The Wesley Foundation receives largest donation to date - $916,709

April 01, 2008

Saratoga Springs, NY – When Elizabeth Gailey passed away in 2005, three years after her husband John died, The Wesley Foundation learned they were named as a beneficiary in the will of the long-time Saratoga Springs resident.  They never imagined that this bequest would be the largest gift the Foundation would receive since its creation in 1999, and the catalyst for establishing an endowment.

The bequest of $916,709 has enabled The Wesley Foundation to create the John and Elizabeth Gailey Endowment Fund of The Wesley Community.  The only connection the Gaileys had to Wesley that can be found is that they lived on the same street as the original executive director of Wesley, the late Rev. Ralph J. Barron, Jr. and his wife, Eva.

“We were informed in 2005 that Wesley was named in Mrs. Gailey’s will, but never expected a gift of this magnitude, especially from someone whose family we didn’t serve ”, said J. Brian Nealon, CEO of The Wesley Community. “Even though you never really can be sure how your actions affect people, you still need to be forthright, positive and go about the business of treating others well. We are glad our actions affected Mrs. Gailey in a positive way,” he said.

Tim Mabee, president of the board of directors of The Wesley Foundation, stated, “When you receive any unexpected gift, you are grateful, but this is overwhelming. We are in awe of the size of this gift and her ability to surprise us as well.”

“The Wesley Community is humbled by the generosity of the donor,” said Michele M. Heeran, executive director of The Wesley Foundation. “We are extremely grateful for her investment in The Wesley Community.”

The Wesley Foundation was established in 1999 to serve as the fundraising arm for Wesley Health Care Center, Wesley Outpatient Therapies, Embury Apartments, Wesley Evergreen Adult Day Services and Woodlawn Commons Senior Living.  For more information visit, http://www.wesleyhealth.com