From VNA President/CEO Katherine Krause,
“On behalf of The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas, I am honored to thank two incredibly generous philanthropists. In late December VNA received not only one, but two truly transformational gifts at year end, making the way for a healthier, happier new year for vulnerable seniors in Dallas County.
“Long-time VNA supporter and Life Board Member Lyda Hill added an extra-special Christmas bonus to her already generous #PitchDaySuprise gift of $110,000 to help VNA purchase a much-needed server. She surprised the VNA team with an additional and exceptional Christmas bonus of $2.5 million to feed 625 homebound seniors through Meals on Wheels currently waiting list for this vital service.
“This generous surprise came in on a Monday and the following Friday, the Moody Foundation joined the efforts by committing $1.6 million to the ‘Drive Away Hunger Campaign‘ for Meals on Wheels, removing another 400 seniors from the waiting list. In all, 1,025 homebound, hungry seniors are getting the call they’ve been hoping to receive for far too long. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Lyda Hill and The Moody Foundation, these seniors will get hot, nourishing meals and comforting friendship.
“As the senior population continues to grow, resources are not keeping pace. The result is waiting lists for Meals on Wheels and other vital services seniors rely on to safely age in place. In fact, one in six Dallas County seniors struggles with hunger and more seniors need support every day. With 12,000 seniors turning 65 every day in the United States, Dallas County is no exception and the number of homebound, food-insecure seniors is growing rapidly.
“VNA is eternally grateful to Lyda Hill and the Moody Foundation for their inspirational generosity and commitment to seniors in our community. It is our hope that this will encourage others to advocate for our growing senior population and working together, we can ensure our elderly neighbors are not left hungry, alone or forgotten behind the closed doors of their homes. If you’d like to brighten a senior’s day by giving to VNA or volunteering to deliver Meals on Wheels, please visit www.vnatexas.org to learn more.”