Serving More Seniors
JOINT PRESS RELEASE FROM MWCCE AND FRIENDS OF CENTER 50+
Private Gift Grows Senior Services and Programs in Salem
The Mountain West Center for Community Excellence (MWCCE) and Friends of Center 50+, the nonprofit branch of Center 50+, are partnering to bring services and programming to more seniors throughout Salem-Keizer.
Although a longtime supporter of Center 50+ and its mission, Mountain West is excited to commit even deeper to promoting the well-being of seniors in its community. Mountain West Investment Corporation has pledged a $2.7 million investment in Friends of Center 50+ on behalf of MWCCE, distributed over three years as agreed-upon benchmarks are met. Inspired by the community’s support of senior services through the recent passage of the City of Salem levy, the gift is an investment in community collaboration, acknowledging that Center 50+’s outreach and services must increase alongside our aging population.
“The community stepped up to support Center 50+ and community services in general,” said Marilyn Daily-Blair, Director of Center 50+. “But stable funding does not provide for growth. The number of older adults now outnumbers children and youth in Oregon. Knowing that, the only way to serve a growing number of seniors is for our private partners to step in, too.”
Salem Mayor Julie Hoy and her team are excited about the prospect of more cross-sector partnerships like this, which will continue to support transformative work in the city without further burdening the budget. “We are thrilled by continued community support for our work with older adults,” said Mayor Hoy, who has worked closely with Mountain West and other community organizations to find sustainable funding solutions. The support of private foundations, philanthropists, and non-governmental organizations is key to building a healthier future for Salem and its aging population.
With this new funding, the Friends of Center 50+ will be able to expand their capacity, grow and strengthen the volunteer workforce through Center 50+, and build new partnerships with other senior-serving organizations. A member of the MWCCE staff will be joining the Center 50+ team in its active community outreach and new programming for the duration of the gift to accelerate capacity and impact. New programs include: a mobile market and meal program launching in Salem neighborhoods in September; the provision of outreach, activities, information, and resources to senior co-housing projects; and networking opportunities for other senior centers and hubs in Marion and Polk Counties. The funds will also be used to refresh Center 50+’s17-year-old Portland Road facility with updated equipment and furnishings and expand existing outreach and volunteer programs.
The ultimate goal of the gift and partnership is to reach more and underserved seniors, and to do so in a way that avoids duplication and maximizes efficiency and impact. Both organizations look forward to serving Salem’s older adults in a way that honors their needs and recognizes their incredible capacity for contributing to our community.