Thank You to Our Welcome Home Sponsors Dignity Sponsors Walter J. Ramos Daphne Hatsopolous Peter L. & Ellen Zane Peter & Hui Ping Ho Rogerson Dellbrook Construction, LLC Dewey Square Group, LLC Shanti Fry & Jeffrey W. Zinsmeyer Catherine Hogan INSIDE The Hamilton Company Charitable Foundation Dick Holden Sustainer Sponsors John L. Hall, II & Ann T. Hall Richard A. Horsley & Julia A. Taberman Innovative Solutions in Housing and Health Services since 1860 Volume XIII Issue II Fall 2020 Leonard J. & Sara Aronson James S. Hoyte & Norma I. Dinnall Longevity Sponsors Centre Cuts Corporation Industrial Floor Covering, Inc. Nixon Peabody LLP J. Linzee Coolidge Alice J. Isenberg Rogerson’s Virtual Welcome Home Gala Celebrated our Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Fish Family Foundation James Kelly & Sons, Inc. Landscaping Co. BrooklineBank Maura Fitzgerald Kyle Johnson Frontline Heroes and 160 Years of Rogerson Serving Seniors Brit d’Arbeloff Jane T.N. Fogg Nur Kilic Donald & Patricia Hillman Myles Brown & Judy Garber Ann Kurland oogerson’s Virtual Welcome Mr. & Mrs. Edward C. Johnson, III Thomas P. Glynn, III & Marylou Batt Glynn David T. and Susan H. Lawrence Home Gala was live-streamed Bruns & Penny Grayson on YouTube and emceed by Vitality Sponsors Brian Lopez R Mary R. Jeka, Esq. Mark & Lisel Macenka Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, co- Timothy S. & Sarah A. Allen Gary P. Kearney, M.D. & Susan Kearney Nancy E. Marttila hosts of GBH’s Boston Public Radio. Brent & Lena Cappiello Berc The 21st year of Welcome Home, Honorable Paul G. Kirk, Jr. & Gail L. Kirk Douglas McGarrah Lalor & Patricia N. Burdick and the first time ever as a virtual Nancy C. Lincoln & Louise Reddi Ford Milhench Supply Co., Inc. Eugene H. & Meredith P. Clapp event, included a conversation with Mr. & Mrs. David S. Lee Diane Miller Combined Properties, Inc./John M. & Wendy Pereira award honorees Governor Michael Jean* & Kyra Montagu David T. Moy Eric d’Arbeloff & Howard E. Cohen Dukakis and Kitty Dukakis, as well Alan & Cecily O. Morse Ruth Moy Matthew d’Arbeloff & Dr. Claudia Levin as a celebration of Team Rogerson for Guilia Norton Dyan Muller meeting the challenges of the pandemic Cynthia M. Connelly Joseph & Katherine O’Donnell Jim Peyser & Mindy d’Arbeloff and drawing on 160 years of experience The Connors Family Thaleia Shlesinger Frank & Ann Porter in keeping elders safe. The YouTube John E. & L. Adrienne Cupples Samuel Plimpton & Wendy Shattuck Michal Regunberg link remains available to watch at http:// Lloyd C. & Gene D. Dahmen tinyurl.com/rogerson2020 (or search Prio Wealth Emily Rooney East Boston Savings Bank “Rogerson Boston” on YouTube). TEK Building Services, Inc. Stephen Rosenfeld James F. & Donna P. French Kathleen Tucker Robert B Schwartz & Nancy J Hoffman Rogerson’s mission for 160 years Ogden M. & Nina Hunnewell Michael Unger & Susan Kaplan Karen Shaw has been to provide seniors with John Moriarty & Associates, Inc. supportive affordable housing and Audrey Shelto Phil & Beverly Johnston Contributions caring, compassionate assisted living Ronald L. & Mary A. Skates Carl J. Martignetti Jane Adler and memory care. 2020 proved a Merlin Southwick Mulkern Mechanical, Inc. Constance Armstrong year when Rogerson’s expertise and Mr. & Mrs. Richard Spagnuolo Northeastern University Barry Bluestone excellence were needed more than Hundreds of Rogerson’s supporters have watched the Virtual Welcome Home Gala which live-streamed on Donald K. Stern ever. The facts are troubling, COVID YouTube September 30th . The 45-minute program can be watched on any computer or smart device - Samuel O. Thier, M.D. & Paula Thier David Bor -19 disproportionately affected low- visit : http://tinyurl.com/rogerson2020 Catherine V. Brigham Michele Stephenson Karla S. Todd income communities and older adults. Eric Buerger Daniel A. Karen Taylor protect our residents, many with underlying health issues. Affordable housing has Partner Sponsors This pandemic intensified our country’s Robert K. Crabtree & Priscilla Ellis challenges - demonstrating racial the power to create positive change. Boston Private Bank & Trust Company Special Thanks Kristin Demong & Charles Atkins disparities in health outcomes, housing Many dignitaries and leaders sent video greetings. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, CohnReznick AVFX, LLC James R. Dorsey inequality, and the vulnerability of our ABC’s lead anchor and political analyst, George Stephanopoulos, Senator Elizabeth Boston Magazine Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation Matthew E. Fishman elders. Warren, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Secretary of State John Kerry Thomas J. & Diane Dziama Hollister Cahoots, Carol Lasky Kathy Foley We have a model that worked to keep congratulated our honorees and praised Rogerson’s commitment to seniors. HUB International New England, LLC Michael Blanchard Photography Roscoe Giles our residents safe during the pandemic. We are grateful to all who joined us at the Welcome Home Gala on September 30 and Sherry & Alan Leventhal Barbara Quiroga, Event Producer Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center We were able to respond quickly to invite you to watch, share, or revisit this important tribute to Rogerson’s critical work. Penobscot Investment Management Co., Inc. Ellen Hafer *Deceased 1 Florence Street To arrange a tour or for more information, please contact: Boston, MA 02131 Courtney A. Barth, Vice President, Organizational Advancement [email protected] or 617-469-5822 Salute To Rogerson’s Frontline Staff! Adult Day Health Programs Keeping Seniors Safe hhis certainly has been a year like no other. The Rogerson’s Virtual Welcome Home Gala celebrated the hdult day health programs temporarily closed during coronavirus pandemic sweeping across the nation lifesaving work of frontline staff. Many dignitaries sent the lockdown, however, Rogerson staff reorganized and the world making Boston one of the early messages and spoke to their gratitude for Rogerson’s team. A and provided Telehealth services to keep at-risk T seniors and disabled adults connected to nurses and staff hotspots; the fatal COVID-19 most threatening to the elderly This message from Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley was and frail and deeply affecting lower income and minority among several videos from leaders thanking Rogerson’s who provided vital supportive services. Then with equal communities. Rogerson rose to the challenge, providing team for their tremendous work. commitment and precautionary preparation the programs safety for its residents, comfort for families whose loved reopened in August. Participants were happy and grateful “For 160 years Rogerson has been at the leading edge at ones depend on us. The threat of COVID-19 is still present. to return, though many had lost progress in their health, the fight for housing as a human right - working to assure Rogerson’s strong leadership, a dedicated, informed staff, including diminished weight, strength, and the onset of grief our elders and low-income families in and around Boston and the ability to act quickly led to our success at the outset. as family and loved ones were lost to the virus. have the housing and services they deserve. In the face of the Still there remains hard work ahead to keep everyone safe. COVID-19 crisis Rogerson’s properties for older adults, like Rogerson has strategically remodeled the day programs’ Rogerson will continue our 160-year mission to deliver so many of us, faced impressive new challenges. They found interior. The entire program layout has been re-imagined affordable, independent housing where elders can live with themselves at the early epicenter of the pandemic which has to provide maximum social distancing. Furniture has been dignity. disproportionately impacted seniors and communities of repositioned to create small pods of table seating with ample Rogerson’s frontline staff responded quickly and color. The care, compassion and experience of the frontline distance between pods. Our multi-person tables now have cared for our vulnerable seniors throughout the height workers who comprise Rogerson’s staff, and risk their own Plexiglass barriers for safe socialization. While the day of this pandemic. We are incredibly appreciative for the well-being for that of the residents, have helped keep seniors programs were physically closed, Rogerson was able to install commitment of staff and for all they do. Their courage, safe and healthy. Let us take a moment to celebrate these new flooring, thanks to a generous foundation grant. The day health services in a community setting. Special thanks to all compassion, and dedication to our residents’ physical and workers who are and have always been essential. I’m so centers were also re-painted, giving them a bright, refreshed look. Rogerson’s adult day health program supporters including: emotional needs is an example of what it means to be on the grateful for the work they all do every day for some of our For the increased safety of our participants, we are currently Rogerson Team. most vulnerable neighbors in Massachusetts.“ operating the program at reduced capacity, in line with state protocols. All program staff have been trained in COVID-19/ Infection control and utilize appropriate PPE at all times. We gratefully acknowledge Rafi Nova for donating cloth masks for our participants. Our Activity Coordinators have implemented alternative and modified activity programming to ensure participant safety. Our participants have begun to flourish again surrounded by caring staff providing supportive Recognizing Extraordinary Philanthropy We are grateful to these funders for their special support during the COVID-19 crisis: Caroline Weld Fuller Trust Residents, participants, family members, and staff have joined the ranks of local Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley was among the many public officials and leaders leaders in praising Rogerson’s frontline workers for their incredible who have praised Rogerson’s response to COVID-19 and thanked the frontline response to the pandemic. workers for their commitment to keeping seniors safe..