Warren County
Cox Foundation awards $500,000 to Otterbein
Monday, May 12, 2008
TURTLECREEK TWP. — The James M. Cox Jr. Foundation has granted Otterbein Lebanon Retirement Living Community $500,000 to aid in the construction of Avalon by Otterbein, an innovative "small house" neighborhood that provides extended skilled nursing care for the elderly.
The neighborhood on Otterbein's main campus on Ohio 741 west of Lebanon will be named for the late Gov. James M. Cox who was an incorporator of Otterbein and served on its board of directors for years.
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Cox is founder of Cox Enterprises, owner of the Dayton Daily News, The Western Star, The Middletown Journal and other newspapers and web sites serving southwest Ohio.
"Gov. Cox was a leader in community involvement and that remains a signature for Cox Enterprises today," said Mike Joseph, president and CEO of Cox Ohio Publishing. 'We are pleased that the foundation has provided this grant to Otterbein that gives much needed care to the elderly. We also appreciate Otterbein's acknowledgement of Gov. Cox's historic involvement with the Retirement Living Community by naming a neighborhood for him."
Unlike traditional nursing homes that have an institutional design similar to hospital units, the "small house" community is a residential neighborhood with five houses on a cul-de-sac, each home to 10 residents with private rooms and close proximity to a great room.
"There isn't any question building the Avalon small house neighborhoods is the right thing to do. Our focus is on autonomy, dignity and choice," Otterbein Homes President and CEO Donald L. Gilmore said.
"It is a difficult journey. We are turning our thinking upside down on how we serve elders," Gilmore said. "The people we care for are driving this. We are so pleased that others, like the Cox Foundation, see the value in what we are doing and are grateful that they are joining with us to make this important change in nursing care for older people."
Two "small house" neighborhoods will be on the Otterbein campus and four other sites in Warren County will have "small house" neibhborhoods developed by 2012, Otterbein's 100th anniversary.
Cox Ohio officials announced the award and will present a check today, Monday, May 12, during a meeting of donors at Otterbein.
This is one of three major recent Cox Foundation awards in southwest Ohio. The foundation granted $1 million to Cox Arboretum in Miami Twp. in Montgomery County and $50,000 for a heart center at the new Atrium Medical Center in Middletown in Warren County. The Cox Foundation also recently granted $50,000 to a statehouse museum renovation project in Columbus.
