A CVS Health grant made it possible to test interventions to reduce social isolation and loneliness. Panelists representing the nine (9) sites shared information about their programs at the Social Isolation Forum presented by Thanks Mom & Dad Fund and CVS Health.

Emily Allen from AARP Foundation reviewed the pros and cons of various assessment tools and the seriousness of social isolation stating that isolation is as harmful to health as smoking 15 cigarettes per day! Cindy Follmer, Aetna President, joined the group to provide information about the CVS Health Zone Initiatives launched in five locations across the U.S.  Thanks Mom & Dad Fund, with partners at the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging, is pleased to be a partner in the Atlanta Health Zone Initiative in the 30318 zip code.

The nine sites that tested interventions included three (3) Senior Centers – Forsyth County Senior Services, SOWEGA Council on Aging and Troup Council on Aging; two (2) adult day health centers – Mercy Care Rome and Peachtree Christian Health, two (2) residential settings – SageNavigator, Inc. and National Church Residences Foundation; the John W. Looper Jr. Speech and Hearing Clinic and the University of North Georgia Research Foundation.

View the Social Isolation Forum’s program information (PDF) by clicking the image below.

Photos from the event.

PANELISTS Christi Heidt, Peachtree Christian Health; Katie McCreery-Sabor, John. W. Looper Jr. Speech & Hearing Clinic; Liz Molina, Mercy Care Rome. Not pictured, Leslie Jones – SOWEGA Council on Aging.

PANELISTS: Christi Heidt – Peachtree Christian Church; Courtney Fleming – Forsyth County Senior Services; Jacque Thornton – SageNavigator; Maureen Kelly- Thanks Mom & Dad Fund; JoAnna Freeman – National Church Residences Foundation. Not pictured, Dan Wooten – Troup Council on Aging.

CVS Health Zone Partners L to R: Caitlin Barringer- Open Hand, Nicola Williams -Atlanta Regional Commission, Cindy Follmer – Aetna, Tamika Brown- Atlanta Regional Commission and Maureen Kelly -Thanks Mom & Dad Fund

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Even during the second extraordinary year of a threatening virus, we witnessed the importance of partnerships in meeting the needs of older adults. It is gratifying to recognize your gifts at work and to see what we can do together to help seniors get the services they need.

While the lingering pandemic necessitated continued precautions for older adults who remained most at risk, it also prompted many new efforts and innovations. The focus shifted toward planning for a post-pandemic environment. Support from generous donors and sponsors made it possible to invest more than $166,000 in critical programs, senior centers, and important research.

For more details, see full report (PDF).

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“For the past 16 years, our Board of Directors has hosted a themed, in-person gala to raise awareness and funds for the many older adults who need assistance,” said Maureen Kelly, president of Thanks Mom & Dad Fund.  “Since we cannot celebrate in person this year, we will come together in an all-new format.  We invite everyone to join us virtually as individuals or team members for game night, special workshops and more that will be held Nov. 17-28, 2020.  I think people will appreciate the flexible scheduling and opportunities offered by our multiple events and virtual format.  We all know the COVID-19 pandemic has affected seniors on many levels, including emotionally, physically and financially.  Many older adults are being forced to stretch food or forgo timely doctor visits, and health precautions are keeping them isolated from friends and family members.  Caregivers are facing fatigue and personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages.  The Thanks a Million Campaign is designed to be fun for participants and to honor those who came before us.  Most importantly, it will raise much-needed funds so we can help the seniors who need assistance right now.”

The Thanks a Million Fundraising Campaign will include:

• A virtual trivia night Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. for a donation of $30-$250
• Online educational workshops on how to find help for older adults and Medicare open enrollment
• An “Honor Wall”, where donors can post a photo and share a story about someone to whom they want to say “Thanks a Million”.  The stories and photos will be shared on social media.
• Opportunities to create online fundraisers where family and friends can donate
• Appearances by retired journalist and WSB-TV Public Affairs Director Jocelyn Dorsey and actor Michael Kelly (House of Cards and Jack Ryan)

Since March 2020, Thanks Mom & Dad Foundation has identified and funded efforts to assist older Georgians during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Earlier this year, Thanks Mom & Dad Fund addressed specific needs for meals, PPE for senior caregivers and mental health services to combat the financial strain and social isolation experienced by older adults sheltering at home, thanks to a $50,000 grant from Anthem Foundation, the charitable arm of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Amerigroup in Georgia.  The Fund also recently partnered with LeadingAge Georgia, a statewide association of mission-driven organizations providing housing and services to older adults, to purchase nutritious meals and food for more than 4,200 low-income seniors.

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Professional care for elderly at nursing homes.

ATLANTA – The Thanks Mom & Dad Fund, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting programs and initiatives for seniors, has identified and funded efforts designed to assist older Georgians during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Thanks to a $50,000 grant from Anthem Foundation, the charitable arm of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Amerigroup in Georgia, Thanks Mom & Dad Fund has been able to address specific needs for meals, personal protective equipment (PPE) for senior caregivers and mental health services to combat the financial strain and social isolation experienced by older adults sheltering at home.

“The pandemic has amplified issues and needs faced by many seniors every day,” said Maureen Kelly, president of Thanks Mom & Dad Fund.  “Early in the pandemic, adults over age 65 were identified as high risk for serious illness or death from the virus, and were urged to shelter at home.  As weeks stretched into months, many found themselves hungry and isolated, while caregivers faced shortages of the PPE they need to safely care for older patients.  We are grateful to Anthem Foundation for their timely support so we could quickly address these immediate needs.”

The Fund partnered with LeadingAge Georgia, a statewide association of mission-driven organizations providing housing services to older adults, to purchase nutritious meals and food for more than 4,200 low-income seniors.  An additional 100 older Georgians were given gift cards donated by Kroger.  The organization also partnered with a restaurant in hard-hit Albany to feed over 160 seniors.

The Atlanta Regional Commission’s Empowerline program received funding to connect seniors to key services such as meals, transportation and mental health services.  In the early stages of the pandemic, the Fund purchased PPE to be distributed to a dozen Area Agencies on Aging that provide in-home care.  The remainder of the grant will be used for additional needs in the months to come.

“Early in the pandemic, Anthem realized that seniors were going to face unprecedented challenges, and the company’s financial generosity allowed us to quickly reach out to service providers across the state to target key areas of need,” said Kelly.  “As the pandemic continues, we expect to see more seniors struggling with food insecurity, fear and anxiety and social isolation.  We will continue to work with our valued partners to address these needs and new ones that may arise, such as providing technology and training to connect home-bound seniors virtually with family and friends.”

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What do a charity, a State Senator, an insurance company and medical students have in common?  The answer is fighting the spread of COVID-19 among the elderly. New partnerships are doing that in Georgia. The Thanks Mom & Dad Fund, State Senator P.K. Martin, and medical students from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine have joined forces to help Georgia’s seniors.

Many senior service providers have noticed a troubling trend: older adults declining in-home care for fear of contracting COVID-19. This can worsen existing health conditions. Like others in the healthcare industry, in-home care providers had difficulty getting personal protective equipment.

After receiving a grant from Anthem Foundation, Thanks Mom & Dad Fund reached out to Senator P. K. Martin, a champion for senior issues. Sen. Martin immediately jumped in to help alongside medical students who started a group known as Medical Students for Masks-ATL. Together these partners were able to find vendors and help deliver personal protective equipment to frontline workers providing in-home care for seniors across the state.

In the Atlanta region, Sen. Martin delivered some of the first masks to the Center for Pan-Asian Community Services (CPACS).

“I am honored to protect Gwinnett County seniors by helping CPACS,” said Senator Martin. “When disasters strike, new partnerships like this help us take care of our neighbors and that’s my priority.”

In addition to their Atlanta effort, Thanks Mom & Dad Fund distributed another 7,000 masks and 14,000 gloves to Area Agencies on Aging throughout the state.

“We wanted to quickly respond to the risk of COVID-19 exposure for older adults,” said Maureen Kelly, President of Thanks Mom & Dad Fund. “All of the partners played a role by assembling quickly to help local areas across the state.”

Additional grants were made to LeadingAge Georgia for 4,000 meals in low-income senior housing facilities and to the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging for mental health services and reassurance calls.

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Older adults across Georgia face critical needs

 (Atlanta, April 27, 2020) Thanks Mom & Dad Fund^® is partnering with Anthem Foundation, the charitable arm of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Amerigroup in Georgia, to support critical unmet needs for older adults across Georgia. “Seniors are facing urgent, unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19,” said Maureen Kelly, President of Thanks Mom & Dad Fund, “These funds allow us to begin to bridge the gaps we’ve identified and address some of their most basic needs.”

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia, Thanks Mom & Dad Fund has worked with organizations serving seniors throughout the state to identify the most pressing needs. These include many older adults struggling with food insecurity, frontline in-home care providers seeking safe protective equipment, and concerns about mental health services to reduce fears and anxiety so that social distancing does not become social isolation.

“We are grateful to Anthem Foundation for their timely support” said Kelly. “Our connection to service providers allows us to be flexible and swiftly respond to the needs of older adults in the state as we make it through these uncertain times.”

“While the need is much greater than we can possibly fulfill, we are doing what we can to financially support our local partners,” said Melvin Lindsey, president of Amerigroup Georgia’s Medicaid plan. “Organizations like Thanks Mom & Dad Fund will put these funds to good use and help address the need from our seniors who have increasing challenges in this current environment.”

 If you or a loved one need services, the national Eldercare Locator can help. You can reach them at 1-800-677-1116 or https://eldercare.acl.gov. Georgia’s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (1-866-552-4464 – select option 2) can also connect you to resources in local Georgia communities.

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More than 80 programs serving older adults receive funding

 (Atlanta, February 19, 2020) Thanks Mom & Dad Fund^®, a charity that honors parents, grandparents and mentors by supporting programs and services for older adults announced the award of 86 grants across Georgia totaling $180,000.

The Board of Trustees of the Thanks Mom & Dad Fund awarded 10 grants to senior service providers across Georgia including Golden Harvest Food Bank and Augusta University’s Healthy Grandparents Program in Augusta; Neighbor in Need, Clifton Sanctuary Ministries, Project Healthy Grandparents at Georgia State University, High Museum’s Musing Together Program, and Atlanta Community Food Bank in Atlanta; I Care, Inc’s transportation services in DeKalb County; John W. Looper Center for Speech & Hearing in Dalton, Georgia; and Georgia Reading Radio Service. 

Funds are raised throughout the year and at the annual Thanks A Million Gala hosted in November. “Our generous sponsors help make these important grants possible” said Maureen Kelly, President and Founder.

In addition to the annual grant awards, Thanks Mom & Dad Fund partnered with the Georgia Department of Human Services to update senior centers across Georgia and offer new programs. “Senior Centers must test new and innovative programs to meet the needs of baby boomers as more and more reach retirement age.” said Kelly.

Grants have been made to modernize and update programs at 76 senior centers throughout the state. Grant funds are supporting new equipment and assistive technology labs, new programs including therapeutic drumming circles, art programs, virtual senior centers, and many more.

To find your local senior center visit the Georgia Department of Human Services Division of Aging Services website at www.aging.ga.gov. 

Since 2003, Thanks Mom & Dad Fund has donated over $1.6 million to support innovative programs and initiatives dedicated to serving older Georgians.  For more information visit www.thanksmomanddadfund.org

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Check out the 2020 Grantee Listing

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To make an honorary contribution or memorial gift, just visit the Donate Now page and select the option to honor someone while completing the form. Thanks Mom & Dad Fund will take it from there. Questions? Contact us for help.

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“For 42 years, this honor has been awarded to a leader in the network who has made outstanding contributions that promote the safety, welfare, and well-being of older persons in the Southeast region. Maureen’s contributions to the network are remarkable, and we celebrate her, as she is most deserving of this prestigious award!”

Kelly founded Thanks Mom & Dad Fund to address the growing funding gap in services for older adults across the state. The organization partners with Georgia’s Area Agencies on Aging to provide funding to senior centers across Georgia.

The Georgia Association of Area Agencies on Aging (G4A) nominated Kelly for this award. “Maureen has been a fierce advocate and fundraiser for aging services across Georgia,” said Julie Hall, President of G4A. “We are proud that her hard work was recognized in the region.”

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Senior Centers across Georgia receive funds to test new programs and buy equipment

(Atlanta, February 12, 2018) Thanks Mom & Dad Fund®, a charity that honors parents, grandparents and mentors by supporting programs and services for older adults, distributed 64 grants across Georgia,

 Thanks Mom & Dad Fund awarded 11 grants to senior service providers across Georgia including Golden Harvest Food Bank in Augusta, ITN Lanier, Georgia Health News, AG Rhodes, Sadie Mays, Alchemy Sky Foundation, Project Healthy Grandparents, DeKalb for Seniors, Decatur Cooperative Ministries, and Midtown Assistance Center.

In addition to the annual grant awards, 53 senior centers received Senior Center Innovation grants to modernize senior centers and update programs. Grant funds are supporting new equipment and assistive technology labs, new programs including therapeutic drumming circles, art programs, virtual senior centers, and many more. Thanks Mom & Dad Fund distributed more than $130,000 grants this year to fill funding gaps faced by programs serving older adults and caregivers.

“We are excited to partner again with the Department of Human Services to update senior centers across Georgia and offer new programs,” said Maureen Kelly, President and Board Chair. “We must offer new programs to meet the needs of working caregivers as well as baby boomers beginning to reach retirement age.”

“Senior centers are important to the lives of older Georgians,” said Abby Cox, Director of the Division of Aging Services. “We are proud to help local senior centers test new programs and modernize for their community.”

Grants have been made to modernize senior centers and update programs. Grant funds are supporting new equipment and assistive technology labs, new programs including therapeutic drumming circles, art programs, virtual senior centers, and many more.

This is the second year for the partnership between Thanks Mom & Dad Fund and the Georgia Department of Human Services. Across Georgia 87 senior centers have received more than $200,000 through 109 grants. 

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