The Givens Communities story covers more than five decades, beginning with the generosity of Marion Givens and her husband, Dr. Maurice Givens. The Givens were charitable people who donated to hospitals, universities, and museums. Marion Givens treasured her summer months cooling off at their home in the western North Carolina mountains of Asheville.
During her final years, with the help of a few trusted advisors, she arranged to leave 160 acres of her Asheville estate on Sweeten Creek Road with the stipulation it would be developed into a retirement community. After her death, the Marion J. Givens Trust worked with leaders in the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church to establish Givens Estates.
In 1979, our flagship community, Givens Estates, consisted of 78 one-and two-bedroom apartments within ten buildings, partly funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Now, five distinct senior living communities, community outreach, and partnerships support older adults and their families. An all-volunteer board of directors approved by the United Methodist Conference governs the Givens organization.
Givens’ relationship with the WNC United Methodist Church and the Marion J. Givens Trust has remained constant throughout more than five decades of exponential growth. The Givens’ initial generosity has continued to provide a solid foundation for growth and development across over fifty years. The Givens story continues to unfold and will have an impact on more lives for decades to come.