UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation Announces $28 Million “Live Life with Brio” Campaign at Grand Rapids Kickoff Event
UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation, the fundraising arm of Brio Living Services, publicly announced the launch of its Live Life with Brio campaign at a kickoff celebration held last night at the Cascade Hills Country Club in Grand Rapids. To date, more than $17 million in gifts and grants, or over 60% of the $28 million goal, have been received during the quiet phase of the campaign.
The Live Life with Brio Campaign Kickoff event included dinner and remarks from Kelli Smith, CFRE, President & CEO of the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation, as well as other speakers involved with the campaign. The event brought together donors, residents, community leaders, and event sponsors, including Presenting Sponsor Huntington Bank, in support of Brio Living Services’ vision of a world in which all are empowered to age well.
“Our community is founded on a simple yet powerful belief: every person deserves to age vibrantly, with dignity, purpose, and connection,” Smith stated in her remarks. “Through compassionate care, we are transforming the way aging is experienced and supported. Together, we are building a future where aging is embraced, and community is strengthened because you are part of it.”
The $28 million Live Life with Brio comprehensive campaign supports the Foundation’s four fundraising pillars that promote vibrant living for older adults and investment in the team members of Brio Living Services. These include:
- Benevolent Care, the Foundation’s cornerstone, helping to ensure that qualified Brio residents continue to receive the loving care and services they need, even if they outlive their resources through no fault of their own;
- Capital Improvements, creating beautiful spaces in Grand Rapids and Chelsea to live, work, and engage with others;
- Team Member Investment, providing for Team Member Scholarships, Emergency Aid, and other emergent needs for Brio team members who give so much of themselves to serve older adults; and
- Program Investment, supporting meaningful and engaging Life Enrichment activities that foster joy and purpose for the older adults served at Brio Living Services.
Among Brio Living Services’ capital improvement projects is a $130 million transformation of Porter Hills Village, built in 1970 on East Fulton Street in Grand Rapids. This project will be augmented through other revenue streams, in addition to campaign dollars raised. It includes new construction to create expanded homes and living spaces with a focus on person-centered care for residents in assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing. An addition of 55-60 new independent living apartments is also underway to meet the growing demand for senior housing in the Grand Rapids area.
“This campaign could not come at a more critical time in Michigan as the number of our state’s residents aged 65 and older is now greater than the number of children aged 18 and younger,” said Steve Fetyko, Brio Living Services President and CEO. “At Brio Living Services, it is our mission and our privilege to serve the older adults of today and tomorrow, of all socioeconomic backgrounds. It is what we all want: to have the opportunity to age with joy and vibrancy.”
Smith thanked Campaign Co-Chairs Tom and Barb Jackoboice, Jim and Marie Preston, and Russ and Susan Ives, members of the Campaign Cabinet, and dozens of volunteers for their hard work and devotion to the campaign.
“I am grateful for the Campaign Co-Chairs, Honorary Campaign Co-Chairs, our Campaign Cabinet members, Honorary Cabinet Members, and Endorsers,” said Smith. “The success of this campaign is possible, thanks to their tireless efforts and the generosity of all our friends and donors, to ensure that the older adults we serve, and our dedicated team members, will be cared for, both now and in the future.”
Live Life with Brio Campaign Co-chair Barb Jackoboice said, “The fastest growing group in Michigan is those aged 85 and above, and, today, one in four Michiganders is over the age of 60. With the projected growth in the senior population, our campaign arrives at the perfect moment. Brio values the wisdom, experience, and many contributions of older adults. It is important to all involved with the Live Life with Brio campaign to provide the opportunity for more adults to age with dignity, comfort, security, top-notch care, and a sense of community.”
An east-side Campaign kickoff event will be held in Chelsea, Michigan in Spring 2026 to coincide with Chelsea Retirement Community’s 120th anniversary.
Learn more about the UMRC-Porter Hills Foundation and the Live Life with Brio comprehensive campaign for ways you can help reimagine aging for the older adults we serve—today and tomorrow.