Springwell Receives $3,000 Grant for Memory Box Project

On April 13th, Phil Golden was invited to attend the 196th Session of the Baltimore Annual Conference of Ministers Spouses Widows and Widowers Organization (MSWAWO) Plus Preachers’ Kids Breakfast. At this ceremony, Phil Golden received a check for $3,000 to build and install Memory Boxes for each resident in the Gardens Pavilion. These boxes will display cherished items chosen by the resident and/or family to represent the resident’s rich life experiences. Upon receiving the award Phil commented, “It was really an awesome honor to receive this gift on behalf of Springwell.  The church really did their homework and decided to recognize a provider that they felt approached Alzheimer’s Care in a quality way.  It was incredibly kind to recognize us in such a way."

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This gift will not only personalize our two Memory Care neighborhoods, but help individual residents find their way by utilizing these mementos.”  The MSWAWO Plus PK’s is a support group for families of clergy in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Under the leadership of Bishop Adam Richardson, Jr. and Supervisor Dr. Connie Speights Richardson, the Baltimore group of MSWAWO Plus PK’s  felt a need to do more for the community. Dr. Connie Richardson, being a health care provider, suggested the group focus on various health issues affecting the broader community. In this capacity, the group would not only distribute health related information to churches, but provide financial assistance to a chosen organization. Realizing that many in the congregation were affected by Alzheimer’s Disease, either directly or through family and friends, the group selected that as their focus. As Co-Chairs of the fundraiser, Maurice Ashton, a Springwell employee, and his wife, Reverend Dana Porter Ashton, pastor at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, submitted the names of two organizations as possible recipients of the funds raised.

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Each church in the Baltimore Conference was asked to contribute a set amount toward the fundraiser. However, President Melvin Williams received additional support from Presiding Elder Ernest and Lady Irene Montague and Presiding Elder Cordell and Lady Joan Hunter as they conducted quarterly meetings with churches in their charge. The amount collected was much greater than expected. When MSWAWO Plus PK’s voted on the recipient, Springwell was the overwhelming choice – it would allow for immediate, tangible use of the funds to benefit those suffering from the disease.   Phil knew that Springwell was being considered for the award, but was pleasantly surprised when he received the check for $3,000 to support the Memory Box initiative in the Gardens Pavilion. This was something he wanted to do for the residents, and the funds made it possible to move  forward.