Genacross to merge with Minn.-based provider

Genacross Lutheran Services, which serves nearly 4,000 people annually in northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan, and Benedictine, a senior care ministry based in Minnesota, have announced the signing of a letter of intent for Genacross to join Benedictine.
Genacross was founded 160 years ago. Today, it carries out its faith-based mission across several ministries, including post-acute care, senior living, and family and youth services.
“While Genacross is in a stable financial position, the organization had a duty to proactively look to the future to make sure it remains strong and is able to meet the needs of individuals as we move forward,” said Rick Marshall, Genacross president and chief executive officer. “We realized that we do not have the resources to address our needs and opportunities and initiated a search for an organization that does.”
Genacross conducted a national search, including representatives of Lutheran and non-Lutheran, for-profit and non-profit entities. After extensive analysis, Genacross chose Benedictine as the organization that best supported its mission, Marshall said.
Benedictine is a non-profit that has provided a wide array of health and housing services to aging adults for 35 years. Benedictine owns and manages skilled nursing, assisted living and independent living communities across the upper Midwest and offers services in such areas as therapy, rehabilitation, memory care, home health care, adult day and transitional care.
“Benedictine provided nearly everything that Genacross was seeking,” Marshall said. “We share Christian missions, and our values are in complete alignment. They will facilitate needed capital investments and operational support at our facilities. Their size and scope will help us grow in a competitive health care environment.”
Genacross Lutheran Services will maintain its name for a period of time and will continue to engage with the Lutheran community.
With the signing of the letter of intent, a period of due diligence begins. Both organizations will conduct visits and exchange information. Final approval will be needed from both organizations’ boards and the Genacross member congregations. The organizations expect that process to be completed this year. Following closing, Genacross will be a member organization (or subsidiary) of Benedictine, reporting up through its organizational chart.
Genacross Lutheran Services is headquartered in Toledo. It employs more than 700 persons and is supported by nearly 170 Lutheran congregations across the region.