Paul Barden began giving generously to Glenmeadow in 2008 when his mother, Adele, became a resident, and he saw firsthand how much our premier services enriched her life.
“I first started donating to Glenmeadow because of the improvement I saw in my mother—both in her happiness and in her quality of life,” he said. “Then, the more I got to know people here, my reason for giving extended to beyond just my mom. I saw the team members’s commitment to the residents. The team members really care about them, and the feeling is mutual: the residents also care about the team members. It’s truly a positive, special place.”
Paul also has high praise for the way our Glenmeadow team members handled the pandemic, when we adapted our life enrichment and wellness programs by offering them on our in-house TV Channel 918. And now that in-person programs have reopened, he is happy to see that Adele is able to take part in the very social activities that originally appealed to her and her children when they were first considering options.
“She had friends already here when she moved in, and since then she’s had the opportunity to meet new people,” said Paul. “It’s like my mother is getting a second wind in life. It’s not easy to develop new friendships at an older age, but I think Glenmeadow does a great job helping people connect with one another.”
His appreciation for our employees is evident in his generous gifts to team members education—so team members can further their education and enhance their skills—as well as his meaningful gift in honor of our team members last year to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. He has also helped fund Glenmeadow’s community services for people living throughout Greater Springfield.
In addition, Paul has donated to our scholarship program, helping to support our residents who have outlived their resources—so that they are able to live out their days in the place they call home. He pointed out that this program harkens back to the philanthropic roots that helped establish our organization in 1884 for older adults without means.
Paul, a former board of directors member and chair of the development subcommittee, is still very active in fundraising efforts at Glenmeadow. Determined to strengthen Glenmeadow’s culture of philanthropy, he said it’s important to remind the community that Glenmeadow is a nonprofit and depends on fundraising to effectively deliver our mission of nurturing mind, body, and spirit. “Not everyone realizes that we’re a nonprofit, and because we have a break-even budget, donations are crucial in creating new programs or making significant upgrades in our infrastructure,” he said. “We don’t want to raise fees to cover these costs. We need to keep our fees affordable, so I want to change the way the community views us. I want to make our nonprofit status more visible.”
Paul also wants to help increase our donors and build fundraising partners in the community. “In the future, I’ll certainly continue to give to Glenmeadow, but that’s just a piece of it,” he said. “I’d like to help develop additional relationships for Glenmeadow, through corporate and community contacts.”
A Springfield native, Paul grew up in the East Forest Park neighborhood, graduated from Classical High School, and earned a BS in economics and statistics at UMass Amherst. He was CEO of Pacific Resources for 20 years before becoming executive vice president of strategy, talent alignment, and acquisitions for Brown & Brown Insurance—Pacific Resources’ parent company—last year.
Paul’s philanthropic interests include Boston’s Pine Street Inn, the Boston Food Bank, and the World Harvest Food Bank in Los Angeles. “Food banks are a passion of mine, and it was gratifying to work with the World Harvest Food Bank during the pandemic, when people needed its services badly,” he said.
And Glenmeadow, of course, has a special place in his heart. “My sisters and I always say, ‘If it weren’t for Glenmeadow, what would we do?’” he said. “It’s so reassuring to have the peace of mind about your mom, knowing that she’s in a place where she’s happy, where she is taken care of well, and has a lot of social interaction. Glenmeadow’s customization of care—as residents’ and clients’ needs change—sets it apart. I am proud to support this great organization as it helps older adults enjoy their retirement years with top-notch care, accommodations, and activities. It’s my hope—and aspiration—to ensure that more donors support Glenmeadow as well.”
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Paul Barden began giving generously to Glenmeadow in 2008 when his mother, Adele, became a resident, and he saw firsthand how much our premier services enriched her life.
“I first started donating to Glenmeadow because of the improvement I saw in my mother—both in her happiness and in her quality of life,” he said. “Then, the more I got to know people here, my reason for giving extended to beyond just my mom. I saw the team members’s commitment to the residents. The team members really care about them, and the feeling is mutual: the residents also care about the team members. It’s truly a positive, special place.”
Paul also has high praise for the way our Glenmeadow team members handled the pandemic, when we adapted our life enrichment and wellness programs by offering them on our in-house TV Channel 918. And now that in-person programs have reopened, he is happy to see that Adele is able to take part in the very social activities that originally appealed to her and her children when they were first considering options.
“She had friends already here when she moved in, and since then she’s had the opportunity to meet new people,” said Paul. “It’s like my mother is getting a second wind in life. It’s not easy to develop new friendships at an older age, but I think Glenmeadow does a great job helping people connect with one another.”
His appreciation for our employees is evident in his generous gifts to team members education—so team members can further their education and enhance their skills—as well as his meaningful gift in honor of our team members last year to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. He has also helped fund Glenmeadow’s community services for people living throughout Greater Springfield.
In addition, Paul has donated to our scholarship program, helping to support our residents who have outlived their resources—so that they are able to live out their days in the place they call home. He pointed out that this program harkens back to the philanthropic roots that helped establish our organization in 1884 for older adults without means.
Paul, a former board of directors member and chair of the development subcommittee, is still very active in fundraising efforts at Glenmeadow. Determined to strengthen Glenmeadow’s culture of philanthropy, he said it’s important to remind the community that Glenmeadow is a nonprofit and depends on fundraising to effectively deliver our mission of nurturing mind, body, and spirit. “Not everyone realizes that we’re a nonprofit, and because we have a break-even budget, donations are crucial in creating new programs or making significant upgrades in our infrastructure,” he said. “We don’t want to raise fees to cover these costs. We need to keep our fees affordable, so I want to change the way the community views us. I want to make our nonprofit status more visible.”
Paul also wants to help increase our donors and build fundraising partners in the community. “In the future, I’ll certainly continue to give to Glenmeadow, but that’s just a piece of it,” he said. “I’d like to help develop additional relationships for Glenmeadow, through corporate and community contacts.”
A Springfield native, Paul grew up in the East Forest Park neighborhood, graduated from Classical High School, and earned a BS in economics and statistics at UMass Amherst. He was CEO of Pacific Resources for 20 years before becoming executive vice president of strategy, talent alignment, and acquisitions for Brown & Brown Insurance—Pacific Resources’ parent company—last year.
Paul’s philanthropic interests include Boston’s Pine Street Inn, the Boston Food Bank, and the World Harvest Food Bank in Los Angeles. “Food banks are a passion of mine, and it was gratifying to work with the World Harvest Food Bank during the pandemic, when people needed its services badly,” he said.
And Glenmeadow, of course, has a special place in his heart. “My sisters and I always say, ‘If it weren’t for Glenmeadow, what would we do?’” he said. “It’s so reassuring to have the peace of mind about your mom, knowing that she’s in a place where she’s happy, where she is taken care of well, and has a lot of social interaction. Glenmeadow’s customization of care—as residents’ and clients’ needs change—sets it apart. I am proud to support this great organization as it helps older adults enjoy their retirement years with top-notch care, accommodations, and activities. It’s my hope—and aspiration—to ensure that more donors support Glenmeadow as well.”
