WEST ROXBURY, MA (July 8, 2010) – The Boston Foundation, New England’s largest community foundation, has awarded Ethos a $55,000 ‘special projects’ grant to support Agewell West Roxbury, Executive Director Dale Mitchell announced today.
According to Mitchell, the grant will be used to continue Ethos’s work promoting a more elder-friendly neighborhood in West Roxbury. AgeWell’s principal activities are devoted to connecting local elders to existing services and meeting unmet elder needs through the mobilization of local businesses, social service providers, faith-based organizations, social clubs, elected officials and residents of all ages. “AgeWell’s overarching goal,” Mitchell states, “is to help West Roxbury elders age-in-place. Families can’t do that alone nor can Ethos. AgeWell is our way of reaching out to the community for help.”
Mr. Mitchell emphasized how important the grant award is. “In light of recent state and federal budget cuts, AgeWell West Roxbury’s groundbreaking approach to keeping elders at home for as long as possible is totally dependent on the generosity of private donors. Ethos is very grateful that the Boston Foundation chose AgeWell West Roxbury as a policy initiative innovative enough to warrant its support.”
This grant will assist almost 400 West Roxbury elders. Program highlights will include the creation of a snow shoveling awareness campaign; providing in-home depression management tools for homebound elders; and expanding the availability of AgeWell’s highly touted Connected Living “senior-Facebook” through the use of in-home trainers.
If you are interested in learning more about the AgeWell West Roxbury project and would like to participate in various elder programs and services offerings in West Roxbury, contact (617) 477-6616.
