Your Generosity in Action: 2019
An Infrastructure for Success
Over the past two years, we have worked to put in place an infrastructure and team to allocate Foundation funding in the most thoughtful and impactful ways. This work extends beyond fundraising, to include strategy, as well as program design. This program design component involves significant research, logistical considerations and pursuit of strategic partnerships and resources externally. Another key component of this effort is to build partnership with CenterLight’s internal clinical care functions, to assess where the Foundation can be of the most assistance operationally.
The Next Phase of Our Evolution:
An Active Grants Program
In 2019, we implemented a key part of any active Foundation – a grant making process. This not only supports the execution of the Foundation’s purposes but empowers and provides guidance to CenterLight staff to apply for grants that benefit our participants, which go above and beyond the products and services provided by the PACE benefit. This effort is gaining traction internally, with more staff applying for enriching programs that enhance our participants’ quality of life. In 2019, the following grants were proposed by staff, and funded by the Foundation:
Purchased new technology so that participants can keep in touch with loved ones on social media and to read books and online news, as well as learn new technology applications.
Organized “Spring Flings” across all 14 centers which promoted social and emotional well-being with live music, delicious catered food, special art activities and massage chairs.
Initiated an on-going speaker’s series that invites experts to educate our staff on important issues impacting participants and caregivers. Our first program, Hoarding, was presented to the social work department, and offered continuing education credits to attendees. We are organizing our next speaker to present in the first quarter of 2020.
Structured Alzheimer’s Program Across All Centers
Approximately 55 percent of our participants suffer from a type of dementiarelated illness, and we expect these numbers to increase as our census grows older. Throughout 2019, the Foundation implemented a Dementia and Alzheimer’s program that seeks to:
Train staff on how to support the specific needs of participants with cognitive impairment, empowering and reconnecting these individuals with their passions, their community, and sense of identity. The objective of this program is to help minimize the use of anti-psychotics and the incidence of falls and hospitalizations. The first training session will begin in January 2020, at 99th street. From there, we expect to offer this program in all 14 centers.
Participated in our first-ever Walk to End Alzheimer’s, an employee-wide initiative. We believe our support of this worthy cause exemplifies our support to those suffering. Our sponsorship of this event additionally resulted in valuable exposure to a key target audience and a possible referral.
Flushing Center
Grand Street Center
Site Community Space Redesign Project
Last year, the Foundation hired an architectural firm to embark on a site redesign feasibility study, in order to provide a more functional, comfortable and inviting community space for participants, caregivers and staff. We are now thrilled to share with these initial renderings, which will transform these spaces in ways that we could only dream about a year ago! As we continue to get input on these renderings, we hope to begin work on this redesign in 2020.
*Friends of CenterLight is a d/b/a of the Beth Abraham/CNR Foundation, a not-for-profit organization as described in Section 501(C) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.