Interested in learning more about why UMC is such a great place to live and work, and how your donations are supporting our mission of compassionate care for older adults in New Jersey? Check out these great testimonials and find more on our YouTube channel.
The UMC Foundation raises critical funds to introduce, support, and advance housing, medical services, special capital projects, and programs offered through United Methodist Communities to the senior population. Through a mix of annual giving, legacy planning, special events, community engagement, and other relationship-building programs, UMCF supports UMC’s charitable mission and helps to ensure it will be sustainable for many years to come.
Teammate testimonials
Jocelyn Tyree is the Director of Pastoral Services at UMC Collingswood whose father also lives in a United Methodist Community! Learn more about why she and her family chose UMC.
Kitty chose to work at UMC because it’s a community of caregivers committed to giving their all to every resident. Hear more about why Kitty loves working in a place where the people are the center of everything!
Resident testimonials
Meet UMC at The Shores resident, Vince, a big-time bike enthusiast! Vince loves spending time on the boardwalk and surrounding areas of Ocean City riding his bicycle– a lifelong hobby for him. Just a couple blocks from the ocean, the opportunities for outdoor fun are one of the many benefits of living at The Shores.
Leona chose UMC because of the peace of mind it offered for her three children. It wasn’t an easy decision at first, but now she enjoys an abundant life at UMC Collingswood.
Flora took a fall after leaving a family party and needed a bit of extra care, which brought her to UMC Collingswood. Though she feared the change at first, now she considers it her home!
A catastrophic back accident put Marcus in the hospital for four months followed by several months of rehab. When insurance began refusing to pay his bills, Marcus found UMC. Learn more about how he’s adjusting to life as a younger resident at UMC.
Brenda and Bill knew about UMC Pitman from their involvement in the local church community. When they were ready to find their forever home, they knew it was the perfect place.
Paula’s daughter lived right across the street from UMC Pitman, so it was only logical to move in when she was ready for a bit more company of her own age!
Family Member testimonials
After his father passed, Mark knew that his mom would eventually need some extra help. After touring The Shores, they knew they had a match and a place where she would feel comfortable living!
As Betsy’s father began needing more help, she started experiencing more and more sleepless nights. After finding The Shores, she was confident she’d found the beachside community of his dreams, where he could exercise, socialize, and get outdoors.
Profiles In Philanthropy
Rev. Ed & Mrs. Gabriele Carll
Elmer, New Jersey is located in Salem County. It’s less than a square mile in size, with a population of less than 1,500 and a unique name that comes from the Congressman who helped the community secure a post office. Despite its size, this tiny borough with the unique name played a large role in the formative years of Ed Carll, a member of the United Methodist Communities Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Growing up, Elmer is where Ed made a few dollars picking tomatoes, shoveling snow, and cutting grass– living the life of the “All-American kid,” as he puts it. But the part of Elmer that clearly had the biggest impact on young Ed Carll sits at 21 South Main Street–the site where Elmer United Methodist Church has stood since 1896, when the Governor of New Jersey arrived in a special train to take part in the cornerstone service.
Ed’s parents were very involved in the Elmer United Methodist Church community, and Ed knew as early as age 13 that he was going to be in the ministry. He first attended a Methodist college in Fayetteville, North Carolina, before finishing his studies ahead of schedule at Western Maryland College, where he majored in Religion and Philosophy. During Ed’s last year of undergraduate studies, he and Gabriele were married.
Ed was ordained as a Methodist Pastor 42 years ago at St. Peters in Ocean City and was soon introduced to the most difficult aspect of a Methodist pastor’s life: the inevitability of change. Ed’s duties took his family to Sanford Memorial UMC in Englishtown, Spotswood UMC, Trinity UMC in Highland Park, First UMC in Tuckerton, First UMC in Westfield, and his last assignment at the Denville Community Church. With each new appointment, they formed new relationships and ultimately collected lifelong friends from each step along the way.
Elmer is also the root of Ed’s passion for United Methodist Communities. The Elmer church had a great relationship with nearby Pitman Manor, now called United Methodist Communities at Pitman. A beloved family friend was a resident for many years. “I would visit to do hymn sings and stuff like that in the community room,” Ed said, “and that’s the first time I was touched by the ministry of Pitman Manor.”
More recently, as Ed’s Pastor duties were winding down, he was contacted by a friend who was involved with the United Methodist Communities at Bristol Glen. Would he be interested in serving on the Foundation Board? “I would have to say that after 40 years in ministry I have learned how to say no, because you can’t say yes to everything…but I do say yes to things that I think are worthy.”
Not only does Ed give of his precious time and talents, but he and Gabriele are also strong supporters of the UMC Foundation. “We give money in memory of people that I know who have passed away, in honor of board members and pastors. We give money to honor our parents who have gone before us. There aren’t any tow hitches on a hearse, you can’t take it [the material things] with you!” Did we mention that Ed has an infectious sense of humor?
When asked why he continues to support the mission of United Methodist Communities, however, his answer is simple and serious. “You know, we’re here to provide abundant life. Jesus was the one who said that, and we fully embrace it. It does not get any simpler and it does not get any better. No matter what else is happening, when we ask ourselves, ‘Why are we doing this?’, the answer is ‘Because we have a calling.’ And that’s the best.”
Paul and Dee Burrowes
Paul and Dolores “Dee” Burrowes are approaching a remarkable milestone with the United Methodist Communities Foundation: fiscal year 2025 will mark their 32nd consecutive year of giving.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force and spending an additional fourteen years working on general aviation airplanes, Paul began a new career as a home improvement contractor. When commercial building jobs dried up in the late 1980s, he saw a posting from then-United Methodist Homes of New Jersey seeking someone with maintenance and construction experience. For Paul, a lifelong Methodist, the position was an interesting opportunity to fuse his faith and construction skill set.
During Paul’s tenure as Vice President of Projects, UMC built and remodeled properties in Ocean Grove and at The Shores, expanded Collingswood, and built Covenant Place and The Wesleyan. When asked which project he is most proud of, Paul was unable to pick just one – but he did share that surprisingly, he had the most fun working on land use approvals! Paul joined forces with attorney Sandy Brown and the pair went on to submit and receive 33 straight approvals without a rejection, even with very complicated projects. “Take Collingswood for example,” Paul explained. “We were remodeling a historic building in a downtown area and bringing it from three stories to six stories…it was incredibly challenging but a very fun part of the job.”
Another highlight from Paul’s years with UMC was his service with LeadingAge’s predecessor, the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging. Paul represented UMC on a national jury for architectural designs for eldercare and visited senior communities all over the country to hear from their architects about what worked and what didn’t. “It was a cool process, and I’m sure I brought some good ideas back to UMC,” he reflected.
As Paul immersed himself in learning about resident and associate needs, and interpreting them for planning boards and architects, he and Dee were given the opportunity to view the impact of UMC’s mission from another perspective – as family members of residents.
“Paul’s parents moved into Francis Asbury Manor, and it quickly felt like our second home. We were there all the time and we really connected with the other residents and staff,” Dee shared.
“Having my folks in one of our communities gave me a different appreciation for my work,” Paul added. “They fit in well and loved living there. It made me feel like, as an organization, we were successfully carrying out our mission.”
Paul and Dee’s affinity for UMC’s mission prompted them to support the Foundation early on. “Right from the get-go, we were attracted to the idea of benevolent care, supporting residents who’d outlived their funds. Then, on a secondary level, we became interested in the role the Foundation can play in supporting associate education and retention.”
As retirees, Paul and Dee have chosen to continue supporting UMC’s mission as monthly donors and members of the Wesleyan Society. When it comes to including UMC in their estate plans, it’s all about building their legacy.
“It’s important to consider doing good beyond just your immediate family, doing good for the community at large,” Paul elaborated. “Creating a legacy within UMC’s system, we know our contribution will be well administered and valued because we’ve seen and felt the impact of philanthropy in the communities. This is how we’ve chosen to give back in a meaningful way.”
Elizabeth A. Keat
The Keat family has a longstanding tradition — supporting the Communities. As Elizabeth A. Keat (Betty Anne), a retired high school teacher noted, her mother was very much concerned about supporting those who need care as they get older. “We’ve had several pastors who gave of themselves, time, energy, support and friendship not only to people in the church, but also in the community. To know the Communities would take care of elderly people whether they were retired pastors and their family or other people who didn’t have family … seemed a small way and great opportunity for all of us to give back.”
Elizabeth remembers as a young child her local church taking annual collections to help the residents of the Communities. She also recalls that she benefited from a Methodist scholarship for two years while attending Dickinson College.
Growing up in Chatham, Elizabeth and her family felt a great deal of backing from the Chatham United Methodist Church and were able to view its generous benevolence first-hand. “The church family is very supportive.” The congregation also visited residents of Methodist Manor (closed in 2001) in Branchville regularly. Members saw directly how residents of the Communities benefited from their annual collection, given around Mother’s Day. Elizabeth says that when she thinks of the Communities, certain things come to mind — “A very homey atmosphere, relatively easy access to friends and a place for keeping seniors safe.”
Elizabeth appreciates the whole idea of the Fellowship Fund, its essential support of the Communities’ mission and that it continues to support the organization. Among all the services offered, she’s also happy to know the Communities has Memory Support residences for seniors with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
Among its many effects, her vote of confidence keeps the Keat family tradition vibrant and leaves a legacy for others. “I feel at this point in my life I’m able to continue giving donations and would like to keep it up because I think you’re doing a great job and there’s certainly a need for it.”