Meet our donors

Evelyn Dykstra and Helen DeVries: In step with the Spirit

"You can't out give the Lord," declares Evelyn "Evie" Dykstra. Her sister Helen DeVries agrees wholeheartedly."No matter how much you give, you seem to receive more in return," she says.

With this remarkable generosity of spirit as their guiding principle, the sisters devote much of their time and energy to the needs of others. In addition to working part time at Zaagman Funeral Home, where they serve as "ministers of cleanliness" and door greeters, Evie and Helen spend many hours volunteering at Holland Home and Guiding Light Mission, a facility that offers support to men with drug or alcohol problems.

Employed at Holland Home for 25 years as a nurse, Evie had firsthand knowledge of its comfortable and secure environment. After Helen's husband passed away, the sisters decided to share a residence at Holland Home.Today, they are enthusiastic about the lives they have created there. "I'm grateful I'm here," Evie says. "We are blessed.The people who work here make this a special place.They're like a loving family," Helen says.

Evie and Helen have chosen to support the Holland Home Foundation by establishing charitable gift annuities.The sisters recognize the charitable gift annuity as an attractive vehicle that allows them to make meaningful gifts and enjoy secure, fixed payments for life. For Evie and Helen, contributing to the endowment of the Holland Home Foundation is a top priority. "The Foundation helps residents whose money has run out, and, most importantly, it does so in a confidential manner," Evie explains. "No one knows who is receiving help," Helen stresses.

Explaining her decision to give, Evie says, "I haven't missed the money. God blessed me with it so why not share?" Helen has a similar philosophy. "It's God's money, not mine," she says. "I'm thankful I could do it."

Vandersons go the full distance for Holland Home

Ted and Shirley Vanderson have supported Holland Home in so many ways, there’s only one thing left to do: Move in.

Of course, they’ve already thought of that, and they have their names on a waiting list to buy a independent living unit.

The Vandersons’ involvement with Holland Home started in the 1990s when Shirley was asked to be on the board. “Serving on the board I found out what a good organization it is,” says Shirley, 74.

Shirley served six years, and, since that time, has kept up her involvement through volunteering and financial support. One example is her annual participation on the Christmas dinner committee. She and Ted, 77, a retired mechanical contractor, also purchase a table each year at this fundraising event for the benefit of residents at Holland Home who have outlived their resources.

In 1996, Shirley invested, at Ted’s encouragement, in a charitable gift annuity. She says that donating to Holland Home is very satisfying— “You can see where your money goes. Everything is right out in the open. They handle their money very well.”

Since Shirley started on the board, she’s seen Holland Home expand its facilities to include condos she and Ted hope to live in someday. “You don’t have to be real old,” Shirley says. “This way you go in when you’re younger and you enjoy the amenities and you meet people. There’s a lot of fellowship there.”

Shirley’s charitable gift annuity works for them, the Vandersons say, because it provided an income tax deduction the year the gift was made and now gives them an income stream they can depend on for the rest of Shirley’s life. A substantial amount of the income is not subject to tax. They feel very good that the ultimate beneficiary of the annuity is the Holland Home Foundation, an endowed fund that helps pay the cost of charitable care for many at Fulton Manor, Raybrook Manor and Breton Manor. What a great way to help Holland Home fulfill this vital part of its mission!