On September 18, 2009, Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc. purchased new televisions from ABC Warehouse for the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans and for the D.J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, MI. A check in the amount of $34,986.00 to ABC Warehouse was made possible from our combined fundraisers and benefactor gifts. Thank you to all for your generosity! When Margaret Moceri, President/CEO of the M. E. Davenport Foundation and granddaughter of its namesake M. E. Davenport, began a search for a foundation with a vision of assisting Veterans, she found the Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc. (friendsofmichiganveteranshomes.org) to be a perfect fit. This organization, a 501c3 non-profit foundation, was formed to support veteran members of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans in addition to the D. J. Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette, MI.
Mrs. Moceri has close ties with the military, with her father Robert W. Sneden, and her uncle Martin Wynalda, being WWII Veterans. A second uncle, Warren E. Davenport, lost his life for his country at the age of 19 as a tailgunner in a B17 aircraft. Her sister, Kathleen Sneden, is a Captain in the United States Navy. Mrs. Moceri holds a connection to Marquette as well, having family members who reside there.
The M. E. Davenport Foundation has awarded the Friends of Michigan Veterans Homes, Inc. organization a grant in the amount of $50,000.00 to assist in maintaining the quality of life for those who call the Home their home. The D. J. Jacobetti Home has received $15,000.00 towards their Eden Approach initiative and the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans received $35,000.00 towards the purchase and installation of 72 specially adapted television sets for member rooms. Many members are unable to leave their rooms and have little contact with happenings in the outside world. Others are visually impaired, have hearing deficits or are in the Hospice program.
The grant presentation by Mrs. Moceri and the delivery of the televisions by ABC Warehouse took place on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 4:00 p.m. at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans, 3000 Monroe Ave., NW, Grand Rapids. MI.