giving back

The Berenson Allen building, located on Hebrew SeniorLife’s Boston campus, was named by Theodore and Evelyn Berenson, the parents of Ted Berenson and his sister Helaine Allen. All were strong Hebrew SeniorLife supporters. Ted passed away this year, and Helaine passed away five years ago. Helaine made several very generous gifts and together, Helaine and Ted made quite a few large gifts through the Theodore W. & Evelyn G. Berenson Charitable Foundation. They named the Berenson Allen 6th Floor East Dining Room and supported extensive building renovations.

They have also been generous philanthropists for Boston health care, supporting numerous hospitals along with Hebrew SeniorLife. Their generosity embodies our mission, which is rooted in the Fifth Commandment: to honor our elders by respecting and promoting their independence, spiritual vigor, dignity, and choice. They recognized that older adults are a resource to be cherished and were dedicated to helping the frailest and neediest members of the community who are most dependent on our care.

“Both Ted and Helaine were among the warmest and most generous people, and such marvelous benefactors of Hebrew SeniorLife, our staff, and those we serve,” says President and CEO Lou Woolf. “I knew Ted for over 30 years and he was always a great friend and tremendous advocate and supporter. He was one in a million, and you always knew what he was thinking because he told you — and I loved him for that. He will be sorely missed and not soon replaced.”

“Helaine cared deeply about supporting those seniors in need in the Greater Boston community, and was proud to support the efforts of Hebrew SeniorLife,” says Hebrew SeniorLife Trustee Nancy B. Samiljan.

The Berenson and Allen families’ legacy will live on through the extensive support they gave to Hebrew SeniorLife, helping older adults live healthy, fulfilling lives.

“Our parents taught us about the importance of philanthropy,” says Diane. “We were brought up to believe that privilege requires responsibility.”

Mark’s grandparents, Sadie and Jacob Schultz, began giving to Hebrew SeniorLife in the 1960s, and his parents, Rita and Monte Goldman, contributed to the Center Communities of Brookline’s 1550 Beacon Street location, which is now called the Diane and Mark Goldman Family Residences.

Diane’s family’s support began with her father, Elliot Stone. In the early 1980s Elliot’s mother lived at what was then called Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged. She had memory issues, and Elliot became concerned with how people lived with dementia. He was already an active philanthropist, but finding ways to ensure older adults enjoyed an optimized quality of life and could age with dignity took on urgency. He joined Hebrew SeniorLife’s Board of Directors and help steward the construction of Orchard Cove.

Facing the Current Generational Challenge

Diane joined her father as a member of the board and began to notice signs that he, like his mother, was developing Alzheimer’s. Once he was diagnosed, Diane was shocked to learn that little progress had been made in the past 30 years to mitigate advancement of the disease.

As a result, Diane and Mark’s philanthropic focus is on early detection and treatment of dementia. They are funding research conducted by Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, who is a senior scientist in the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and medical director of the Deanna and Sidney Wolk Center for Memory Health.

“This is a cause that matters,” says Diane. “Progress in dementia research is going to make a difference in the future as the baby boomers age.”

Mark adds, “The more progress that can be made in preventing, slowing, and treating dementia is really in the interest of not only individuals, but the country.”

Maintaining their Commitment to Hebrew SeniorLife

Diane and Mark are now Florida residents but remain loyal Hebrew SeniorLife donors. Diane explains it this way: “We have tremendous respect for the management, the medical services provided, and the Harvard-affiliated research and teaching. I think it’s incomparable to any other organization.”