The Oak Hammock Benevolent Fund was established by the Oak Hammock Board of Directors to uphold the commitment that no resident will be required to leave the community due to a lack of financial resources. Frank Duckworth, the first chair of the board, was the first donor to the benevolent fund. His vision laid the groundwork for the fund. The fund operates under a well-defined, board-approved policy, which outlines eligibility criteria, the application process and fund administration by the Oak Hammock administration and the executive committee of the board. The fund maintains the anonymity of those receiving assistance.
The benevolent fund is the only fund designed to support residents. In 2024, for example, the fund supported two residents with slightly over $100,000, which has been the average for the last few years. The annual Oak Hammock Golf Tournament generates about half the amount required annually for the resident beneficiaries of the fund.
The remainder of the annual need is contributed by donations from concerned residents and community partners. The need is ongoing. A study by Leading Age suggests that LifePlan Communities should anticipate approximately 1% of their residents will exhaust their financial assets before end-of-life.
For more information, call the Oak Hammock Chief Financial Officer Andrew Davey at 352-548-1010 or adavey@oakhammock.org.
Resident Testimony
“Now that I am receiving help from the Benevolent Fund, I realize it is truly confidential. There has not been a single hint that anybody else knows. I can continue to hold my head high here at Oak Hammock and in the outside community. I continue to be active in groups and am able to represent Oak Hammock in the community. I also continue my participation on several Oak Hammock committees. I am so thankful that the benevolent fund exists! I feel that the good community deeds that I performed in my eight decades, in various places that I have lived, have not been for naught. The Oak Hammock Benevolent Fund certainly performs a community service!”