100 Years of Philanthropy: Expanding the Circle

In 1923, Mrs. Franke Tobey Jones donated $150,000 and four acres of land where a rest-home could be built for persons over the age of 65 to live out the “sunset of their lives.”

With the help of the Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O.), and other philanthropic committees known as “Circles,” the money was raised to not only build, but maintain one of the first retirement communities in the United States. One hundred years later, FTJ continues to honor the mission “to enrich and extend the quality of life for seniors in our community.”

To perpetuate the legacy of Mrs. Franke Tobey Jones and strengthen the FTJ Charitable Subsidy Fund, Philanthropy is inviting community members, residents, families, and staff to be part of the 2024 Centennial Circle. In the next three months ~ April through June ~ anyone who makes a gift of $100 or more will become a Centennial Circle Member. All gifts will benefit Charitable Subsidy and contributors will be acknowledged in the FTJ Centennial Time Capsule and as a Centennial Circle Member in the 2024 Annual Report.

In this milestone year, we are very pleased to announce that with a generous bequest from the estate of Mrs. Marilyn Dimmer, a former FTJ Board Member, the Centennial Circle has received an initial gift of $100,000.  We hope you will join us in growing the Charitable Subsidy Fund and ensuring residents who have outlived their resources through no fault of their own will always have a home at FTJ ~just as Mrs. Franke Tobey Jones originally intended.

Thank you!  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Philanthropy Office, Shelley Harris at 253.756.6297 or Franchesca Thomas at 253.756.6327.