Debt-Free on our 3rd Anniversary of the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center Opening

April 22, 2013 marks the third anniversary of opening the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center.  Senior Community Centers staff, the Gary and Mary West Foundation and over 200 seniors gathered throughout the building to celebrate this home away from home.

Seniors took the stage to express their heartfelt gratitude towards Gary and Mary West as well as Senior Community Centers staff. The Dining Room, hallways and Gathering Place vibrated with positive energy and applause when I had the distinct pleasure of announcing that as of April 18, 2013, we are the proud owners of the building! Thanks to very generous supporters, we officially paid off all debt we incurred to build the Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center.

(Click the picture to view a short slideshow of the event)

Every day 600+ low-income seniors from all over San Diego come through our doors. The Center is home, a place where they receive companionship, support and healthy meals. Seniors feel safe because we have a zero tolerance against discrimination of any kind. I’ll leave you with a few widely-echoed sentiments that seniors said at the birthday party:

“I love coming to the Center. You treat less fortunate people with such respect that I feel human again.” ~Marcello

“I come here every day at 11 for lunch and then I stay for the afternoon activities. Everybody is so nice.” ~Lisa, 89

SUNDAY at 10 a.m.: We will be on KUSI’s San Diego People

seniors

On Sunday at 10 a.m., please tune into KUSI/channel 9 to catch me on the station’s public information show “San Diego People.” One of three local non-profits to take part in the program, I was fortunate to represent the senior community and discuss the need for the public’s support to help nourish our local seniors through nutrition, housing, health and well-being.

If you are interested in making a year-end donation to support San Diego’s low-income seniors, please contact (619) 487-0605 or donate online by clicking here .

Have a safe and happy New Year!

Paul

Fran Robinson Family Gives “Food from the Heart”

Today is the Fran Robinson Family of the Day at Senior Community Centers. Fran’s daughter Gail and son-in-law Jeffrey Donahue, want to honor their mother by making a $1,000 contribution to SCC and be the sponsors of the 1,800 meals that we served today. They chose December 27, as the Fran Robinson day because their lovely mother is in town and they all came down to serve meals to our seniors as a family.

“Her energy and zest for life have gone to teaching us all many things as a mother. She always encouraged us to look on the good side of things and persevere and instilled in all of us the importance of being charitable and always helping others.” says Gail.

Food from the Heart program at SCC was created to give families and groups of friends and colleagues, a way to express their philanthropy through the support of deserving San Diegans. We thank Fran and her lovely family for making a difference and adopting our cause as the Family of the Day. Today there are 1,800 more full stomachs and smiling faces. Thank you!