NEWS RELEASE: Wesley Willows acquires Peterson Meadows Retirement Community from Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wesley Willows acquires Peterson Meadows Retirement Community from
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

Rockford, IL [January 9, 2014] Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) and Wesley Willows are excited to announce a change in sponsorship for Peterson Meadows, an independent retirement living community in Rockford, IL. Wesley Willows, also located in Rockford, IL, is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that will now be taking sole sponsorship of this organization and property.

Peterson Meadows is an intimate, caring community that provides older adults with the opportunity to enjoy life to the fullest. Previously a program of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), it will now be sponsored and operated by Wesley Willows.

Wesley Willows, located on the northwest side of Rockford, IL, is a not-for-profit CCRC, which opened in 1966, and offers extraordinary senior living.  Over the past 47 years, Wesley Willows has watched its dream of building a retirement home grow into the amazing senior living community it is today. As a faith-based organization relating to the United Methodist Church, Wesley Willows is neither owned by nor operated by the Church.

“LSSI is excited to have Peterson Meadows in the hands of the dedicated leaders of Wesley Willows,” said David Jensen the Interim President of LSSI. “They empower residents to enjoy a lifestyle within a safe, secure environment where they may remain as active and independent as possible.  This will continue the mission we’ve had at Peterson Meadows for more than twenty years, while enabling LSSI to focus on its many services to seniors and others in the Rockford community.” William Pratt, President & CEO of Wesley Willows commented, “This is a great opportunity for LSSI to see their mission continued through Wesley Willows’ sponsorship and it allows us to expand our mission of serving Seniors to the entire city of Rockford”.  This change of sponsorship is the result of discussions that began in April earlier this year.  Closing on the sponsorship change will occur within the next 65 days.

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By acquiring Peterson Meadows Wesley Willows will be adding 34 beautifully groomed acres, located just minutes from Cherry Vale Mall, East State Street businesses, churches and many community attractions. With the ability to successfully build out the Wesley Willows campus, the Executive Team has created a plan to help the Peterson Meadows and Wesley Willows locations complement one another for added strength and greater outreach to seniors in the Rockford area. Wesley Willows will now be serving over 725 residents on a daily basis.  Both the current Wesley Willows campus and the new Peterson Meadows campus have room for continued growth.  Pratt also commented that, “We will continue to use that great Peterson Meadows name, adding a by-line – “A Wesley Willows Community.” Adding the Peterson Meadows location will allow Wesley Willows to serve those Seniors who are very much committed to living on the east side of Rockford. There is no question that Wesley Willows new role as the sole owner will influence Peterson Meadows in a very positive aspect. “Wesley Willows will bring great financial strength and strong executive resources that will ensure the mission of Peterson Meadows continues long into the future. Our 47 years as a provider of services to Seniors in the Rockford area will help the transition be seamless for current and future residents,” added Pratt. Wesley Willows is a great non-for-profit sponsor, which will bring strength of management, marketing resources, mission commitment and a comprehensive approach to providing a broad continuum of Senior living services to the greater Rockford community.

About Lutheran Social Services of Illinois

Founded in 1867, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is a statewide, not-for-profit social service agency of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSSI maintains a tradition of caring which extends through a vast network of social service programs to people of all ages, races, religions and economic classes throughout Illinois. Each year, tens of thousands of people receive assistance from LSSI through a broad array of children’s services, older adult care, senior housing, behavioral health and development disabilities services, and services for prisoners and their families.   LSSI has always maintained a deep commitment to providing care to those in need in Rockford, and looks forward to continuing this outreach in years to come. For more information visit www.LSSI.org.

 

About Wesley Willows

Wesley Willows is a not for profit CCRC which opened in 1966 on the northwest side of Rockford, IL. They offer a full continuum of care including independent living, assisted living, personal and skilled nursing care, respite care, and end-of-life hospice care. They are a faith-based organization relating to the United Methodist Church (UMC). Wesley Willows currently provides services to more than 600 residents with a total of 582 units. Wesley Willows mission is “To promote active secure lifestyles for Seniors through ongoing personalized care.”

 

www.lssi.org		www.wesleywillows.org
1001 E. Touhy Avenue, Suite 50 Des Plaines, IL 60018		4141 N. Rockton Ave. Rockford, IL 61103
847-635-4600		815-316-1529
Contact: Stacey McClenathan 847-668-0900 staceym@beecommunication.com		Contact: Bill Pratt 815-316-1529 ceo@wesleywillows.org

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