Tabitha’s innovative InterGenerational (InterGen) Living Community is moving forward. Two distinct groups—independent Seniors (55+) and Bryan College of Health Sciences Students—will call the $26-million, state-of-the-art community home.
Due to the overwhelming donor response and interest in this first-of-its-kind-in-the-nation development, the project timeline has been moved up one full year.
Support Begins for the New Era of InterGenerational Living
Nonprofit Tabitha, Nebraska’s leading provider in care for older adults, is publicly announcing its $12.5 million capital campaign to fully fund InterGen. A silent phase, which kicked off in April 2021, has resulted in $7.5 million in gifts and pledges.
Early believers have provided tremendous energy and financial support to this project. Special thanks to Tabitha’s board members, leadership team and steering committee for leading the way and sharing their gifts of time, talent and treasure. Tabitha also offers tremendous gratitude to other major supporters of the campaign: the Abel Foundation, the Acklie Charitable Foundation, Brester Construction, the D. F. Dillon Foundation, Pinnacle Bank, and Union Bank & Trust.
This early fundraising success drove the Tabitha Board of Directors to approve the start of construction in late February 2022. The plan is to raise the remaining funds while construction is underway.
Tabitha is eager to share its vision with the public and to extend an invitation to help Tabitha raise the remainder of its $12.5 million goal.
Envisioning Progress in Society
“This vision to build community in a new way, which Tabitha is so boldly bringing to life, is meant to tackle three major challenges: the epidemic of loneliness across generations, a lack of moderately priced housing and the shortage of healthcare workers. We could not be more excited that Tabitha is bringing forth this courageous vision, which will focus on intentionally building Connections among neighbors,” shared Kathi Hesser. Serving as InterGen Steering Committee chairs, Hesser and her husband, Mark—Tabitha board member and Pinnacle Bancorp President and CEO—have lent their time, expertise and financial support in bringing this initiative to fruition.
Tabitha President and CEO Christie Hinrichs shared, “We are working to fulfill the common needs of Seniors and students in an uncommon manner. Intergenerational living and purposeful neighboring have the power to change how the world approaches senior living. Building this community furthers Tabitha’s purpose to live joyfully, age gratefully. Loneliness is deadly, and as we researched its impact, we were surprised to learn that college-age students report an even higher degree of loneliness than Seniors. That is why InterGen matters so much—joy and gratitude will be felt across generations as wisdom, talents and stories are transferred from one generation to the other.”
“This is one of the most innovative strategies nonprofit Tabitha has taken on in its 135+ year history,” added Hinrichs, “and one of the biggest projects at our Lincoln campus in over a decade. Our goal is to create such a significant impact that we will be able replicate this model. We must be certain that the investment and faith extended to this project by our donors delivers on the vision. Continued research will grow that vision and expand the good we can achieve.”
A formal study is already underway in collaboration with researchers from Bryan College of Health Sciences.
Imagining the Future of Connection
Tabitha’s InterGen community will come to life in the heart of Lincoln at the corner of 48th and “L” streets. With easy and walkable access to the “O” Street corridor and the Bryan College campus, Tabitha will work with the city to create a safe walking path between that campus and InterGen. This will be ideal for Bryan College of Health Sciences students.
This 150,000-square-foot community will have a mix of 128 micro, studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Some of the many amenities offered include underground parking and gathering places both indoors and out, like a rooftop terrace, fire pit and dog run. Each space is designed to bring neighbors together.
According to Hinrichs, “People must come together in order to create community, and so we must be intentional in all aspects of InterGen’s design and programming to serve its noble purpose.”
Tabitha will formally break ground with a ceremony this spring. The project is slated to open in late summer or early fall of 2023.
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