A $1 million donation from David Stetson and Linda Stetson will help Episcopal Retirement Services bring its wellness program to more low-income seniors across the region.
The gift – the largest ever from a living donor to ERS’s Affordable Living program – will expand “Well Being,” the nonprofit’s free initiative that helps older adults improve their health, build connections and live with greater purpose. The program offers personalized wellness plans and one-on-one support to seniors in ERS communities.
ERS, based in Cincinnati, operates more than 30 Affordable Living communities in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana, along with three retirement communities and several services such as Meals on Wheels and memory support.
“This is a pivotal moment for ERS and many of the older adults we serve,” said Jimmy Wilson, ERS vice president of affordable living. “Our research-based wellness program was built with heart and designed to help residents age with dignity, live independently and thrive in health and happiness.”
Longtime champions of ERS
The Stetsons have supported Episcopal Retirement Services for more than a decade. It started when Linda’s mother received care at ERS’s Deupree House and Marjorie P. Lee communities in Hyde Park. Linda, then a healthcare executive, later joined the ERS board and served on several committees.
Together with David, the couple has donated more than $1.65 million to support Well Being. Their latest gift will allow ERS to expand staffing and serve more residents in the Cincinnati region, with a goal of reaching all 30-plus ERS communities by 2031.
In a statement, Linda Stetson described her and her husband as feeling blessed to “support something so close to our hearts – helping create safe, welcoming homes where older adults can thrive.”
“Visiting Affordable Living communities and witnessing the joy and renewed sense of purpose in the lives of older adults deeply moved me,” she said. “What started as small acts of giving has grown into an opportunity for us to give back in a bigger and more meaningful way.”
Helping older adults live well
Well Being is built on the belief that every older adult, regardless of income, deserves a chance to thrive. With help from trained staff, residents set their own goals: improving mobility, managing chronic conditions, reconnecting socially or simply finding joy in everyday life.
The initiative is backed by a research partnership with Xavier University’s Center for Population Health and led by program manager Wes Bogard, who joined ERS early last year. Since launching in 2022, Well Being has served hundreds of residents across nearly a dozen ERS communities.
ERS President and CEO Laura Lamb said the Stetsons’ continued support will help set a new national standard for senior wellness.
“I truly believe the Well Being initiative will be far-reaching, elevating wellness for low-income older adults across ERS and beyond,” she said.
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