When Linda Stetson was first introduced to ERS, she knew she had found something special. With a background in healthcare, including nursing homes, she recognized that “The (ERS) philosophy was so progressive compared to my earlier experiences in more ‘institutional’ settings.”
It became more personal when her mother needed care, both at Marjorie P. Lee and the Cottages. Feeling aligned with the ERS philosophy, Linda joined the ERS Board of Directors and served on several committees.
“I became a champion of Affordable Living after touring several communities and witnessing first-hand the dramatic improvement in the quality of life experienced by the seniors benefiting from the support, safety, and security of their new homes,” explained Linda.
“My husband David and I feel strongly that the ability to be philanthropic at any level is a blessing. Gifts of time, through volunteer work, are meaningful to those on the receiving end as well as to those who are giving. Our opportunity to financially support causes that are important to us began small. However, we’re now in a position to make more significant impacts through our gifts. We are extremely pleased to be in the position to do so.”
In 2021, the Stetsons challenged Jimmy Wilson, VP of Affordable Living, and his team to think boldly. The team responded with a visionary new model centered on a culture of wellness to empower residents to live longer, healthier, and happier lives. Impressed by this approach, the Stetsons made a major initial gift to launch the Well Being Initiative—a holistic program developed in partnership with Xavier University’s Center for Population Health.
Linda strongly believes, “Encouraging a healthy lifestyle in a community environment is generally not a priority in low-income housing communities. Engaging the whole person in recreational, social, and wellness activities are beneficial for maintaining health and happiness for any age, and seniors are no exception.
The Stetsons closely monitored the progress of the initiative which showed promising results following the pilot phase in 2024 under the direction of Well Being Manager Wes Bogard.
Impressed with the findings and having strong confidence in ERS’ leadership, they made a big decision to invest an additional $1 Million dollars to propel Well Being forward and have included the initiative as a beneficiary of their estate to ensure the program will thrive for years to come.
Click here to learn more about Well Being.
