Most seniors know that eating right, staying active, getting enough sleep, and maintaining social connections are good for your well-being. But there’s another component that plays a part in your well-being that may surprise you: generosity. That’s right, giving to and serving others can improve your mental and physical well-being in many ways. We’ve seen it in action through our Friendship Foundation many times. Here’s how both sides benefit.

Why giving is so good for you

There’s just something about being generous toward others that makes us feel good. Of course, we’ve all felt it at one point or another, whether it’s a monetary donation or volunteering service for a person or organization. But here’s the science behind it. According to the Cleveland Clinic, acts of generosity cause “feel good” chemicals like serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin to be released in your brain, which can, in turn, benefit you in the following ways.

• Lower blood pressure
• Less stress
• A boost to self-esteem
• Elevated happiness
• Promotes social connection and ties to the community

What’s more, the Cleveland Clinic also cites that people who give to others tend to live longer than others.

Why giving is so good for your community

Of course, the recipients of your generosity benefit greatly as well. Not only in terms of having a need fulfilled, but they also benefit similarly to you in terms of lower blood pressure, less stress, elevated happiness, and self-esteem, as well as feeling a greater connection to the community, but also in ways that include:

• Feeling seen and valued
• Having greater peace of mind
• Having something to be thankful for  

And often, generosity starts a ripple effect of reciprocal altruism, which can benefit the community as a whole!

Giving to the Friendship Foundation

Our Friendship Foundation is a non-profit organization that depends upon the generosity of donors to help us fulfill our mission of supporting friends by providing peace of mind. The foundation offers many ways to support Friendship residents and patients, honor loved ones, and help our team members who provide compassionate care, such as:

The Friendship Fund

These unrestricted gifts allow Friendship to respond quickly to unbudgeted opportunities for the year. Most often, these opportunities are ideas our senior living residents and families have shared.

Resident Benevolence Fund

Your generosity here helps to bridge the gap between income and expenses for Friendship senior living residents and patients who face financial hardship due to prolonged illness, the loss of a spouse, or increased healthcare needs. Last fiscal year, Friendship Foundation extended benevolence support to help 43 residents weather financial hardships.

Employee Emergency Fund

Friendship is committed to helping employees regain stability if they experience medical emergencies, family crises, natural disasters, or other financial hardships. By giving to this fund, donors are making a critical difference in the lives of our senior living employees.​

Employee Giving Fund

Our senior living employees are passionate about contributing to causes and organizations as well. Each year, they vote on which causes they wish to support, and money raised through the Employee Giving Fund is distributed to the chosen organizations.

Memorial and Living Tributes

To honor someone who has touched your life, gifts “In Memory Of” and “In Honor Of” to Friendship in that person’s name are welcome any time.  

By giving to the Friendship Foundation, you can help change lives and meet the needs of senior living residents, patients, and team members. Plus, gifts can be designated to a particular fund to determine where you’d like to make the most impact.  

To make a difference today, donate to the Friendship Foundation now. For more information on the benefits of generosity or our senior living community, contact us!