About Resilient Haven Society

Lew Simon, a cherished family friend who graced our holiday dinner table, instilled in me the values of advocacy and community during my formative years. Listening to his tales of saving public libraries and hospitals with the sheer power of his voice left an indelible mark. He was a giant, a mentor, and a chosen member of our family. His dedication to advocating for all was a driving force in my life and led me to pursue a career in nursing, where I could serve my community firsthand. His commitment to community, ethics, and family, especially during his terminal illness, serves as a driving force for our initiative.

Long before the formal establishment of the Resilient Haven Society and even before my journey into nursing, the seeds of our mission were sown during a year of profound revelation.

This was a time predating the devastation of Hurricane Sandy when, as a young volunteer at a local nursing home, I witnessed the quiet struggles of older adults. There was the man straining to read a newspaper through a magnifying glass, his response to the absence of glasses was simple yet heart-wrenching: he couldn’t afford them.

Yet, it was the poignant story of two sisters that ignited the spark of our mission. These sisters had navigated life’s challenges together, with the elder sister always caring for the younger. In the room they shared, amidst a lifetime of memories, the 92-year-old elder sister made a simple request: to retrieve a cherished quilt from the cabinet. When the cabinet doors swung open, it revealed emptiness, resonating with the absence of their cherished belongings taken away in life’s ebb and flow. It became agonizingly clear that, apart from each other, they had no one. Their voices, like many others in that nursing home, were silenced by circumstances and fate.

That day, a resolution was born - a commitment not only to advocate from within the system but to step outside its confines, armed with knowledge and empathy, to enact change. Our mission was to give a voice to the voiceless, like those two sisters and countless others who, in their twilight years, find themselves alone without a champion to fight for their needs.

Today,  Resilient Haven Society stands as that champion. Our mission, inspired by these early experiences, is a testament to the power of observation, compassion, and an unwavering desire to make a difference. We invite you to join us, to be part of this mission, and together, ensure that no one remains unheard or unrepresented in their time of need.

-Our Founder