The Community Foundation of Broward’s latest private foundations roundtable explored opportunities for philanthropic collaborations that support “aging with dignity.”
On March 18, we welcomed fundholders, nonprofit leaders and representatives from private foundations for an engaging discussion, led by our expert panel, about challenges facing low-income seniors as well as ways to tackle senior isolation.
Our panel, moderated by President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson, included:
- Lynn and John Offerdahl – John is a Miami Dolphin great, restauranteur and former Community Foundation Board member. He and his wife Lynn head Offerdahl’s Hand-Off Foundation, which partners with businesses, local government and civic and faith-based organizations to “feed the needs of those in crisis.”
- Brian Johnson – President/CEO of the Minority Builders Coalition, which advocates “ensuring that seniors can age in place with dignity”
- Timothy Curtin – Memorial Healthcare’s Executive Director for Community Services in Broward County
We discussed topics including:
- Helping navigate the complex web of support that exists for seniors to get food, housing, transportation, health care and other day-to-day necessities
- How Broward’s senior population is growing and the strain this causes for already over-burdened support systems
- How the diversity of our community factors into addressing seniors’ needs
- Growing health threats from senior isolation
- and much more
“In this room, we have philanthropic leaders, subject matter experts and organizations working on the front lines,” Community Foundation Board Chair Jonathan Allen said. “Together, we have the insight and the resources to move from conversation to coordination. And from coordination to real impact.”
Hosting roundtable discussions, “lunch and learns” and other community convenings are examples of how the Community Foundation raises awareness about important issues and explores opportunities for philanthropy to make a lasting difference. Homelessness, education needs, human trafficking and the arts are among the many local issues in addition to “aging with dignity” that we have explored at our community convenings over the past few years.
It’s all part of our commitment to “listen, learn and share,” which is one of the five values that shapes the Community Foundation’s work to champion local philanthropy.
Longtime Support for Seniors
Support for seniors has been a hallmark of the Community Foundation since our founding in 1984. To amplify those efforts, back in 2018 we partnered with the United Way of Broward County and the Jewish Federation of Broward County back to commission a landmark entitled, “The Silver Tsunami: Is Broward Ready?” The study identified growing challenges such as high medical costs, limited housing options, unaffordable home care, the detrimental effects of senior isolation and long waiting lists for help.
Challenges facing seniors have grown since our report in 2018. We’ve seen a dramatic rise in the cost of housing, insurance and basic living expenses – all of which increase pressure on seniors living on fixed incomes. And since the pandemic, more older adults are facing the damaging health effects that can come from senior isolation.
Local philanthropy is helping make things better for seniors. For example, in recent years the Community Foundation’s “Dignity in Aging” collaboration with United Way of Broward County and The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation produced more than $500,000 in grantmaking support for nine critical outreach programs that have helped seniors overcome isolation and restore connections to loved ones and their community.
We remain committed to working with our fundholders, front-line nonprofits and other champions of local philanthropy to find new ways to help Broward’s seniors live life to the fullest.
Let’s talk about how you can partner with the Community Foundation to amplify your impact for our community. Contact Vice Kelly Marmol at kamarmol@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.
