetti Veterans Facility Coordinator (VFC) friends again sponsored the event.
Some hands were won, and some lost, though every veteran walked away a winner - with cash, smiles, and laughter. This type of thing only happens because we're incredibly fortunate to have community members and organizations that want to make a difference in the lives of our veterans. A special 'thank you' to Jess and Kurt from Ojibwa Casinos, the Jacobetti VFC, and all involved that made this year a success.
And to all our supporters: THANK YOU for making the lives of our veterans better.
Donations to Michigan Veteran Homes are tax-deductible under 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Michigan Veteran Homes are making a difference in the lives of Michigan veterans and their loved ones. Join us.
Want to learn more about participating in the representative democracy our veterans stood to protect? Visit the Michigan Voter Information Center.
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