The heart of the Rockwood promise
We like to say that Rockwood feels like one big family. But here, family means more than just a daily greeting or spending time together. It means looking after one another no matter what we might need, thanks to the Rockwood Residents’ Foundation.
Philanthropy is an important part of life at a Rockwood community. In 1990, a group of residents formed the Rockwood Residents’ Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that raises funds and acts as stewards of those donations to enhance the lives of Rockwood residents and employees.
The Foundation serves residents and employees in a variety of ways. For example, no resident has ever been asked to leave Rockwood due to an inability to pay through no fault of their own (such as when someone outlives their finances). The Foundation also supports employee education and financial hardship situations as well as community improvements, activities, and so much more.
Residents’ Assistance
Life can present unexpected challenges, but Rockwood is here to help during difficult times. Residents have the assurance that if they outlive their resources, through no fault of their own, the Foundation, in partnership with Rockwood, will pay for them to continue living at Rockwood and getting the care they need. There are two ways a donation to Residents’ Assistance can be designated: as part of the Endowment or for Immediate Need purposes.
- Endowment: the money donated is never spent; instead the earnings generated by the fund are used to fund Residents’ Assistance in amounts determined by the Foundation Board.
- Immediate Need: money can be designated by the Board to be spent any time deemed necessary.
Enhancing the Employee Experience
Staff Development
Rockwood is a strong proponent of supporting their employees to further their professional goals, which includes helping them further their education, provide special training, or develop professionally. To do this the Foundation provides scholarships to employees and their children who are furthering their education to make a better life for themselves.
Employee Financial Assistance
Money can be a stressful topic, especially for those who are trying to provide for themselves or family while experiencing unexpected financial expenses. To help lighten the burden we provide grants to employees going through financial hardships.
Community Benefit
This fund provides support for enhancements to residents’ and employees’ quality of life, benefiting both Rockwood South Hill and Rockwood at Whitworth. Funds are available to enhance programs and services beyond the normal operating budget. This fund also provides monetary assistance for employees applying for U.S. citizenship.
Affordable Housing
As part of our Guiding Principles, Rockwood owns Appleway Court, a low-income senior housing facility. The Affordable Housing Fund helps support community engagement and activities that would not be feasible within the normal operating budget. This is another way we continue to uphold our Rockwood mission of enhancing the lives of all our residents.
Giving that changes lives is easy
The Rockwood Residents’ Foundation exists only because of the generosity and support of our community residents, family and friends of residents, our staff, and generous corporate partners. There are multiple ways to give, including:
Marianne McCormack
Vice President of Philanthropy
Rockwood Residents’ Foundation
Direct giving
Donations can be made for any reason at any time. Tax-deductible gifts can be made in memory or in honor of someone, for a special giving campaign, or just because. We accept qualified Charitable Distributions and gifts of stock/appreciated securities, and have the capability to create and benefit from charitable remainder trusts.
Become a member of the Rockwood Legacy Circle today. You can make a planned gift through your estate, a bequest, life insurance policy, charitable trust, IRA, retirement account, or by designating all or a portion of your refundable contract to the Foundation. Your planned gift makes you a member of the Rockwood Legacy Circle.
We appreciate our corporate donors!
Cumulative Giving Levels
Sponsor: $50,000–$99,999
Member: $5,000–$9,999
Ziegler: Specialty Investment Bank
Rockwood Residents’ Foundation Tax ID 91-1472275
2026 Board of Trustees
Debbie Takami, board Chair
Debbie was born, raised, educated, employed and retired in Spokane, living her entire life here other than an 18-month stint in Seattle. Her career was in risk management and safety, eventually retiring from the Inland Northwest Blood Center, now Vitalant. Debbie moved to Rockwood in 2019 and enjoys volunteering in Rockwood’s Corner Store and Fitness Center. She is honored to be a part of the Rockwood Residents’ Foundation.
Steve Koehler, Vice Chair
Steve retired from Northwest Farm Credit Services after 35 years. He is a longtime Spokane resident and has served on various boards with Assumption Parish and Gonzaga Prep. He believes in the Rockwood Foundation mission and looks forward to helping Rockwood residents through the Foundation.
Patty Conaty, Past Chair
Patty is a mom of three and retired CPA. She served as the Chair of the Foundation’s Investment Advisory Committee for three years. Patty also serves on the Board of Trustees and Finance Committee for Spokane United Methodist Homes dba Rockwood Retirement Communities, as the Treasurer of her local PEO Chapter, and on the Transitions Planning Group at Rockwood.
Penny Brown
Penny retired from Banner Bank as the Director of Internal Audit. She currently serves as Chair of the Foundation’s Investment Advisory Committee. She has served on a variety of professional and community boards and believes it is important to participate in and give back to the community.
Karin Brocksbank
Karin retired from Columbia University as Capital Campaign Director for the Professional Schools. She moved to Rockwood at Whitworth in 2023 and has been involved with the Rockwood Residents’ Foundation ever since.
Charlene Clark
Charlene retired from Washington State University as an Associate Dean for the School of Nursing. She currently serves as the Chair of Rockwood at Whitworth’s Advisory Committee as well as on the Board of Trustees for the Providence Foundation and Washington State University.
Margot Fitzgerald
Margot retired from Central Washington University and moved to Spokane to be closer to family. She has been involved with the Rockwood Residents’ Foundation since moving to the Rockwood Retirement Community in 2020. Margot currently serves as the Chair of the Rockwood South Hill Advisory Committee and looks forward to continuing to support the efforts of the Foundation to assist its employees and current residents.
Hal Hunt
Hal is a retired pediatrician/consultant who believes in the mission of the Rockwood Resident’s Foundation. He, like many others, offers his time and resources to further its mission.
Sharon Northridge
Sharon is a retired Spokane business owner. She has served as a Foundation Board member of Sacred Heart Hospital, Community Colleges of Spokane, and the Spokane Symphony Associates. As a member of the Rockwood Residents’ Foundation Board of Trustees, her focus will be to support its mission and continuing viability.
Bob Panther
Bob has been a resident of Rockwood South Hill since February 2020. He retired from the Spokane Police Department, serving the last six years as Chief of Police. He has served on many community boards and councils, including Washington State Investment Board, Washington Law Enforcement Training Standards Board, Inland Northwest Wildlife Council, Spokane’s United Way, Crime Check Board of Directors, and Spokane’s Habitat for Humanity affiliate. Now, Bob is active in the Rockwood community, participating as a member of the Foundation Board of Trustees and the RFE Executive Council, as well as overseeing the resident wood shop on site.
Mary Beth Shinn
Mary Beth has called the east side of the Cascades home since her freshman year at Gonzaga University. She and her husband, Steve, settled in Moses Lake, where they owned, managed, and operated separate successful businesses. Mary Beth served on many local boards and, in 1998, accepted an invitation to serve on the Gonzaga University Board of Regents. She moved to Spokane in 2009 to be closer to her daughter and family after Steve lost his battle with cancer. Her most recent leadership experience was serving as chair of Rockwood’s Green Team from 2022 to 2025.
Lois THomason
Lois has been involved with the Rockwood Residents’ Foundation since Rockwood’s north campus was called Rockwood Hawthorne. Lois is a retired schoolteacher and still belongs to Alpha Delta Kappa (Alpha Nu Chapter). This highly regarded society is by recommendation only for people who are outstanding in the educational field. She also served on the Board for the Eastern Washington Genealogy Society and the Washington State Genealogy Society Board.
Raye Wentworth
Raye is a retired educator and librarian with international and stateside experience. She has served on the Foundation’s Partners in Philanthropy Committee and was the Vice President of Rockwood at Whitworth’s Resident Association for two years.
