2019 Report to the Community

Welcome to our first Report to the Community!

We’re a mission-driven nonprofit, dedicated to compassionate care in joy-filled environments.

Our organization was born 22 years ago, under the name Governmental & Educational Assistance Corporation, to build or acquire senior living properties. Morris Knopf has been involved since the beginning as a legal adviser and later as CEO. He became board chair in 2016 when Jim Bettendorf assumed chief executive responsibilities. Jim’s charge: to build a mission-driven nonprofit service organization under our recently branded name — Vista Prairie Communities. We surveyed our staff and other stake holders asking… “Why did you come here and why do you stay?” The answers yielded the reasons we are called to serve—our mission, vision and values.

Irene and Lawrence Cline, of our Windmill Ponds Community in Alexandria, MN are pictured on the cover of our report. They illustrate our mission. You see the joy in Irene’s smile and the compassion in Lawrence’s eyes, as he honors his World War II buddies.

With communities in Minnesota, Iowa and Ohio, LeadingAge’s Ziegler Survey now lists us in the top 200 of the nation’s largest not-for-profit multi-site senior living organizations, and the nation’s 17th largest nonprofit assisted living provider. We are financially stable and prepared for growth in order to deliver our mission for more people.

We also are called to serve people across income categories, and that’s where you can support our mission. In FY19 we provided about $5 million in charitable support to qualifying residents in various public assistance programs. You can help us meet this need, which is expected to rise significantly in the communities we serve over the next decade. Please click here if you can help our aging neighbors in need of financial support to live in a joy-filled Vista Prairie Community.

Your partnership helps us deliver on our promise to those we serve — “We’ll help you put a smile on your face.” Thank you for your support!

Download the 2019 Annual Report

Morris Knopf
Chairman 

Jim Bettendorf
President and Chief Executive Officer