(Chelsea Update would like to thank Lisa French for the information in this story.)
United Methodist Retirement Communities (UMRC) and the UMRC Foundation welcomed residents and guests to an open house and ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the opening of the McMullen Wellness Center at Chelsea Retirement Community on April 17.
President of the UMRC Foundation and Porter Hills Foundation, Wendy Brightman, welcomed the group and expressed her gratitude for the philanthropy which made the McMullen Wellness Center possible, including a lead naming gift from Tom and Debby McMullen, according to a press release.
The new space features an indoor heated swimming pool with wheelchair ramp that allows older adults to have direct access into the pool, as well as a lazy river for resistance training, and hot tub on the lower level. The upper level has a track for walkers and joggers as well as other fitness equipment.
“This project, like so many at UMRC, would not have been possible without philanthropy,” said Brightman in the press release. “We are so filled with joy for the McMullen Wellness Center which is representative of our guiding beliefs. I look forward to all of you getting the chance to enjoy it for years to come.”
Interim CEO for UMRC and Porter Hills, Steve Fetyko, also shared his appreciation for the board, donors, staff, and workers who made the project possible.
“It not only enables, but encourages the lifelong pursuit of wellness,” said Fetyko. “That’s core to our mission and critical to who we want to be and how we want to support all those who choose to live in this community.”
Tom McMullen also addressed the gathering. “We are so excited and blessed to be associated with the Wellness Center, and to have the opportunity to focus on health and fitness initiatives that will make a difference for the older adults we serve.”
Construction of the McMullen Wellness Center was part of the UMRC Foundation’s Growing to Serve comprehensive campaign which raised over $27.7 million in support of capital projects, resident services and life enrichment activities, and the Benevolent Care Fund.
