Homeland’s 155th Anniversary Celebration Honoring Betty Hungerford
Join Us for An Event Like No Other

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An anniversary like no other honoring a woman like no other calls for a celebration like no other. Homeland Center will celebrate its 155th anniversary of serving central Pennsylvania, and pay tribute to Betty Hungerford on Sunday, May 15, 2022, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Hilton Harrisburg. This event, produced in grand, theatrical style will be one for the history books.

For two decades Betty Hungerford has served as the director of development for Homeland Center. Homeland is a private, nonprofit retirement community in Harrisburg. To know Betty is to know Homeland for she is a steadfast champion of the organization. This year Betty will celebrate her 90th birthday. Betty’s birthday, coupled with the historic service of Homeland Center, makes it the perfect time to honor two cherished treasures in our region.

Tom Hostetter, Betty’s longtime friend, is the artistic director and guest writer of the event. Tom will bring his legendary creativity to the occasion to create a unique and magical night for attendees. Tom is well known for his tenure as artistic director of Theatre Harrisburg where he worked for 28 years.

“We are incorporating live performances and video interviews to capture Betty’s influence in our lives,” Tom says. “Every aspect will feature part of Betty’s history.”

As a passionate supporter of the arts, music will help tell Betty’s story. The night will include performances of “Till There Was You,” from the Broadway musical The Music Man along with “I Am What I Am,” which is a key thematic musical moment from La Cage aux Folles. Both pieces are sentimental favorites for Betty. The Music Man was the first show she saw with her beloved, late husband Paul.

In addition, Voices of the Valley, an alumni chorale of Lebanon Valley College, will perform a selection as well as the school’s alma mater. Betty is a graduate of LVC and holds fond memories of her time there.

Between the live performances, video interviews featuring Betty’s children, friends and colleagues will be shared to highlight the mutual love, dedication and respect Betty and Homeland have for each other.

For Tom, producing this milestone event is an opportunity to express his admiration for Betty and her unprecedented career with Homeland.

“It is an honor to pay tribute to Betty,” Tom says. “I am grateful for her friendship and all she has done to make our community a better place.”

Homeland was founded in 1867 as the “Home for the Friendless,” to serve families impacted by the devastation of the Civil War. Today Homeland Center is a personal care home and skilled nursing facility. Homeland also provides hospice, home care and home health services to serve the diverse and changing needs of families throughout central Pennsylvania.

Don’t miss out on this historic event. Opportunities to support Homeland’s 155th Anniversary Celebration Honoring Betty Hungerford are now available at homelandanniversary.org, or by calling (717) 221-7885. Proceeds will benefit Homeland’s benevolent care programs, which provides financial assistance for individuals in need of care.

 

Poster credits: The Music Man | David Klein (American artist) | Theatre posters of the United States, 1957

From Candy Striper to CNA: Meet Teena Mowery

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teena mowery, cna

Employee Spotlight

At 12 years-old Teena Mowery from Shippensburg learned she loved to help others while working as a candy striper at a local hospital. This experience led Teena to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) when she was only 16. Today she proudly works as a CNA for Homeland HomeCare, which has provided a continuum of care for countless clients and their families since its origination six years ago.

Over the past year Teena has worked solely with one client with Parkinson’s disease who resides near Hershey. Through her extended time with the client and his family, she has formed a strong and trusted bond.

“I look forward to seeing him,” Teena says. “I know I can make his day better because he has 100 percent of my time and focus.”

CNAs play a critical role on the HomeCare team as they are trained to notice changes in a client’s health condition, which a caregiver may not recognize. This attention to detail along with support of day-to-day activities provides safety and security for individuals in their care.

During an average day, Teena assists her client with bathing, dressing, feeding and light housekeeping tasks. Her extended time with one client has helped Teena develop a routine, which provides comfort to her client and his wife who also serves as a caregiver.

Recently, Teena helped her client enjoy dinner at a restaurant with his wife and family. While his speech is limited, he shared a touching moment with her.

“He said I love you,” Teena shares. “I know his words meant he is grateful for my support.”

Homeland’s HomeCare services can help improve a client’s quality of life while living safely in his/her home. HomeCare also benefits the primary caregiver who may be unable to perform the daily tasks required to help his/her loved one. This support also gives caregivers a brief respite from the emotional pressures of caring for a loved one.

While many of us can learn the skills needed to work as a CNA, the compassion and empathy for others cannot be taught. This comes from the heart, making the profession a labor of love.

“My clients and coworkers are extended family members,” Teena adds. “I love what I do.”

For more information on Homeland HomeCare call 717-221-7892.

Wisdom and Knowledge

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This article is re-posted with permission. We thank Gabrielle Elise Jimenez, hospice nurse, end-of-life doula, and conscious dying educator, for sharing her experiences at thehospiceheart.net blog.

elderly man and woman holding handsI saw a quote today, “when the elderly die, a library is lost and volumes of wisdom and knowledge are gone.” This got me thinking about how much wisdom and knowledge the elderly have, and how important I think it is that we sit down with them and let them share.

I sit with patients almost every day, most of which who are over 80, the oldest being 107. The stories I hear, their opinions about the world today, and so many thoughts about love and relationships… I have received the very best advice about that!!!

I was sitting at the bedside of a man who was dying, with his wife of 62 years. That is a really long time (all of my relationships together do not add up to that) and I find it truly beautiful when I see a love that has lasted that long. I always ask “how did you meet,” and “what is the secret to making a relationship last?” I love the stories about how they met, their courtship, their struggles and their strengths… I could listen for hours. And the advice is usually pretty much the same; you have to have trust, communication and deep friendship… without that you cannot possibly survive.

If you are blessed to still have grandparents or parents, sit down with them, talk to them, listen to them… you might be surprised at how much sense they make relative to life, and love. If you have small children, encourage them to do the same. And if you happen to have a little extra time on your hands, look into volunteering… it will be so good for your heart and soul… and imagine what it might do for the person sitting next to you!!!

Grab hold of those volumes of wisdom and knowledge so their stories are not lost… help pass them along so their legacy is never left behind.

Betty Hungerford: A Beloved and Revered Community Treasure

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By Janice Black:

Historically, women have been agents of change through the donation of their time and passion. Over the past several decades, women have moved into the forefront of social transformation by galvanizing their philanthropic power. With each step into a leadership role, women have inspired others to join them. For our region, the result is a powerful network of strong female leaders committed to making our community a better place to live.

betty hungerford, director of developmentWhen I think of the many women in south central Pennsylvania who have dedicated their lives to social change, I think of my friend and colleague Betty Hungerford.

Ask Betty to describe herself and she will say, “I am who I am,” which is the theme song from La Cage Aux Folles, one of Betty’s favorite Broadway musicals. Ask that same question to community and business leaders, as well as anyone who has ever turned to her in need, and they will tell you she is one of the greatest of the Greatest Generation.

Betty has been a professional in the field of development and public relations for more than 35 years. Since 2000, she has served as the director of development for Homeland Center, which celebrates its 155 anniversary next year. Homeland Center, a private, nonprofit retirement community in Harrisburg, is part of the City’s deep and rich history of loving and serving thy neighbor. To know Betty is to know Homeland for she is a steadfast champion of the organization.

For Betty, there is little separation between work and home life, for she loves each fiercely and finds true joy and purpose in her work.

“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something,” Betty likes to say.

Betty’s “something” has been to change the charitable giving landscape to advance the causes she is most passionate about. She has secured financial and community resources to support the work of Homeland Center and its robust benevolent fund to help those in need.

Betty is a decorated alumna of Lebanon Valley College, receiving an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in 2009. She is the recipient of countless recognitions and honors, most notably the Karen Snider Women in Philanthropy Award in 2017. Like Betty, Karen was a tireless advocate for our community’s most vulnerable residents.

I believe Betty’s servant leadership is second to none, and I find seeing her in action inspirational. As a longtime member and past president of the Rotary Club of Harrisburg, Betty’s entrance at a luncheon meeting is an event. She is greeted at the door and accompanied to her seat by friends and colleagues who want just a minute of their revered “Queen B’s” time. The conversations are often around the work of shared projects, expressions of gratitude for an act of kindness Betty has bestowed.

Whatever the topic of conversation, individuals of all ages and professions are drawn to Betty because of what we might learn from her. We all want to know how to stay passionate about community causes when the issues can be daunting and overwhelming.

From my perspective, Betty has found the recipe for continually reinvigorating herself by surrounding herself with a network of family and friends who mirror her spirit. She has created her own personal community of caring, which is one of the wisest lessons I’ve learned through my friendship with Betty. Surround yourself with those who believe we can all do good work and together we will. When one of us falls, and we all do, the others pick us up to continue our path forward and together we cross the finish line.

Anniversaries, like that of Homeland Center, are ultimately about the people who have kept the organization vibrant and strong. I cannot imagine Homeland Center without Betty or Betty without Homeland. Betty has been a magnet for donors, volunteers and community supporters to connect with the organization. Together, they have enriched countless lives.

To Homeland Center, congratulations on your upcoming 155th anniversary and to Betty Hungerford, you are an inspiration to all of us. Thank you for your leadership.

Janice Black is the President & CEO of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (www.tfec.org), which connects donors with nonprofits helping to address the needs in Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Perry and Lebanon counties as well as Northern York.