National Black History Month
Sagora Senior Living honors the contributions made by African Americans in American history and culture during African American History Month. Today, we highlight the contributions made by three individuals in the senior living industry.
Eliza Simmons Bryant noticed there were no facilities in her neighborhood to care for older adults. She spoke to women in her church and they all agreed to rally the community to collect funds to house and care for their aging neighbors. In 1896, she founded a home for older adults. Eliza Bryant Village continues in operation serving more than 1,200 residents with more than 260 employees and over 300 volunteers.
Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA is the first black female president and CEO of the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, focused on public health and healthcare. Dr. Lavizzo-Mourey also served as a professor of medicine and healthcare systems at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia directed Penn’s Institute on Aging and was chief of geriatric medicine at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine. “Harvard’s where I discovered that students like me can overcome almost any obstacle – if we keep our moral compass on True North.”
Donna Rothschild, Transporter at The Brennity at Daphne, a 32-year senior living industry veteran credits her parents for raising her to make lasting contributions to those around her. Her philosophy on service to others extends to her church family, also. “My parents raised me to care and respect people,” Donna says. “Losing both parents that I loved very much and being with the residents makes me feel close to them. I feel honored to be a part of The Brennity team and being a part of the residents’ lives. We are all family, residents and coworkers.”
Sagora Senior Living honors the contributions made by African Americans in American history and culture during African American History Month. We honor and recognize associate’s contributions, like Donna’s, that provide our residents compassionate and professional care.
February 26, 2019
Written by Alice Warner
*Eliza Simmons Bryant photo courtesy of http://www.elizabryant.org.
*Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA photo courtesy of RWJF.