Special Funds
Unrestricted gifts — donations not earmarked for a particular fund — allow Friends House to be responsive to community needs at any given time. Should you wish to designate your gift toward a particular fund, there are currently three restricted funds you may choose among:
Transportation Fund — we are supportive of our residents’ transportation needs through the use of this fund. It supports the commuter bus equipped with a wheel chair lift and this year we are adding an internal electric tram cart. Up to 6 friends at a time will be driven around our campus to meetings, meals, or visits. For our residents with mobility issues, the electronic cart will mean they are free again to enjoy a more active lifestyle. A Friends House driver will ensure all residents are comfortable and safe, door to door.
The Residents’ Assistance Fund provides direct financial assistance to residents who have outlived their resources. Assistance can be in the form of rental subsidies or a payment for a one-time medical expense, such as the purchase of hearing aids.
The Building Fund provides support for campus redevelopment. Donations to this fund help Friends House to include environmentally friendly features such as solar panels and passive house-level materials in new construction projects while keeping monthly fees affordable. The campus redevelopment project will also expand the number of social and gathering spaces available to residents, ensuring that all residents will have equal access to all amenities. To help offset some of the cost of the common space, we have compiled a list of naming opportunities.
Garden Fund — Residents maintain a two-acre organic garden, working with certified Master Gardeners (resident and non-resident). Within the garden space are several specialty gardens: rose garden, Shakespeare garden, certified butterfly garden, herb garden and an apiary. In addition to the community garden, raised beds and plots are available for individual residents for their own planting. A greenhouse allows year-around gardening. We are currently raising funds for the Garden Fund. The greenhouse is in need of renovations and we are going to create paver paths for easy accessibility for wheelchairs and walkers. Please be generous.
The John Ligon Resident Fitness Fund was established in 2015 to provide funds for the purchase of exercise equipment, as well as coaching and other fitness programs. Named in memory of a beloved member of the community, this fund supports senior health and wellness.
If you have questions about any of the current funds, or about a funding priority not addressed above, please contact Anne Derby at 301-924-7510.
Make a tax-deductible donation to Friends House today!