ThriveMore celebrates 75 years

     Residents, team members and guests came together on Thursday, September 10, to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Ardenwoods’ parent organization, ThriveMore.

     The lunchtime celebration featured good food, live music, camaraderie and special recognitions for staff members. The event was the first in a series of anniversary celebrations taking place at ThriveMore communities across North Carolina this fall.

     “ThriveMore’s rich history speaks to the kind of organization they are: one fully committed to serving older adults with compassion and dedication. This event was a great opportunity to celebrate the history of the organization we’re proud to be part of, while looking ahead to a bright future for the next 75 years,” said Sarah Marr, Ardenwoods Executive Director.

     At the celebration, team members and residents received a small gift to commemorate the occasion, and team members were entered to win giveaways as a token of appreciation for their dedication to serving older adults and helping fulfill ThriveMore's mission each day.

     “Anniversaries are an opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been, celebrate where we are and look ahead to where we're going,” said Reed VanderSlik, ThriveMore President and CEO. “Most importantly, this celebration is about the people who have shaped ThriveMore over the past 75 years and those who continue to make our mission possible every day.”

     ThriveMore's story began almost 80 years ago, when Baptists in North Carolina began exploring ways to better care for older adults across the state. That vision led to the founding of Baptist Homes for the Aging in 1951, the organization that would eventually become ThriveMore.

     Over the decades, the organization evolved from Baptist Homes for the Aging to Baptist Retirement Homes and, in 2021, adopted the ThriveMore name. While names, campuses and services have changed throughout the years, the mission has remained the same: helping older adults live with dignity, purpose and a deep sense of belonging.

     Since opening its first community, ThriveMore has continued to grow in response to the changing needs of older adults and their families. Over time, additional communities, programs and services were added, each grounded in the organization's commitment to compassionate care and meaningful living.

     Today, ThriveMore is a faith-based nonprofit organization serving older adults through four senior living communities, an aging-in-place membership program, philanthropic initiatives and future expansion projects across North Carolina. The organization includes Ardenwoods in Arden, Brookridge in Winston-Salem, Taylor Glen in Concord, Taylor House in Albemarle and ThriveMore at Home in the Triangle. ThriveMore is also developing Brice Pointe, a future retirement community in New Bern, while exploring additional opportunities to serve older adults throughout the state. The organization currently serves about 750 older adults and members and is supported by about 500 team members.

     As ThriveMore celebrates its 75th anniversary throughout 2026, the organization has reflected on its origins, shared stories from its history and highlighted the people who have shaped its legacy of care.