January 2025

Celebrating 65 Years of Driving Housing Forward

As we begin 2025, Fellowship Square will be celebrating 65 years of supporting low-income seniors through access to safe and affordable housing, as well as supportive services. Throughout the coming year, we look forward to hosting special events at all four of our Fellowship Houses. We will be highlighting residents, community partners, volunteers, and staff in our newsletter and on social media. And we’ll be sharing information about Fellowship Square to help others discover us while celebrating the impact we’ve been making since 1960! Watch this space in our newsletter, as well as on our Facebook page and our website, for announcements about all the special events we’re planning.

For those unfamiliar with our history, Fellowship Square was founded by Reverend Dr. John A. Scherzer, a member of the Lutheran Lay Fellowship of Metropolitan Washington. His mission is one from which we have never wavered: to better support vulnerable seniors and ensure they have access to safe and affordable housing. Incorporated by the District of Columbia on November 30, 1960, Dr. Scherzer spent his early days with Fellowship Square assisting a diverse population of seniors and raising funds to purchase land for the development of a senior community. 

In 1970, through the devotion of Dr. Scherzer and a growing number of supporters, Fellowship Square broke ground on the Lake Anne Fellowship House in Reston, VA. A year later, the doors opened on the Lake Anne Fellowship House and, in 1976, phase two (Lake Anne II Fellowship House) opened. All the while, Dr. Sherzer lived on-site, managing the property and successfully growing Fellowship Square. Over the next decade, Fellowship Square expanded its communities and geographic reach even more, with the opening of the Hunters Woods Fellowship House, also in Reston (1979); Lake Ridge Fellowship House in Woodbridge, VA (1983); and Largo Landing Fellowship in Upper Marlboro, MD (1984). As of January 2025, Fellowship Square also owns 670 affordable apartments in the Washington metro area, all of which are dedicated to housing low-income seniors. 

We look forward to celebrating with you very soon! 

Christy's Corner

Milestone Achieved

Since 1960, Fellowship Square’s purpose has been to provide older adults with an affordable, safe and dignified place to live. This year we’re proud to celebrate 65 years of delivering the kind of housing our founders envisioned.

Life was very different in previous decades – and we know things will change in the future.

Today, we provide not only quality housing but also supportive services that help seniors age in place, stay active and independent for as long as they can, and give them peace of mind knowing they have someone they can rely on when needed. The seniors in our communities are important to us and we recognize and appreciate them every day. Learn more about our communities and our residents.

We are honored to have provided so much to so many these last 65 years but it’s only a drop in the bucket of the need that exists today.

As you know, it’s getting harder and harder for older adults with few resources to survive in an area like ours. Seniors are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population throughout the United States.

We serve 850 residents now – and will continue to serve those in need for many years to come. We seek new opportunities - for affordable senior housing, critical services, powerful partnerships and a growing army of volunteers, donors and supporters that will help make all this possible.

I hope you will stay with us and enjoy the celebrations in 2025 to commemorate 65 years of making life just a little bit better for all those who walk through our doors.

Cheers and thank you!

In gratitude,

Christy Zeitz

CEO

Resident Life

Welcome New Staff Members

Welcome Shari Carlson, Resident Services Director!

Shari Carlson (she/her/hers) is honored to join this amazing team and serve as the Resident Services Director at Fellowship Square Foundation.

Shari began her career as a Peace Corps volunteer serving in the Republic of Congo and the Côte d’Ivoire before embarking on a career focused on providing direct services and managing programs in multiple nonprofit social service agencies serving individuals, seniors and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness or seeking asylum as survivors of torture and severe trauma.  Among many great roles over the years, she had the pleasure of working as a Service Coordinator at a subsidized supportive senior housing complex and as the Managing Director of a market-rate independent living senior community. For 5 years Shari served as a Regional Director of Operations in the Virginia Department of Social Services, leading and supporting hundreds of employees working to assist families. Prior to joining Fellowship Square, Shari served as Compassion Institute’s Program Director for their Health Sector and Systems Transformation work.

Shari holds her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in social welfare and dramatic arts and her Master of Business Administration from George Mason University. Outside of work, Shari enjoys learning about other cultures, keeping her French language skills honed, volunteering, going on walks, and being a mother and grandmother, to humans and fur-babies.

Welcome Nicholas Guglielmi, Housing Portfolio Manager!

Nicholas began his tenure with Fellowship Square in January as the Housing Portfolio Manager and is thrilled to join this team!

Nicholas has over 5 years’ experience managing Class A commercial real estate with some luxury apartments sprinkled in, predominantly supporting the building ownership in keeping the property managers and finances in check. Nicholas graduated magna cum laude from Virgnia Tech with a major that was brand new to the school, Property Management and Real Estate. With that, he secured a position as Property Manager at Cushman and Wakefield, a property management firm.

Nick over the past year had lost his grandparents who had lived with his family his whole life. Seeing how difficult and costly it is to have services come to the house due to his grandparents needing care and not being United States citizens, Nick opted to take care of his Grandparents while working full time, including aiding in hospice. This experience changed Nick’s feelings about his work life, and he became aware of the lack of compassion shown in the industry, thus prompting his search to find a position that could provide more purposeful actions with his efforts rather than pure profit. This is how Nick found Fellowship Square, he is eager to meet everyone on site and be a regular face on the properties with the staff and the residents. 

Nicholas after-work activities consist of working out and collecting Pokémon cards. Something he finds keeps his inner child at peace. Nick also owns his own Airbnb business consisting of 3 homes in the Shenandoah region.

Welcome New Board Members

Welcome Nakia Wright, Largo Landing Fellowship House Board Members

Nakia Wright is a dedicated leader with over 30 years of experience in strategic planning, nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and partnership development. She currently works for the Maryland State Treasurer. Nakia previously ran for Prince George’s County Council, where she committed to advocating for senior citizens and amplifying their voices. Through her work, she has maintained a strong relationship with the residents of Largo Landing Fellowship House, ensuring they feel seen, heard, and supported. Nakia has successfully raised funds for both political campaigns and small businesses, demonstrating her ability to generate sustainable growth. Her passion for service is driven by compassion and a deep commitment to uplifting and celebrating senior communities.

Welcome Patricia White, Lake Ridge Fellowship House Board Member

Patricia Ann White (Pat) is a retired federal government professional who served as Director of the Defense Printing Service for 42 years before retiring in 1999. She has been an active member of the Woodbridge Woman’s Club for 20 years, previously serving as its president and currently holding roles as Parliamentarian and Women’s History Chair. Deeply committed to supporting the Lake Ridge Fellowship House, she has contributed yarn, crocheted blankets, and other essential items for residents over the past five years. With strong management and organizational skills, she has led numerous fundraising efforts and community projects. Motivated by a desire to support the dedicated staff and residents of LRFH, she is eager to contribute to the Board of Directors in a meaningful way.

Welcome New Board Members

Largo Landing Fellowship House Board of Director Nakia Wright, Fellowship Square Resident Services Director Shari Carlson, and Fellowship Square Fundraising Director Zach Cummings attend the LeadingAge Maryland Legislator Meet & Greet in Annapolis, MD in January.

This provided an opportunity to educate Maryland legislators on the housing needs for seniors, as well as the important work Fellowship Square does for our residents in Prince George's County, MD.