Social value is created by non-profit organizations who perform their mission and make progress toward their goals to serve the community. Collaborations between businesses and non-profit organizations create significant economic, social, and environmental value, the dedication and commitment of individuals helping The Colorado Gerontological Society reach their goals is of high importance.
The Society collaborates with businesses and organizations to improve the lives of older adults. We work to bring value to professionals who work in the field. The partnerships help us to meet annual goals and mandates; while also providing businesses the opportunity to share their skills and expertise in bringing better services to Agers.
Most businesses and individuals are involved in our annual Holiday Basket Project. Baskets were delivered this year to 200 low income seniors. Our partnerships included: 19 food collection sites, cash donations from over 50 individuals, 13 agencies and individuals donated products, or services; and over 150 volunteers who assembled and delivered baskets.
Colorado is known for their commitment to volunteerism and helping others less fortunate. The Society partners with vision, hearing and dental providers to raise matching funds for the grant programs that we administer to low income seniors who need vision, hearing and dental services. On Make A Difference Day in collaboration with the national Points of Light program, optometrists, audiologists, and dentists delivered more than $156,000 of professional services to 47 older adults who were on our wait lists.
In the past year, our media partners provided hundreds of dollars in public service announcements, interviews, and call-in shows to help us reach thousands of Coloradans. Our partners included: 50+ Marketplace News, Prime Time for Seniors, Senior Beacon (Pueblo and Grand Junction), Life After 50, Channel 9 News and Senior Source, Estrella TV, KUVO/KVJZ-89.3, KEZW- 1430, KKFN-104.3, KOSI-101.1, KYGO-98.5 and The Fan-104.3, Telemundo and LaPrensa de Colorado.
In the past year our business partners have hosted more than 100 meetings and workshops providing free meeting space, refreshments and free parking as well as technical support and training services. This support allows us to use more funding for capacity building for professionals who serve seniors and empowering seniors to advocate on their own behalf.
This past year, we had partnerships with University of Denver, School of Social Work and University of Colorado School of Pharmacy. Students provided project support to meet our grant objectives.
The Salute to Seniors brings corporate volunteers together to plan and staff the expo. Volunteers donate more than 350 hours making the expo a seamless event for more than 2200 patrons to enjoy.
And lastly, more than 500 hours of professional services are donated to provide support with education and training, strategic planning, IT support, and lobbying/advocacy.
The funders of the programs, professional education, and advocacy services allow us to serve even more Coloradans. We want to acknowledge our major funding partners including Denver Regional Council of Governments, Area Agency on Aging; Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing; Colorado Health Foundation; Daniels Fund; Rose Community Foundation; GlaxoSmithKline; PhRMA; AbbVie; and The Aids Institute. Many community partners provide sponsorships for events.
The Society is grateful for the many collaborations and partnerships that have been endured ongoing for years some for more than 25 years. It is the continued support of our partners that enables us to serve hundreds of individuals 60+ each year. As we look back on 2017 and the past 37 years of services, we want to publicly say “Thank You” to our partners for their help in serving individuals 60+ each and every day.
As we all non-profits, our Board of Directors are volunteers. We look forward to expanding our social value to older Coloradans in 2018 through continued and expanded partnerships.
~ Eileen Doherty, MS is the Executive Director of the Colorado Gerontological Society since 1982. She can be reached at doherty001@att.net.