Mission Advancement

It was 1941 when Alonzo Mather bequeathed his fortune to establish a residence for older adults, which later became Mather Gardens and will soon be The Mather. Today, Mather LifeWays and its Mission Advancement initiative allows residents and their families to make charitable contributions that create Ways to Age Well and make the adventure of aging better for current and future generations of older adults. To learn more, please contact our Office of Mission Advancement at (847) 492.7442, or click here to receive more information.

Volunteering

Mather LifeWays offers a variety of ways to serve your neighborhood or community either in an informal, "as needed" way, or within structured volunteer programs.

Mather's—More Than a Café

Training and ongoing support is provided for volunteer opportunities at

Mather's—More Than a Café:

• Administrative volunteers answer phones, confirm attendance, prepare classrooms, and distribute mail
• Class Instructors/Group Leaders share special talents, hobbies, or professional skills with fellow members
• Ambassadors are links to the community
• Special projects involve helping with special events, parties, and mailings
• Data entry/computer work
• Program planners research and develop future Mather's—More Than a Café classes and special events
• Tutors work in local elementary schools to help children with reading and language skills
• Travel planners assist in gathering data for use in the development of day trip and extended travel opportunities
• Greeters work in shifts at our Cafés to welcome and socialize with customers

For more information about volunteering opportunities at Mather's—More Than a Café, call Mather LifeWays Info Plus toll-free 1 (888) 600-2560.

Mather Pavilion

Volunteers at Mather Pavilion invest themselves into the lives of residents in many ways.  The following is a list of available volunteer opportunities: 

 

• Activities Assistant  (Varies – see activities calendar)
• Art Instructor or Assistant (Varies – see activities calendar)
• Book & Resource Cart  (Open – except for meal times)
• Computer Volunteer: see www.IN2L.com (Open – except for meal times) 
• Organizational/Administrative Volunteer (Weekday – office hours)
• Performer: Music, Dance, Theatre, etc. (Varies – open)
• Pet Visits (Open – except for meal times)
• Photographer and/or Scrap-booker (Open – some can be done off site)
• Reading to the blind (Open – except for meal times*)
• Rehab Volunteer (Weekdays:  9:30-11:00 or 10-11:30 a.m.)
• Special Events/Projects (Weekly – as needed)
• Visiting Volunteer (Varies – depending on resident(s))
• Writer (Some can be done off site)
• OTHER:  We’re open to just about anything.   If you’ve got an idea, we’ll listen!   

To learn more about joining the Mather Pavilion team of volunteers, call Mike Fehland at (847) 492-7711 or e-mail mfehland@matherlifeways.com. For your convenience, a volunteer application can be downloaded and returned to Mike Fehland by fax, e-mail or U.S. mail (see application for more information).

Legacy Leadership Institute

The Legacy Leadership Institute program focuses on teaching individuals how to develop much-needed funds for important causes. As a Legacy Leader, you’ll put your know-how into action after being matched up with a not-for-profit organization of your choice.

• Share your talents
• Take on a new, fulfilling challenge
• Learn about the not-for-profit world
• Develop skills that make you more “marketable”

For more information about Legacy Leadership Institute and upcoming training sesions, please contact Kim Pavlock, Director of Community Resources at (847) 492.7732.  Click here to download a Legacy Leadership Institute flyer.

This is a Chicago Life Opportunities program sponsored by the Council for Jewish Elderly, Community Resource Network, Executive Service Corps, and Mather LifeWays.