A local community center received a financial donation from AARP Pennsylvania to benefit its senior programs.
AARP provided the William Way LGBT Community Center a $5,000 donation, which will aid in addressing aging issues that impact the LGBT community in the Greater Philadelphia region. A check was presented March 10 to William Way Board of Directors Co-Chair Meg Rider and Senior Programs Coordinator Ed Miller during the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.
“One of the star partnerships we have is with AARP Pennsylvania. Since I focus on our senior programs, it’s a perfect mix,” Miller said. “We’re always interested in trying to find seniors who are isolated or are in communities where they don’t feel welcome, and we try to engage with them at the community center.”
The AARP Block Party exhibit at the Flower Show included a wishing well where specially designed coins were provided to event participants. For every coin tossed into the wishing well, donations were made to William Way, which resulted in the $5,000 donation.
“AARP, with its large population and large footprint in Pennsylvania, has allowed us to engage with them and find seniors who need our services,” Miller said. “We’ve been working with AARP for many years and they’ve been so welcoming and inclusive of our LGBT elders.
“We can’t say it enough. It’s really important that, as seniors age in our community, they are recognized and feel part of the whole community. This money is going to go to our senior programs. We have events programs, womens’ programs, intergenerational programs. It’s going to be really well spent.”
AARP is a nonprofit organization helping people achieve their goals while changing the way America defines aging. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace.
“I’m proud that we can give some money to well-deserving people for the great work that they do,” said Joanne Grossi, AARP Pennsylvania state president. “We have to recognize William Way’s constant efforts to help the LGBT community, right here in Philadelphia, in so many ways.
“They are building bridges to help connect communities, to connect older and younger generations, and to make life better for all as we age.”
William Way Senior Programs help address aging issues in the LGBT community through programs that promote involvement and advocacy in the community.
“We have lots of community organizations that utilize the center for events and programming,” said Rider, William Way LGBT Community Center board of directors co-chair. “We also provide a number of programs at the center from our staff and have a number of partnerships with community organizations.”
For more information about AARP, visit www.aarp.org. For additional information on William Way LGBT Community Center, visit www.waygay.org .