Friends of the Longmont Senior Center, Inc.

2015 Accomplishments

Organizational Improvements

· Continued improvements and additions were made to the Friends website, www.friendslongmont.org

· Co-sponsored Longmont Chamber of Commerce Business Before Hours with the Senior Citizens Advisory Board and Longmont Meals on Wheels, Inc.

Administrative Operational Support

· Received the largest, single estate gift in the history of the Friends from Marie E. Ewing which exceeded $500,000.

· $555,395 was received in annual campaign and general donations, gifts in memory or in honor of someone, grants, bequests, and activity donations.

· Provided $2,162 for a photographer to capture photos for marketing purposes.

Address Basic Needs

· Assisted 60 individuals and spent $ 7,680 with support of basic needs such as dentures, eye glasses, moving costs, medical equipment, rent, and more. We were able to partner with other assistance services to maximize resources from other sources. In addition the Friends serve as a pass through for access to other supportive service funds.

· Established a partnership with the Longmont Sunshine Club as they established the Sunshine Senior Smiles programs. 8 individuals were helped with dental care with these funds.

· Provided $5,000 towards the purchase of a client management database for supportive services staff.

Optimize Health and Wellness

· Made available $15,000 to support activity scholarships for low income older adults to

facilitate their participation in Senior Services sponsored programs. 172 individuals received general assistance and exercise scholarship funds. Total spent $9,462 and $3,386 respectively.

· Provided $967 for emotional support activities. Have 21 trained peer counselors, continued 4 support groups, and served an average of 55 different individuals each month with one on one and group emotional support.

· Sponsored a Thursday night dance in November with 100 attendees.

· Sponsored the newly formed Latino End of Life program with initial efforts at establishing and coordinating the advisory committee with 2 classes held and 25 students.

Support Aging in Community

· Provided $450 sponsorship to the bimonthly publication for caregivers, CareConnections.With 2200 on the mailing list and available at over 150 sites and online for this free publication with support and education materials.

· Provided support via support group format to; 64 different caregivers (2 ongoing groups), 43 persons in a grief and loss support group, 109 women in a group sponsored by Mental Health Partners, offered 14 specialized short term caregiver education and support programs in English and a few in Spanish, offered 6 Death Cafes, and served 19 individuals through the weekly Lunch Bunch.

Promote Personal Connections and Community Involvement

· Provided $1649.95 in support of Senior Service’s annual volunteer recognition at which over 130 volunteers enjoyed fine food, entertainment, and gifts of appreciation.

· Held 11 free Cultural Enrichment Programs with 1100 in attendance, $4,725.

o January Love, Loss & What I Wore play 140

o February Aslan Knows Best: C.S. Lewis’s Letters 40

o February Kol Nashim (Colorado Hebrew Chorale) 100

o March Indian Myths, Fables, Legends of the Americas 80

o April Lord Dunraven: Colorado’s Controversial Aristocrat 80

o May Irena Sendler “angel of the Warsaw Ghetto” 100

o June Denver Post Sports Writer - Dusty Saunders 40

o September Enos Mills – Father of Rocky Mtn National Park 90

o October 17th Avenue Allstars 170

o November Hot Tomatoes Orchestra 170

o December Dixieland-a-Plenty 90

· Provided partial financial support, $1,500, for 4 Friday Afternoon Concerts which are co-sponsored with Arts Longmont (formerly Longmont Council for the Arts) and the City’s Senior Services Division. As this program has now moved to the new Stewart Auditorium, Senior Services staff programmed the following cultural activities at the Senior Center for the fall of 2015. Hot Tomatoes and 17th Street All Stars

· Supported the Senior Citizens Advisory Board-coordinated Open House event attracting over 200 guests, many of whom were first time visitors to the Senior Center.

· Continued Latino Outreach by sponsoring an annual Multicultural Holiday event celebrating the holiday foods and traditions of several cultures with 150 people and purchasing new blouses, dresses, and performance sound equipment for the Bailes di mi Tierra dance troupe $2,408.

Facility Improvement

· Purchased camera and software and paid for installation of this security feature on the outside, northwest corner of the facility, $1,690.

· Purchased software to display room and activity information in the lobby, $2,687.

· Replaced broken staff hallway security system and door counters at the east and main entrance, $625.

· Purchased items to increase access for those with disabilities.