The Southern Pines project has been a tremendous blessing for Interfaith. Over the past two years, we have worked side-by-side with Gene and Kay Schmidt through site selection, design changes and funding structures for this development. Gene has very generously provided not only funding for the project, but also his time and his knowledge of business throughout the process.
Our shared vision seeks to establish new and quality infill housing for seniors while also creating a model for donor investment options and perpetual generative revenues to our overall organizational mission. We will be forever grateful to Gene and Kay Schmidt for their willingness to partner with Interfaith Housing & Community Services and invest in the sustainability of our community.
A letter from the funder himself Gene Schmidt:
My wife, Kay, and I (Gene) are honored to be part of this build. Our history with Interfaith has been relatively brief. We starting giving support to Interfaith 4 or 5 years ago. The more contact we had with the receptionist, other personnel, and Interfaith leaders, the more we appreciated their kindness, expertise, and commitment to all types of construction and repair – all aimed at giving their clients a better way of life. The cap-stone for me was to find that Vicki Caywood and Trice Mott were on the Board at Interfaith. They were both my co-workers at Hutchinson Hospital for two decades!
Kay and I approached Interfaith staff with our dream of a contribution toward housing with the stipulation it should be on the South Side of Hutchinson. The land chosen was already owned by Interfaith and further blessed by being a neighbor to the highly acclaimed Lincoln Elementary School, the Elmdale Center, several houses of Worship, and many hundreds of friends. Maybe this location is PROVIDENTIAL!
Kay and my hopes and prayers are that those who occupy these residences will be good neighbors to you, as I hope you will be to them. God Bless you all, Gene Schmidt.