Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries has a nearly $19.6 million impact on the communities in which it serves.
The Allentown-based nonprofit organization, which locally operates Luther Crest and The Lutheran Home at Topton senior living communities, Diakon Adoption & Foster Care, Diakon Youth Services and Diakon Kathryn’s Kloset, recently released its 2014 community benefit report detailing an overall impact of $19,597,133.
The figure represents charitable care provided within Diakon’s senior living communities and its range of child and family services, but also such community benefit as free health care education, the provision of free meeting space for community groups, veterans assistance education and the provision of personal care products to non-profit organizations regionally and nationally.
Regional impact amounted to more than $4 million.
“Last year, we directly served 68,990 people,” said Mark Pile, Diakon president/CEO. “But community benefit refers to the way we make a difference beyond direct service, and speaks to our particular concern for those with lower incomes or other limited resources. Community impact arises from our innate concern for the communities we serve, for not only the neighbors we directly serve, but also for their neighbors.”
“Community benefit,” Pile adds, “reflects our responsibility for improving the overall fabric of society.”
Quantification of community benefit was done in accordance with national guidelines developed by the Catholic Health Association of the United States, particularly in terms of social accountability for Continuing Care Retirement Communities.