Why Give?

Contributions from residents, families, and friends of Lebanon Valley Brethren Home play a vital role in meeting the needs of our people.

Some of our elders have lived long and caring lives and now find themselves without the financial resources to pay for the care and housing the Home provides. With the help of our generous supporters we are able to continue our mission of meeting the needs of these residents through our Good Samaritan Fund.

Both our residents and staff also benefit from the generosity of others who recognize specific needs or opportunities within the community. Designated gifts provide the dollars or other resources we have identified through programs like our annual Wish List, Sunday evening entertainment programs by the Auxiliary, or the special projects of our Independent Living community. A recent Capital Campaign raised over $1.5 million in support of our Green House® Project and we continue to identify other specific items that can improve the quality of life and living for our residents, and ease the load of our staff.

We continue to look toward the future as we work with those who choose to honor us with the gift of a portion of their Legacy, remembering the Home through a Planned Gift or within their Will. These gifts are primarily designated to fund an endowment that will continue o grow and help meet our benevolent needs in the future.

Every gift Lebanon Valley Brethren Home receives- whatever its size- makes a difference. Many small gifts add up to substantial contributions, allowing the Home to touch more lives, one by one.

Lebanon Valley Brethren Home is a 501(c)3 non-profit facility licensed in the state of Pennsylvania, whose mission support the role of charitable giving in the lives of residents, families, and friends of the Village.

Ways to Give

There are various ways in which a donor can support Lebanon Valley Brethren Home. The staff of our Development Department stands ready to work with each donor to ensure that a gift made is a rewarding investment for both the donor and the receiver. Please read the following information to make an informed decision or contact us to speak with someone directly about making a contribution.

Outright Gifts

Cash/Check
A gift by cash or check is the most common type of charitable gift received at the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home and may be either designated or allowed to meet the current needs identified by staff.

Benefits: An outright gift can be deducted as a charitable gift while helping support the ministry of the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home. Each gift is gratefully recognized for tax benefit purposes.

Memorial Gifts: A gift can be given in memory or in honor of someone special. Various forms of direct recognition are available

Stocks/Mutual Funds
Publicity traded stocks or mutual funds are accepted as gifts at Lebanon Valley Brethren Home. You may give a gift of stock or mutual fund shares by mail, hand delivery or through a broker who can transfer the shares electronically. Please contact the Development staff directly so that we can help with the transfer process to ensure that you get the full benefit possible from your gift.

Benefits: The donor can receive a charitable tax deduction and avoid capital gains taxes while helping support the ministry of the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home.

Charitable Gift Annuities
This vehicle allows the donor to make a gift of charity and receive fixed income payments back for the remainder of the donor's lifetime. With the changes in the economy and financial markets, many donors have found the security of fixed income payments to be reassuring. Rates paid are extremely competitive as they are based on the age of the donor(s) at the time the annuity is secured.

Benefits: The donor can receive lifetime income payments and gains tax savings while helping support the ministry of the Home. Funding a Charitable Gift Annuity with a highly appreciated asset can provide even greater benefits through Capita Gains savings.

Charitable Trusts
Charitable remainder trusts and annuity trusts provide income to a beneficiary or beneficiaries for the life or for a term of years. Trusts can be funded through a variety of assets, and are accepted as gifts at Lebanon Valley Brethren Home. They are not as common as Charitable Gift Annuities but can provide specific tax or other benefits under specific circumstances.

Bequests:
Gifts through bequests can be given as a designated amount or as a percentage of the estate. A bequest can be made through a trust or a will and the donor can stipulate whether the bequest is for general support or for a specific purpose. Specific bequest language is available through the staff of the Development Department. A complete bequest re-write may not be necessary to designate charitable gifts; a simple codicil can be written to direct your charitable intent.

Life Insurance
For a life insurance policy to be tax deductible, Lebanon Valley Brethren Home must be the owner and beneficiary of the policy. Policies may be new, have premiums remaining to be paid, or be a fully paid policy that you wish to have owned for years. If premiums remain to be paid on a policy for which Lebanon Valley Brethren Home is the owner and beneficiary, the payment will be a deductible contribution. The Home could also be named as the final beneficiary of a policy. This provision will not provide any current tax advantages, but at the insured's death will qualify for a federal estate tax charitable deduction.

Benefit: The tax deductions are given for premiums paid by the donor while helping support the ministry of the Home.

Specific Designation

Good Samaritan Fund
This fund supports the current benevolent needs of the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home. Gifts to the Good Samaritan Fund are used in the year in which they are received to help provide assistance for those residents of the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home who find themselves unable to pay the full cost of their care.

Good Samaritan Endowment Fund
In addition to funds received from Planned Gifts, Lebanon Valley Brethren Home accepts contributions specifically designated to our Good Samaritan Endowment. Dollars in this fund are invested by the Home with only a percentage of the earned income being used annually to support the benevolent care needs of residents. The principal of this fund remains intact, assuring future generations have the ability to provide benevolent care on a perpetual basis. Established early in the life of the Home, this wonderful tradition continues today, thanks to the many individuals and organizations that have either contributed directly or provided the ultimate remembrance through their Will or another Planned Gift.

Support Events
Every fall, as part of our Annual Appeal, the Home identifies a list of items and their costs that would benefit residents and staff but could not be included in the annual budget. Items range from a few dollars to provide a magazine subscription or craft items to thousands of dollars to purchase a major piece of equipment. This opportunity provides the donor with the direct knowledge of the need and the benefit received that may not be available through other gifts. The purchase of many Wish List items also provides the opportunity to provide a recognition gift.

Support Events

Good Samaritan Banquet (second tuesday of each October)
Mark your calendars each year for the Good Samaritan Banquet held at the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home. Unique entertainment and great fellowship are offered each year as we celebrate the generosity of so many that continue to support this event each year. Tickets for the full course dinner & evening are $100 per person or Challenge tickets equal the $100+ the current year of the event.

For tickets, please contact the Lebanon Valley Brethren Home Development Office at (717) 838-5406, ext. 3058. Seating is limited. If you have questions, or would like information on being a Table Sponsor or Table Host, please feel free to contact us.

Planting Seeds for a Better Tommorow
Planting Seeds is an image that is synonymous with the rich farming heritage of the Lebanon Valley. It is generally not associated with senior healthcare and living. Our Ministry, however, is all about growing lives; changing the lives of seniors for the better. It is more than just providing a place to live and excellent care; it is the quality of that living – adding life to the years – that makes all the difference.

We sincerely welcome and appreciate your gifts throughout the year through the various means identified. Each fall, however, we make a special appeal as we recognize the bounty of God’s harvest and the blessings He has poured out on our lives.

Cathy Snell Memorial Golf Tournament
Cathy Snell was a former administrator of the Home who passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was instrumental in starting a golf tournament at the Home and it only seemed fitting to name the annual tournament in her honor and memory. Proceeds from this fun oriented event benefits our Good Samaritan Fund. It is played each September.

In addition to the above Support Events, Lebanon Valley Brethren Home participates in the following:

Mother's Day & Father's Day Tribute (April)
Good Samaritan Banquet (October)
Annual Barbecue & Auction (July)
Annual Golf Tournament (September)
Annual Appeal (October)
Various Seminars & Special Events