Senate Resolution No. 533

BY: Senator MAYER

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of United
Hebrew

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor those
illustrious organizations of the State of New York whose purposeful
endeavors serve to enhance the quality of life for the cherished senior
citizens in their communities; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of United Hebrew; and

WHEREAS, The United Home for Aged Hebrews was founded in 1919, by
the Krakauer Charity and Aid Society, a group of charitable Austrian
Jews, whose President, Solomon J. Manne, proposed sponsorship of a home
for the aged; and

WHEREAS, Ten years later, 51 elderly men and women in need were
being cared for in a large two-story frame house surrounded by three
park-like acres on Pelham Road in New Rochelle, with Solomon J. Manne
serving as its first President; and

WHEREAS, In 1934, a three-story, red-brick addition to the original
building was made possible by a generous contribution from Adolph Arber;
during this time, the United Home was the largest institution of its
kind in Westchester County with 155 residents; and

WHEREAS, Ground was broken for a $1.5 million building to replace
the original house in 1954; three years later, the Saul and Ada Gutner
Pavilion opened, and the new 102-bed facility was hailed as an entirely
new concept in living for the elderly in need and the first major
departure from the institutional atmosphere of the traditional old age
home; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, a three-story wing was added to the building,
increasing the Home's capacity by 50 percent; the air-conditioned
addition contained a roof patio, glassed-in rooms in the hospital area
with oxygen and vacuum piped directly to each bed, and new laboratory
and X-ray rooms; and

WHEREAS, The Lola and Saul Kramer Pavilion, a skilled-nursing
facility, was built in 1976, bringing the United Home to a 270-bed
capacity; a beauty parlor, gift shop, tea room, medical suite,
recreation therapy room, lounge, nursing and administrative offices were
incorporated into this addition; and

WHEREAS, In 1980, Low-Savin Residence (Soundview Apartments), a
nine-story apartment building for independent seniors, opened its doors
adjacent to the nursing home; and

WHEREAS, United Home then launched a Long-Term Home Health Care
Program, the Lombardi Program, which reached out to care for the

elderly, infirm and disabled in their own homes with nursing and support
services; and

WHEREAS, The name United Hebrew Geriatric Center was adopted in
1988, to reflect the array of senior care services this vital
organization provided, and in 1991, the Westchester Ladies' Auxiliary
dedicated a fountain statue and garden to its residents; and

WHEREAS, Continuing its rapid growth, AZOR Licensed Home Health Care
was launched in 1996, extending United Hebrew Geriatric Center's
award-winning services into the community to serve those who chose to
stay in their own home; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, the Beverly and Alfred J. Green Pavilion-Willow
Towers Assisted Living, opened its doors; this spectacular addition to
the United Hebrew Geriatric Center campus opened with 126 apartments and
an array of amenities for supportive living; and

WHEREAS, Winner of the National Association of Home Builders
Platinum Achievement Award, the residence includes a two-story,
glass-enclosed dining atrium, community rooms, a 24-hour cafe, and the
Phoenix Memory Care Neighborhood, a secure, specialized unit for
residents with Alzheimer's and related disorders; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, Willow Towers is the first assisted residence
in Westchester County to obtain triple licensure from New York State,
allowing residents to live there as their healthcare needs become
greater, without having to move to a skilled nursing facility; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, United Hebrew Geriatric Center held a historic
groundbreaking ceremony for a new nursing and rehabilitation center, the
Lucile and Joseph Skalet Pavilion; and

WHEREAS, This state-of-the-art, 143,000-square-foot facility
propelled United Hebrew into the future with a new skilled nursing
facility to better serve seniors in Westchester County; along with the
renovation of the Kramer Pavilion, this expansion reflected its
dedication to caring for seniors in a non-institutional,
resident-centered way; and

WHEREAS, United Hebrew Geriatric Center was renamed United Hebrew in
2009, reflecting the essence of its comprehensive services, "united for
our residents, caregivers, and their families"; during this time, its
campus was also renamed The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Campus; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, United Hebrew held its "Breaking Down the Walls"
ceremony, kicking off a renovation of its vacant nursing pavilion to
create Willow Gardens Memory Care, Westchester's first nonprofit
residence devoted exclusively to people affected by Alzheimer's and
other dementias, and Meadow Lane, an independent senior housing complex
for low-income adults; and

WHEREAS, Willow Gardens Memory Care and Meadow Lane Apartments
opened their doors in 2016, expanding United Hebrew's campus of
comprehensive care with 32 new senior housing apartments and 41 new
units devoted to support for individuals with memory impairment; and

WHEREAS, Today, this extraordinary organization serves 1,000 seniors
daily on its campus and throughout the greater Westchester community;
and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be recognized and applauded by all the citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of United Hebrew; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to United Hebrew.