OUR MISSION:
Our mission is to support under-served older adults in need today and to invest in meaningful research for a better tomorrow.
WHAT WE DO:
As a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, we have two main areas of focus: Outreach & Research.
Outreach:
We provide micro-grants to Michigan’s income-eligible older adults 55+ through partnerships with vetted community agencies and organizations. Applications for grants can be submitted by qualified partners here for review.
Research:
We invest in research that covers a wide variety of issues relating to older adults through partnerships with universities and research centers.
Our organization has been structured to minimize administrative costs so we can direct more money to our two areas of focus: Outreach and Research.
Working with local social service agencies, our outreach efforts enable seniors to meet vital needs including: food, housing, transportation, medication, medical and/or adaptive equipment, assistance with ADL's (eating, dressing, bathing, etc.).
We also fund research at the Institute of Gerontology at Wayne State University on critical areas of aging such as: Alzheimer's disease, homelessness, depression, abuse, disability, and hypertension.
BOARD MEMBERS
Rob Gillette
Chairman of the Board
CEO, Baldwin House Senior Living
Rob is committed to raising awareness and addressing the unmet needs of older adults. Together with his father, Bob Gillette, they have created safe, affordable senior housing for more than 41 years. Their philanthropic work, through the unique Baldwin Society Supporting Older Adults, is a testament to their commitment to older adults and families. LinkedIn
Tina Marzolf
President
COO, Baldwin House Senior Living
Tina Abbate Marzolf has dedicated her professional career to the development of programs and services that support dignity and independence for older adults, adults with disabilities and family caregivers. As president of the foundation, she works closely with staff and volunteers to grow the foundation. LinkedIn
Peter A. Lichtenberg, Ph.D, ABPP
Board Member
Director, Institute of Gerontology & Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University
"Older age can be a time of unique opportunities for relationships with friends and family but can also be a time of new and difficult challenges. The ability to respond financially to new health and disability challenges is key to aging successfully. The Baldwin Society helps those who lack these financial resources meet those special challenges and support older adults' independence and vitality."
Thomas B. Jankowski, PhD
Board Member
Associate Director for Research, Institute of Gerontology & Merrill Palmer Skillman Institute, Wayne State University
Thomas "We tend to think of retirees as people with money in the bank who go to Florida for the winter, but that is far from the truth for many older adults. Large numbers of older adults live on the edge of poverty, unable to afford unanticipated expenses such as a leaky roof, broken refrigerator, or failed furnace. The Baldwin Society works with aging service providers to address these kinds of problems, providing small grants that make a big difference in individuals’ lives and help to them to maintain their health, safety, independence, and dignity at home."
Karen McDonald
Board Member
Oakland County Prosecutor
Karen McDonald was elected Oakland County Prosecutor in November of 2020. Karen was an Oakland County Circuit Court Judge for six years before resigning to run for prosecutor and challenge a 12-year incumbent in the primary election. After a successful campaign in the primary and general election, she took office on January 1, 2021. Karen is a staunch advocate for families and children, and that has been a focus of her career and her personal life.
Steve Ebben
Board Member
Career Ownership Coach & Owner, The Entrepreneur’s Source
Steve is dedicated to serving others in his professional, volunteer, and personal life. His desire to serve the elderly stems from seeing many seniors face traumatic consequences from a hospitalization and not being equipped to return home safely. He is working to expand available resources to help vulnerable seniors thrive. At The Entrepreneur’s Source, Steve enjoys helping people explore business ownership as a potential career path.
Akhil Vijay, BSN, PGDHA, MBA, CDP, LNHA
Board Member Director of Operations, The Orchards at Wayne
STAFF
Erika Phillips
Director of HR,
Baldwin House Senior Living
Erika has been an integral part of our organization since joining the team in 2003. While she's provided a wide variety of supports over the years, her current focus is on educating Baldwin House Senior Living employees about our mission, initiatives and volunteer opportunities. LinkedIn
Dana Drew
Director of Marketing & Communications
Dana has a passion for making a difference in the world. She also has the talent for helping organizations tell their story. She leads the efforts to expand awareness of the need and the impact of our philanthropic work. LinkedIn
Kari Gillette
Director of Community Engagement
Kari Gillette has been married to Rob for more than 20 years. Together, they have raised two beautiful, talented, and successful young women. Kari is committed to making an impact and has been the #1 supporter of the foundation for years. She leads the efforts to build bridges in our communities to ensure our grants can help those most in need.
Lauren Gillette
Director of Intergenerational Outreach
Lauren Gillette is a U of M college student who was raised to care about older people. She directs our inter-generational activities designed to bridge the generational divide and help us tell our story to young people who want to make an impact. LinkedIn
Meta Lothman
Accounting
Meta was a business professional and college professor for decades. Today, she just wants to help older adults. She helps in a variety of ways – including supporting our Treasurer!