Gloria Dei Communities Corporation has announced that it is celebrating the 40th anniversary this past month of The Towers Active Senior Community located in Huntingdon Valley, PA. An anniversary luncheon was held on January 14th to share the celebration with The Towers residents and staff. As part of the luncheon, Connie Schandein, Legislative Assistant to Senator Stewart Greenleaf, presented an official proclamation acknowledging The Towers anniversary. Keynote Speaker Frank Johnson, Past President of 30 years for Gloria Dei Communities Corporation, related the history behind the construction of The Towers.

The Towers Senior Community was the first senior residence established by Gloria Dei Communities Corporation in 1974 and the first of six active senior communities, as well as a dedicated personal care facility and a state-of-the-art memory care unit with another scheduled to open in 2015.

Gloria Dei Communities Corporation was the vision of Dr. Ernest G. Schmidt, pastor of a Lutheran Church in Montgomery County, Pa. In 1970, prompted by a personal encounter with a family acquaintance, Dr. Schmidt set out on a mission to provide affordable housing for seniors as part of his ministry. With the help of his congregation and the Office of HUD, The Towers active senior community was built and dedicated in 1974.

Gloria Dei Towers was built to provide safe, affordable housing for seniors, 62 years of age and up. It is an eight story building featuring 175 efficiency and one bedroom apartments. It is non-profit, HUD subsidized for the benefit of residents with low, very low and extremely low incomes. Rents are based on a percentage of each individual household income with electric, gas, water and sewer utilities included.

Susan Wright, President of Gloria Dei Communities commented, “Celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Towers Senior Community gives us a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the vision Dr. Schmidt had for providing quality and affordable housing for Seniors. The Towers truly represents that vision in every aspect and every way.”
Vince Dattilo, CEO of Gloria Dei Communities added, “The mission Dr. Schmidt set out to fulfill is an enduring one that has grown and thrived over these past 40 years and we take our responsibility to continue his dream very seriously.”

Gloria Dei Senior Communities are located in Philadelphia and the nearby surrounding areas in Bucks and Montgomery counties. All Gloria Dei Communities are non-profit, nondenominational and open to all persons without regard to gender, familial status, race, creed, color or religion. In all, Gloria Dei Senior Communities serve over 1000 residents and employ more than 120 caring professionals and receive support from 496 uncompensated volunteers working throughout the organization. For additional information about Gloria Dei Senior Communities please call: 215-830-8302 or go online to www.gloriadeicommunities.com