Prairie Meadows has awarded $275,000 to WesleyLife Foundation to support three areas of WesleyLife’s mission, investing in the places older adults call home, access to nutritious food and connection, and compassionate end-of-life care.
The grants include a $200,000 Legacy Grant supporting the $49.5 million redevelopment of The Village, a WesleyLife community for healthy living in Indianola; $65,000 for WesleyLife Meals on Wheels; and $10,000 for WesleyLife Hospice.
“Prairie Meadows' generosity and influence are woven into the fabric of our community, and we are sincerely grateful for their enduring partnership and vision," Sophia S. Ahmad, left, vice president of philanthropy for WesleyLife, said.
“This generosity will touch many lives, helping create environments where older adults can thrive, supporting access to nutritious meals and meaningful connection, and helping individuals and families receive compassionate care when they need it most.”
Impactful enhancements to The Village
The largest of the three awards will support the transformation underway at The Village, where WesleyLife broke ground in 2025 on the most significant redevelopment of an existing community in the organization’s history.
The redevelopment is designed to meet the changing needs of older adults while creating more opportunities for connection, independence, health and well-being. Enhancements include the construction of additional townhomes, a new independent living apartment, and new wellness, dining, and gathering spaces, and the replacement of shared long-term and short-term rehabilitation rooms with private suites.
“We’re incredibly grateful to Prairie Meadows for investing in the future of The Village,” Heather Frank, executive director of The Village, said. “This transformation is about creating a community where older adults have more choices, more opportunities to connect, and spaces that support the way they want to live. This grant helps bring that vision closer to reality.”
Further enhancing the Meals on Wheels relationship
Prairie Meadows’ $65,000 grant to WesleyLife Meals on Wheels builds on a longstanding relationship with the program. Of the grant, $50,000 will help fund meals for older adults and military veterans across Central Iowa. Last year, WesleyLife Meals on Wheels delivered more than 416,000 meals, along with well-being checks and meaningful interaction for the people it serves.
The remaining $15,000 supports the Prairie Meadows Hydroponic Farm at the WesleyLife Meals on Wheels campus in Des Moines — the only hydroponic farm associated with a Meals on Wheels operation in the nation. The farm grows fresh greens that enhance the nutritional quality of meals while also generating revenue through community-supported agriculture and partnerships with area retailers.
“We are deeply grateful to Prairie Meadows for its continued commitment to WesleyLife Meals on Wheels and the older adults and veterans we serve,” Shannon Draayer, executive director of community nutrition for WesleyLife, said. “Their support helps us provide so much more than a nutritious meal. It helps us deliver connection, a familiar face, and the reassurance that someone is looking out for the well-being of each person we serve.”
Benefits to WesleyLife Hospice
An additional $10,000 grant will support WesleyLife Hospice and its work to provide comfort, dignity, and compassionate care to individuals and families. The hospice team assists clients and their loved ones in navigating the end of life, bringing comprehensive care and resources to private homes, apartments, communities for older adults, or anywhere else services are needed.
In 2025, WesleyLife Hospice served nearly 650 individuals in Central Iowa and launched the Metro’s only home-based palliative care service, supporting an additional 267 people.
“We’re sincerely grateful to Prairie Meadows for supporting the work of WesleyLife Hospice,” Aimee Spores, director of WesleyLife Hospice, said. “This gift helps us continue to be there for individuals and families during an incredibly important time, providing the comfort, support and compassionate care they need wherever they call home.”
The grants continue Prairie Meadows’ history of philanthropic support for WesleyLife and demonstrate the breadth of impact that can result when community partners invest in the health and well-being of older adults. Through its support of WesleyLife communities and services, Prairie Meadows is helping WesleyLife meet people where they are and respond to changing needs throughout Central Iowa.