Press Releases

 

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Tim Johnson Elected to VANHA Board

Tim Johnson, President and CEO of Covenant Woods Continuing Care Retirement Community, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of The Virginia Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging (VANHA).  Tim will complete a one year term as a member of the class of 2010, and then stand for re-election to a 3-year term on the 11 member board.

The Virginia Association of Nonprofit Homes for the Aging (VANHA) is a statewide organization of not-for-profit retirement housing facilities, adult care residences, nursing homes, and continuing care retirement communities. Facilities are sponsored by a variety of religious, fraternal, public and private organizations dedicated to providing quality care and services to the elderly.

VANHA was founded in 1973 by nursing home administrators who believed that non- profit homes were unique in their needs and resources and required their own organization. VANHA is proud to have served the State of Virginia elderly for over 30 years. Since it's beginning, over 100 facilities, representing over 15,000 residents, administrators, staff and boards, and over 100 affiliate members have joined VANHA. VANHA has a central office with a full-time president and support staff in Richmond.

Johnson joined Covenant Woods in 2001 and worked with the Board to steer the organizations’ transition from The Richmond Home for Ladies in Richmond’s’ fan to Covenant Woods in Mechanicsville.  He holds and an MBA in Business Administration from University of Dayton and undergraduate degree in Medical Technology (BSMT) from Wright State University in Dayton, OH. A native of Ohio, he is licensed in Nursing Home Administration in both Ohio and Virginia.  He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and the American College of Healthcare Administrators (ACHA). Tim has over thirty-six years of healthcare experience with twenty-five years at the senior executive level.

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$2,500 in Scholarships Awarded

The Board of Director's awarded the, J. Edwin Givens Educational Scholarship to employees, Rebecca Baker and Andrea Fogleman at their June 24 meeting.  In honor of the over 40 years of service to Covenant Woods, the former Richmond Home for Ladies, by  J. Edwin Givens, Covenant Woods raises and distributes scholarship funds to support the continuing education of its employees.  Beginning this year, the J. Edwin Givens Educational Scholarship will be awarded annually to a deserving employee(s) wishing to further their higher education.

Board Development Chair Emily Elmore said of candidates, "The caliber of applicants was impressive and it shows just what wonderful and dedicated employees we have."

Andrea Fogleman graduated from Hanover High School this month and is planning to pursue a degree in Business and English at North Carolina State University.  Andrea has worked in the Dining department since 2006.

Becky Baker attends J. Sargeant Reynolds and is pursuing an A.A.S. degree with the goal of becoming an RN.  Becky works in the Housekeeping department and has been with Covenant Woods since 2002.

In keeping with Covenant Woods commitment to supporting the Hanover community and the nursing field scholarships were also awarded to three students of the Hanover High School Nursing Program that will continue their education at J. Sargeant Reynolds.  The recipients include Taylor Marrin and Katie LaCroix from Lee Davis and Skylar Gallagher from Hanover High.

Each scholarship recipient has been awarded $500 to use towards their educational expenses for a total of $2,500 in scholarships.  Since 2003 Covenant Woods has awarded over $10,000 in scholarships and over $19,000 in tuition reimbursement.

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Covenant Woods Announces 2009-2010 Board of Director Elections

The Board of Directors’ membership for 2009-2010 has been elected for Covenant Woods Continuing Care Retirement Community.  The senior living community in Hanover County has named Leslie A. Shimer as Chairman of the Board, James D. Elliott, Jr. as Vice Chairman, and Carlene M. Bass as Secretary.  Newly elected to the twenty-two member Board, for the three year term are Susan Drumwright, Jack Mitchell, Helen Gales, and J.T. “Jack” Ward.  Mr. Mitchell as Resident Council (RC) President will serve on the Board during his RC term, making this the first time in Covenant Woods 125 year history to have a resident on the Board.

Mrs. Shimer is a graduate of the College of William and Mary with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology.  A graduate from Boston College with a M.A. in counseling and a J.D. degree, Mrs. Shimer worked for several years in private practice concentrating in estate and trust work.  She has also worked for Bank of America and its predecessors for sixteen years in the private bank focusing on estate and trust administration.  Mrs. Shimer is a member and Secretary of Richmond Estate Planning Council; a member of Tuckahoe Presbyterian Church and has served as a moderator of Board of Deacons, and served on the stewardship committee, the endowment committee and on the Sunday school committee. 

Mr. Elliott is a graduate of Virginia Military Institute and an active participant in the Keydet Club.  He is an elder at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where he has been a member since childhood.  Mr. Elliott has served on many key committees of the church, including those responsible for stewardship, worship and a capital funds campaign; he also has served on the church’s foundation board.  Jim began a career in the financial services industry with the Bank of Virginia in 1986.  Currently, he is a bond specialist with BB & T Capital Markets in Richmond.  He has assisted in fund raising for the Steward School and been a participant in Boy Scouts Council and Indian Guides Board.  An avid hunter, Jim serves on the Board of the Virginia Wildlife Foundation.

Mrs. Bass is a graduate of Mary Washington College with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology.  She is a lifelong resident of Ashland and a retired Hanover County Public School teacher.  Mrs. Bass has volunteered for many years in Ashland and Hanover County with groups such as Ashland Junior Women’s Club, Hanover Arts & Activities Center, Hanover Mental Health Association, and Randolph-Macon College.  She is a long time active member of the Duncan Memorial United Methodist Church serving in many capacities, including Chairman of the Administrative Board, and is currently, a trustee of the church.

Mrs. Drumwright is a member of the Third Presbyterian Church and a graduate of Union Theological Seminary – Presbyterian School of Christian Education where she received a Masters Degree. She is also a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a Masters Degree in Social Work.  Her undergraduate Bachelors of Science degree was obtained from James Madison University.  Mrs. Drumwright has been the Director of Children’s Ministry, Third Presbyterian Church; worked with the Richmond City Department of Social Services; and was a case worker with the Prince William Department of Social Services.

Ms. Gales received her MSA in administration with a minor in health care concentration from Central Michigan University, her BSPA in professional arts from St. Joseph’s College and her nursing degree from Jameson Memorial School of Nursing.  She worked for McGuire Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Richmond from 1980 to 2002 and held several positions; and has been affiliated with a number of other medical and nursing home facilities in the state of Virginia.  Ms. Gales is an active member of the Virginia Hospital Association, a community service faculty member of Thomas Nelson Community College and was a volunteer with the East Hanover Rescue Squad Auxiliary.

Mr. Mitchell and his wife Jo have been residents of Covenant Woods since 2005.  He is an elder in the Presbyterian Church and is currently a member of Fairfield Presbyterian Church. Mr. Mitchell is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnical Institute with a Bachelors of Science in electrical engineering.  He worked for Virginia Power for 40 years and served in Korea while in the Army during that period of time.  He teaches Sunday school, was an active kayaker and canoeist. He enjoys working with computers and assisting fellow residents with their computers.

Mr. Ward is a retired career pharmacist, specifically in the downtown Mechanicsville area.  He served as chairman of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, in 1993, 1997, 2000 and 2001.  Mr. Ward has served on the Hanover Planning Commission, the Metropolitan Crime Study Committee, and represented Hanover on the Board of Directors of the Greater Richmond Partnership.  He is active with the Virginia Association of Counties, and was President in 2000.  In 2001 he was elected to serve Virginia on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Counties.  He retired from the Bon Secours Richmond Health Systems where he served six years as an Executive Assistant in the Administrative Offices.

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Covenant Woods Board Member honored with Hill-Tucker Award

Covenant Woods’ Board Member, O. Randolph “Randy” Rollins, received the Richmond Bar Association’s Hill-Tucker Public Service award at the Bar’s March luncheon.  Rollins was selected for the Award for his work with Drive-to-Work, a non-profit that he founded.  Drive-to-Work assists low income and previously incarcerated persons to restore their driving privileges.  In areas without public transportation driving is the key in finding and maintaining work. Since its founding in 2007 Drive-to-Work has assisted 65 individuals in restoring their driving privileges, all of which have been able to obtain a new job, and have 261 clients with whom they are currently working.

The Hill-Tucker award is presented annually to a Bar member that has shown dedication to their community beyond the practice of law and is named for its first recipients, Oliver Hill and Samuel Tucker.

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Covenant Woods' employees lose over 6% of their body weight!

Eight weeks ago, the Fitness and Wellness center at Covenant Woods announced an employee Biggest Loser Challenge.  28 people stepped up to the challenge and when the top three losers finished, they were missing a total of 611