Since 1991, residents at Holland-based Freedom Village senior living center have donated money funding scholarships for employees attending school. This year, residents awarded nearly $83,000 to 34 student employees.
“A lot of the residents really form these close connections with the students, almost like grandparents/grandchildren. They can kind of see their own grandchildren in them.”
Freedom Village executive director Alexis Fischer says residents love knowing they’re making a difference in the lives of the young people who serve them.
“When the students do return from college on the weekends or during breaks, residents always enjoy catching up with them and cheering them on with what their studies are.”
“I guess at this point the residents have kind of watched me grow up.”
Ella Bates has worked at Freedom Village for eight years. She’s currently attending the University of North Dakota earning her master’s in speech language pathology.
“Everyone’s been so encouraging as I’ve picked my career path and continued on with that path, even as I’ve ventured to the Upper Peninsula for my undergrad and North Dakota for grad school, they’ve always made it very clear that I always have a community to come home to.”
This year’s awards ranged from around $1,900 to nearly $2,900.
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