Supporting the Center

The Ora M. DeJesus Endowment

Ora M. DeJesus was not only the inspiration but also the embodiment of the Gerontology Center at UMass-Dartmouth. Her career encompassed forty years of experience in the field of gerontology, functioning in clinical practice, supervision, management and twenty years as an educator at the university level. She was an Associate Professor in Nursing at the University and the first Executive Director of the Gerontology Center. Ora M. DeJesus was the unheralded champion and passionate advocate for elders and pioneered many programs to promote quality of life for all elders. Through her passionate leadership and insight, she inspired others to work with her to establish the Gerontology Center.

When Ora M. DeJesus died on July 1, 2000, she left a legacy, the UMass Dartmouth Gerontology Center, which reflected her lifelong commitment to elders. Those who knew and admired Ora DeJesus know how deeply she cared about the Center, the interests of elders and the field of gerontology.

In a fitting tribute, her family, friends and colleagues have established the Ora M. DeJesus Endowment for Gerontology. The interest generated from the endowment will provide operating expenses for the UMass Dartmouth Gerontology Center. It will enable the Center to continue and expand the work, which Ora so ably began.

Please consider donating to honor Professor Ora M. DeJesus. In addition to the family's other contributions, Henry V. DeJesus, Ora's husband, has agreed to match every $4,000 raised with $1,000. The state will also match every $10,000 raised for the Ora M. DeJesus Endowment for Gerontology with $5,000. In other words, every $8,000 raised will mean $15,000 for the Endowment.

The Anne V. Fayan Endowment

see following description
Anne Fayan (right), with Center Director Shaleen Barnes

Anne Fayan, a member of the Gerontology Center's Community Advisory Board, established an endowment in 1998. The proceeds of this endowment are used to help support the activities of the Center.

The Salmon Run: The Autobiography of Ora M. DeJesus

The Salmon Run: Reflections on the Life of An American Original is the biography of Ora M. DeJesus written by Dean Emerita Joyce Y. Passos. The book traces Ora's family background, paints a vivid portrait of her early life and describes the circumstances that shaped Ora's determination and development into a dynamic and successful Gerontological Nurse Practitioner, Professor of Nursing and elder advocate. Those who knew Ora DeJesus will visit her again through this exceptional book. For those who have never met Ora DeJesus, here is a chance to encounter one of the most vivacious standard bearers in the cause of gerontology.

Own a copy for $37.50

All proceeds from the sale of the book will go to the Ora M. DeJesus Gerontology Center at UMass Dartmouth.

Checks for the book should be made out to:
UMass Dartmouth/Gerontology Center.

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