Newspaper articles featuring Mr. Kroonje and promoting Warm Hearth displayed in honor of 50th anniversary.
Angelica Ramos
Contributing Writer
BLACKSBURG- Warm Hearth Village in Blacksburg, founded by Wybe and Marietje Kroonje, is celebrating its 50th anniversary in the community.
Warm Hearth Village was founded in 1974 with the mission to create a community that respects people as they age and mature. The Kroonjes were Dutch immigrants who came to the United States after enduring the oppression of the second World War. Wybe Kroonje wanted to create a place for people to age and continue life gracefully, to feel honored, attract diversity, and cultivate a community.
Warm Hearth Village is nestled in 220 acres of woodlands in the heart of Blacksburg and is divided into several living options for residents. The acreage also includes a multitude of trails, a clinic, a food pantry, and community gardens for residents to enjoy. Warm Hearth Village also hosts events that are open to anyone in the community, not just residents.
“In serving residents we strive for high quality and excellence,” Warm Hearth’s mission statement reads. “We are committed to providing an affordable, safe, comfortable, and attractive living environment – an environment where residents’ later years can be enjoyable, relaxing, active and fruitful. The dignity and independence of our residents are of utmost importance and priority.”
Warm Hearth Village is a nonprofit community and for 50 years has been dedicated to strategic growth and development, not only in their own facilities, but in the Town of Blacksburg overall. The Warmth Hearth Foundation raises funds that provide financial support to seniors who cannot afford the cost of their health care or housing as well as providing scholarships and emergency assistance for employees to aid in achieving their health and educational goals. The Warm Hearth Foundation provides roughly $600,000 in funds per year.
Warm Hearth Village, in the spirit and legacy of the Kroonje’s, works with the neighboring colleges (Virginia Tech, Radford, New River Community College, etc.) to offer internships to the student body as well as provide volunteer opportunities to students and Montgomery County community members. In doing this, they honor the 100-year plan Wybe and Marietje Kroonje had outlined for this development. The employees and residents of Warm Hearth Village work hard to keep that legacy alive. They currently have Virginia Tech students working with residents to record their life stories and histories.
Many members of the leadership at Warm Hearth have been with the facilities for 20 years now like: William Lester, president and chief executive officer, Tambra Dixon, director of marketing and development, and Robbie Hickerson, director of housing and resident services.
Residents, leadership and Montgomery County community members alike are ecstatic to welcome in this golden anniversary for such a predominant and essential organization and facility.
