Peabody Place, located in Franklin, has formed the Peabody Place Auxiliary group through a partnership with the Auxiliary Group. Comprised of a well-connected professional women, the Auxiliary will promote and support the mission of the senior living community in the Lakes Region.
“The Peabody Place Auxiliary will quickly prove itself to be important not just to our members – but to the greater Franklin community,” said Howard Chandler, executive director of Peabody Place.
Auxiliary co-chair, Christine Dzujna, has successfully grown the group from humble beginnings in 2009 starting with a dozen people from her church, the Bessie Rowell School, Business & Professional Women’s Franklin chapter, and her own neighborhood. The group separated from Franklin Regional Hospital when LRGHealthcare merged with Concord Hospital. The Auxiliary historically has a strong track record of fundraising and has supported many programs in its prior iteration including The Lights of Memory, Senior Safety Day, Tanger Outlet’s Annual Fit for a Cure 5K, in addition to hosting the “Mom Prom” and running a wildly successful gift shop which also hosted the Christmas in July sale.
“Our Auxiliary has worked hard over the years [to support the hospital and enjoyed every minute],” said Dzunja. “I personally look forward to being a part of the Peabody Place Auxiliary. They say, when one door closes another opens. We’re thrilled to lend our skills, enthusiasm and goodwill to Peabody Place and look forward to many wonderful projects!”
Peabody Place represents the transition of the older Peabody Home; a beloved post war mansion on Central Street where seniors from the area could live well contemplating their later years with grace and dignity. This former mill town is currently undergoing revitalization and major capital investment with the refurbishments of manufacturing buildings, a steady downtown infusion of new businesses, upgraded facades, real estate renovations retain the light industrial vibe of interior brick, high tin ceilings and exposed duct work. East on Central the new whitewater park enjoys construction, while west on Central, the new Peabody will be open in late February. Meanwhile, the newly formed charitable arm of Peabody Place will continue what has always been a deeply embedded community resource.
