News - September 22, 2022

For Immediate Release

Contact: Elizabeth Bement | c: 703.915.5830

Goodwin Living™ and Goodwin Living Foundation Honors Team Members with Annual Citizenship Celebration on September 16

 115 Team Members and Their Family Members Have Participated in the Goodwin Living Citizenship Program Since 2018

(Alexandria, Va.) September 20, 2022 – Last Friday, Goodwin Living™, a not-for-profit, faith-based, regional senior living and health care services organization in the National Capital Region, hosted events at its two Life Plan Communities, Goodwin House Alexandria and Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, to celebrate team members and their family members who recently achieved their U.S. Citizenship or started on their path to citizenship through the Goodwin Living citizenship grant program. The celebratory events featured panel discussions with team members and their family members who have participated in the program, a video message from Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) and congratulatory letters for team members from Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA). U.S. Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) attended the celebration at Goodwin House Alexandria to extend his personal congratulations to the team members who have recently achieved their U.S. citizenship and those pursuing citizenship.

“Creating a workplace that offers a sense of welcoming and belonging for all is a cornerstone of Goodwin Living. Our citizenship program serves to help our team members achieve their goals, realize their dreams and secure their futures,” said Rob Liebreich, Goodwin Living President and CEO.

According to Liebreich, approximately  25% of Goodwin Living team members are immigrants. Goodwin Living employs more than 1,100 team members who represent more than 65 different countries.  “Given that our country is experiencing some of its lowest birth rates in history at the same time we are celebrating the doubling of our 75+ population over the next twenty years, it is more important than ever to encourage people from other countries to choose the United States as a place to build their lives and support older adults,” emphasized Liebreich.

The Goodwin Living citizenship grant program was created in 2018 as a joint effort between residents and the Goodwin Living Foundation to provide team members interested in becoming U.S. citizens with grants to cover the cost of the application fees. Goodwin Living residents also offer tutoring services to help prepare team members for their citizenship exams. In 2021, Goodwin Living developed and launched an official playbook, “A Guide to Establishing a U.S. Citizenship Program for Employees” to show other organizations how to create their own citizenship programs.

In 2022, Goodwin Living announced that the citizenship grants would also be available to one immediate family member for every team member who has served at least one year.

“Because of the generosity of our Goodwin Living Foundation donors, we were able to extend the citizenship application grants to immediate family members of our dedicated team members,” said Valerie Burke, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Goodwin Living. “I’m pleased to share that there are seven family members who have received the funds to apply for U.S. citizenship this year. We are honored to support our team members and their families on their pathway to citizenship.”

For more information about Goodwin Living, please visit https://goodwinliving.org/.

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About Goodwin Living™ (GoodwinLiving.org): Goodwin Living™ touches the lives of thousands of people every day through its range of senior living communities, specialized healthcare services, community partnerships and philanthropic endeavors. With a mission to support, honor and uplift the lives of older adults and the people who care for them , Goodwin Living leads the way in expanding the places and ways we can all thrive and find purpose as we age. Older adults will discover options that meet them where they want to be, and those options are managed and provided by team members who represent more than 65 countries. Goodwin Living is a Washington Post Top Workplace for four consecutive years, from 2019 to 2022. Get more information at GoodwinLiving.org or by following Goodwin Living on Facebook and LinkedIn.