Foundation
Our Mission Expands Thanks to Generous Donors
Since its founding, Genacross Lutheran Services has continued to expand to meet the needs of people in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Today, Genacross annually serves approximately 3,500 people of all ages and supports various community programs that are in keeping with our mission of service. But none of this would be possible without the generous support of some 2,500 donors who come alongside us to share in our mission.
That’s where the Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation comes in. The Foundation is responsible for helping donors who would like to join in the Genacross mission — whether through a single, one-time gift; a recurring monthly gift; or a planned estate gift. The Foundation ensures that all gifts are used for their intended purpose and provide a point of contact for donors who would like to see the difference their gifts have made.
I invite you to consider donating to the mission of Genacross and helping to ensure the continued legacy of superior, compassionate care for which Genacross is known. Thanks for your consideration.
Michael A. George, CFRE
Executive Director
Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation
MiGeorge@Genacross.org
For more information:
People give to Genacross for a variety of reasons and every donor has a story:
Making a Difference in the Lives We Touch
Genacross Lutheran Services provides care and desperately needed services to people of all ages. Often, we are called upon to help in urgent situations for people who do not have the means to provide for themselves. A variety of special funds help us meet these needs.
For more information about any of these options:
In 2021, Genacross Lutheran Services provided $5 million in charitable care and community benefits. Charitable care is defined as the difference between our rates for services and the rates paid by third-party insurers, private pay and governmental agencies, including Medicaid and Medicare. Through charitable care, Genacross subsidizes the cost of uncompensated resident and care recipients’ services. Through community benefits, Genacross provides free or discounted care to the uninsured, underinsured, low-income and indigent care recipients.
On average, 53 percent of skilled nursing beds in Genacross residential communities are occupied by Medicaid recipients. At current rates, reimbursements are approximately $72 per day, per resident less than what it actually cost us to provide care.
While it is the goal of the Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation to cover the substantial cost of charitable care, we are not there yet. To assist with charitable care, some donors choose to designate their donations to the Genacross Charitable Care Annual Fund. This fund has been established for the sole purpose of covering the costs of charitable care.
The Foundation manages designated endowments established by individuals for Family & Youth Services program needs. Each year, a percentage of the annual endowment earnings is made available for use. These distributions are used for services such as educational and living expenses for individuals who continue to receive services beyond the state-mandated age limit, tutoring costs for individuals needing extra assistance, and capital expenditure needs for the facilities.
In addition, the Foundation dedicates its annual Christmas Appeal for Family & Youth Services to pay for gifts for each resident. Artwork for the Appeal is created by Family & Youth Services residents, displaying their talents on the front of the Appeal card. Each year, generous donors help to ensure that each resident receives gifts to help them enjoy the Christmas season.
In 2004, a staff member lost her son in a tragic accident. Genacross staff members donated funds for funeral costs. The staff person who received these funds said, “I guess I never knew the kind of people I work with until this unfortunate tragedy hit our family. Thank you. This gift helped us to pay for funeral expenses we did not have the money for.”
Following that initial need, the Foundation established a Staff Benevolence Special Fund. This fund provides financial assistance to staff to assist in covering the costs of immediate financial needs following an unforeseen emergency, including fire, flood, tornado or other natural disaster; serious medical emergencies requiring hospitalization; accidental or sudden death; or victimization through a crime or act of war or terrorism.
Since that original tragic loss in 2004, the Staff Benevolence Fund has been able to provide assistance for other staff members through financial grants. These grants are funded through contributions given specifically to this fund and through an endowment established by David and Pam Roberts. To date, $23,538 has been given to employees who have experienced catastrophic losses.
Staff members who have received this assistance have said:
“It is with great appreciation that I express my thanks to you after our family’s loss. The support and help shown to us have been overwhelming. I would like to thank all who give so that employees like me can have the help when they need it.”
“Our home was lost in a fire. Everything was gone. We had nothing, and you helped us put together the pieces that helped us put our life back in order.”
Community Outreach to Serve Our Neighbors
At Genacross Lutheran Services, our mission to serve is not limited to those people who walk through our doors. We actively reach out to the local communities in which we operate to engage with our neighbors, build relationships, and provide assistance in a variety of ways. Following are just a few examples, including ways you, too, can share in our mission.
If your company, organization, school or church would like to partner with Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation, please contact Mike George at MiGeorge@Genacross.org. All opportunities are evaluated based upon the mission of Genacross Lutheran Services.
For more information about any of these options:
Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation partners with area schools to provide opportunities for students to serve in many of our communities. These programs not only benefit Genacross residents but also provide ways for students to engage with people of various generations, build self-esteem, and live out their faith by serving others.
Thanks to a generous gift from Lawrence and Adele Youngbauer, the Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation is able to annually award scholarships to four students who will be continuing their educations in the fields of human services, medicine, ministry or education. One senior from each of the following schools, located in areas where the Genacross Lutheran Services ministry has a presence, will be awarded a scholarship: Anthony Wayne, Clay and Liberty Center high schools and Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School & Academy. Interested students should contact their school guidance counselors for more information.
Types of Funds to Meet Your Goals
There are many ways to join Genacross Lutheran Services in our ministry of service. The options outlined on this page are designed to help you meet your charitable goals as well as structure your donation in a way that best suits your personal situation.
For more information about any of these options:
Unrestricted gifts are those that are made to the General Fund or “where most needed.” These gifts can be used for items and programs as needed by the ministries of Genacross Lutheran Services. Dollars are disbursed from this fund with the approval of the Genacross Board of Directors.
Donors may choose to give to one or more Genacross Special Purpose Funds. These funds provide financial support for specific programs or needs as designated by the donor. Following are the Special Funds currently maintained by Genacross:
Resident Assistance Fund
This fund supports low-income Genacross housing residents and community-based clients who have special, immediate financial needs. These needs include assistance with uninsured major medical expenses, food or other basic necessities, such as rent and utility bills.
Resident Scholarship Fund
This fund helps to support the continuing education needs of residents who want to attend workshops, seminars or other formal courses on-site or at local organizations, community colleges or universities. Residents who are interested in such funding should contact the Foundation office.
Staff Benevolence Fund
This fund assists Genacross Lutheran Services staff and immediate family members to cover some of the unexpected financial needs associated with emergencies, such as loss from sudden catastrophic events including fire, flood or other natural disaster, or the accidental or sudden death of an immediate family member.
Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation supports many special funds. For a full list, contact the Foundation office at 419.861.4964.
Donors may choose to designate that their gift be added to a special purpose endowment fund. Currently, the following endowment funds are available for donor-designated contributions:
Bunge Scholarship Endowment
This fund provides scholarships to Genacross Family & Youth residents who are high school seniors and desire to pursue higher education. This scholarship was named for Arnold F. Bunge Sr., who lived in the Lutheran Orphans’ Home from 1901-19 and later became an attorney.
David and Mary Coon Endowment
This endowed fund was established to fund memory care programs at the Genacross Lutheran Services-Wolf Creek Campus.
Celia and Jim Findlay Youth Endowment
This fund was established to fund tutoring support to youth involved in the Genacross Family & Youth Services program who have special learning needs.
Ronald and Mary Lou Gabel Memory Care Endowment
This fund was established by loyal donors to support memory care-related ministry programs.
Eric and Cynthia Johnson Family Endowment for Youth
This fund will be used to support any client served or specific program operated or facilitated by Genacross Family & Youth Services, with preference being given to program locations operated on the east side of Toledo.
Carl W. Klein Jr. Scholarship Endowment
This fund was established by John and Gretchen Grigsby to honor Mrs. Grigsby’s late father, Carl W. Klein Jr. Its purpose is to provide financial assistance to employees who wish to develop their job-related knowledge and skills through an accredited institution.
Staff Benevolence Endowment
Sponsored by David and Pamela Roberts, the proceeds of this fund are directed to be used by Genacross employees who have suffered financial hardship as a result of catastrophic loss.
R.A. & F.D. Stranahan Endowment for Youth
In 1990, The Stranahan Foundation provided a $1 million gift paid over five years at $200,000 per year. The endowment was originally gifted with the primary objective of funding capital needs of the Genacross Family & Youth ministry.
Trilogy of Faith Endowment - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Fund
This endowment fund was established by a generous donor to support any client served or specific program needs to benefit Genacross ministries on the east side of Toledo/Oregon.
Lawrence and Adele Youngbauer Endowment
This fund supports four annual scholarships to high school students preparing for social service careers (social work, education, ministry, health care, etc.). Through an agreement with the donor family, the annual awards are presented to students at four specific high schools, which are located in areas where the Genacross Lutheran Services ministry has a presence. The schools where scholarships are awarded include Anthony Wayne, Clay and Liberty Center high schools and Cardinal Stritch Catholic High School & Academy.
Youth Assistance Endowment
The purpose of this fund is to help youth remain in Family & Youth Services care when expenses and/or shortfalls of payments threaten their removal from care.
Restricted gifts are those designated for the benefit of a specific ministry or service. Donations made to Genacross Lutheran Services are directed in full to the ministry — or ministries — you choose. All overhead costs associated with fundraising are covered by the Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation so that no part of your gift is used for administrative services.
Gifts can be made to any Genacross ministry. In addition, you may stipulate that your gift be used for a specific purpose. For example, you may make a gift to the Genacross Lutheran Services-Wolf Creek Campus and also earmark it “to be used for the residents’ social hour.”
One of the easiest ways to help Genacross Lutheran Services is through a gift in your will or estate plan.* By doing so, you become a member of our Johannes Doerfler Society. This group of donors is named after the organization’s founder, whose vision of helping others and doing God’s work has lived on for over 160 years.
Genacross gives away over $5 million each year for those who cannot afford the cost of care, and we have never turned out anyone due to the inability to pay. By making a provision in your will, you can join others in making sure that Rev. Doerfler’s vision continues to meet the needs of today’s — and tomorrow’s — residents and care recipients.
Leaving a legacy is as easy as 1, 2, 3:
1. Name Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation as recipient of a bequest in your will.
Bequests can be a flat dollar amount or a percentage of your estate. They can be designated for the ministry or program of your choice, or they can be undesignated for Genacross to use where most needed. The Foundation staff can review the available funds with you at any time. The following information must be included with your bequest:
- Legal name of the organization: LHS Foundation, Inc. dba Genacross Lutheran Services Foundation, Inc.
- Organization address: 2021 N. McCord Rd, Toledo, OH 43615
- Tax ID number of the organization: 34-1678593
2. Let the Foundation know you have made a provision in your will.
Fill out our Legacy Reply Form and the Foundation will list you as a member of the Johannes Doerfler Society. You will also be invited to special informational sessions to learn about what Genacross is doing to help those in need. Want to remain anonymous? Not a problem, just let us know and your name will not be published.
3. Rest better knowing your philanthropic wishes will be honored.
The job of the Foundation’s staff is to ensure donor intent is honored in perpetuity. We will monitor your gift funds to be sure they are used for your specified purpose.
*Please consult an attorney or financial advisor to be sure this program fits your needs.
