employee helping a senior woman walk down a hallway

Our Mission

LifeSpire of Virginia is committed to providing everything our residents and team members need to live a Life, Inspired. And that means being there for them with the assistance they need, when they need it most.

The LifeSpire Mission

Empowering individuals with choices in purposeful living

The LifeSpire Vision

Vibrant living, where faith, wellness, and community flourish

Our Commitment to Benevolence

While LifeSpire’s communities have grown and changed over time, the mission to provide the best for seniors has not wavered. The VBH Foundation, through the generosity of loyal donors, is able to provide essential services and programs to enhance the lives of residents, no matter their level of care needs.

senior man with nurse

Benevolence is the act of providing essential services to those who can no longer provide them for themselves and includes:

Faith
Pastoral Care
Spiritual Programs
Interfaith Dialog

Wellness
Safe, Secure Housing
Nutritious Meals
Fitness and Wellness Programs
Rehabilitation Therapy
Personal Care
Skilled Nursing Care

Community
Socialization
Volunteer Opportunities
Intellectual Stimulation
Lifelong Learning
Cultural Enrichment
Transportation

Benevolence also includes caring team members who treat residents as family members and go about their work with love and faith at their core. It is this mission and the spirit of its purpose that drives LifeSpire to continuously grow and improve, so that it can better serve those who need it most.

Annually the VBH Foundation provides over $1.2M in financial subsidies to our residents needing support.

86% are women
74% are widows
69% are more than 90 years old
64% are cared for in assisted living, memory support or skilled nursing

Generous contributors make it possible for seniors to live purposefully in their LifeSpire homes. In the words of the daughters of a LifeSpire resident:

“Without the generosity of the donors to the Benevolent Fund, our mother would not have been able to live here. This financial assistance allowed her to be surrounded by kind, caring, like-minded individuals in a warm and safe environment. We are so grateful that her final years were such happy ones.”

If you would like to contribute to our Benevolence Fund, please contact VBH Foundation Vice President Jodi Leonard at (804) 521-9213.

The LifeSpire History

As the pastor of Culpeper Baptist Church, Dr. J.T. Edwards dreamed of a Christ-centered home to care for Virginia’s aging adults. His dream was realized in 1945 when the Baptist General Association of Virginia voted to authorize the establishment of a new ministry for seniors. Three years later, the first LifeSpire of Virginia retirement community opened its doors in Culpeper, Virginia.

The original location was the Millman house, a home given to LifeSpire of Virginia in return for the care of Mrs. Carrie E. Millman; her daughter, Miss Louise W. Millman; and Miss Lillian Sweeney, Mrs. Millman’s sister. It set the standard of the time for outstanding care, programs and services for seniors. In 1951, a beautiful new Georgian building was funded through statewide philanthropy and opened under Dr. Edwards’s direction. It is known today as The Culpeper.

Leading the LifeSpire Mission

Our leadership team is committed to ensuring inspiring, purposeful senior living experiences across our diverse communities and through our innovative AgeSmart program.

Jodi Leonard

“The heart of our Foundation’s mission is people — people helping people. Every gift, every sponsorship, and every dollar raised is a testament to the compassion and generosity that defines our LifeSpire communities. Because of you, our residents know they are not alone. Together, we are building a future where every senior can age with dignity, comfort, and care.”

Jodi Leonard, CFRE – Vice President

Foundation exterior

LifeSpire of Virginia

LifeSpire of Virginia is composed of five nonprofit Life Plan senior living communities, the VBH Foundation, which serves as the philanthropic arm of the organization, and AgeSmart, an innovative program that allows healthy, independent seniors to age in place in their own homes with the peace of mind of knowing they’ll have assured access to the care services they might need in the future.

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Join Us in making a Difference: Your Support Changes Lives.