It Begins! Life Enrichment Center Groundbreaking at Otterbein Lebanon

A briskness in the air accompanied sunny skies Nov. 10 as contributors, residents, board members, staff and friends gathered to celebrate a long awaited and worked for dream: the groundbreaking celebration of the life enrichment center at Otterbein Lebanon Senior Lifestyle Community.

Gathering under an elegant, heated set of tents just north of Marble Hall, a standing room only crowd listened as an eloquent line-up of speakers described the life enrichment center's journey to fruition. Dan Burke, chair of the capital campaign leadership committee, gave a warm welcome to everyone and was followed by Otterbein resident Rev. George Brown with the opening prayer.

The life enrichment center is a collaborative effort between Otterbein Lebanon and the Ralph J. Stolle Countryside YMCA. The partnership seemed a natural fit, said YMCA President/CEO Mike Carroll, because both organizations aim to improve quality of life. The center will be operated by the Countryside YMCA for Otterbein residents and non-residents.

“Where you don’t have faith, connectiveness and wellness, there is no quality of life,” Carroll said, referencing three tenets of Otterbein. “The LEC will continue to grow those three elements.”

Jill Hreben, Otterbein president/CEO, said in keeping with its United Methodist tradition, Otterbein is continually seeking to fulfill its mission to "enhance the quality of life and holistic growth of older persons."

“It’s a calling. We know [the life enrichment center] will enhance the quality of life of older persons,” Hreben said.

Speakers also included Otterbein Lebanon Vice President Jason Miller, Countryside YMCA President/CEO Mike Carroll, Otterbein residents and capital campaign leadership committee members Bob Pownall and Virginia Longmire, and last, but certainly not least, Interim Vice President of Charitable Giving Donna Coleman. Coleman recognized major contributors and capital campaign leadership committee members, as well as many others who were instrumental in the process of making a dream come true. Otterbein resident Rev. David Hilton gave the closing prayer.

Walking out onto the spacious lawn, guests lined 60 percent of the perimeter of the future 49,000 square foot life enrichment center while photographer Len Kaltman braved a bucket truck, snapping a picture from up high.

Refreshments and fellowship followed inside the tents. The new five-story community life enrichment center will enhance health and well-being by offering a variety of programs to meet the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social wellness needs of area seniors. Once completed, the proposed building will include a warm water pool and fitness center on the lower level, a walking track, community room, activity studios and lounge on the first floor, and 24 residential apartments on the upper three floors. There will be a mix of one and two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 750 to 1,100 square feet.

Otterbein is pleased to be working with Brown Craig Turner, architects; Dillin Corp., developer; and Messer Construction. 

The building is expected to be completed in the fall of 2012 in time for Otterbein’s 100th anniversary, which will be kicked off with a gala on April 28. A current maintenance building will be remodeled and connected to the center. It will feature a beauty shop and coffee shop.

The capital campaign for the life enrichment center exceeded its $3 million goal by nearly $400,000. There were 21 donations of at least $25,000. Eight of those were of $50,000, and the James M. Cox Jr. Foundation gave $500,000.

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