Executive Director, Lynette Killen to Speak at PCA's 2023 Regional Conference on Aging
The Philadelphia Corporation on Aging is hosting its 13th annual Regional Conference on Aging October 24th – 26th, at PCA’s historic Wallace Building, 642 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Free parking will be provided in the agency’s 15th Street parking lot.
In collaboration with the surrounding suburban Area Agencies on Aging, they will offer programming and continuing education credits for professionals who work with older adults. The conference will kick off with a Panel of Pundits discussion on Tuesday, October 24th, from 9:30 – Noon. Panel invites include PA Secretary of Aging Jason Kavulich; President & CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Jean Accius, PhD; National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition, Bob Blancato; past Secretaries of Aging Rich Browdie, Nora Dowd-Eisenhower, Brian Duke, Teresa Osborne and Robert Torres.
There will be concurrent sessions on Tuesday afternoon, as well as Wednesday and Thursday (mornings and afternoons).
Lynette Killen, Executive Director of The Sarah Ralston Foundation, in partnership with Jane Eleey, Executive Director of Penn’s Village, and Nora Brier, Psy.D., and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety (CTSA) in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, will provide an educational session titled “Loneliness and Social Isolation – Identifying, Understanding and Addressing the Issue,” as part of Wednesday’s lineup of educational sessions.
“Loneliness and social isolation are risk factors for mental health issues like anxiety and depression in older adults,” Killen said. “The importance of defining, identifying, and addressing these issues are paramount to both the provider and elder community.”
We hope to see you at the conference later in the month!
Lynette Killen Moderates at Greater Philadelphia Healthcare Summit
On September 20th, The Sarah Ralston Foundation Executive Director Lynette Killen moderated a panel discussion at the Greater Philadelphia Healthcare Summit. The session, titled “Community Engagement with Aging and Vulnerable Populations” included panelists David Rivenbark, Chief of Staff, Representative Tarik Khan, Representative Darisha Parker, Member, State House Aging & Older Adult Services Committee & Chair, Subcommittee on Care & Services, Zachary Shamberg, President & CEO, Pennsylvania Health Care Association, and Sean Coleman, Director of National Operations, Moravia Health.
“I’m glad that these important issues are being talked about,” Killen said. “Events like this are incubators for leadership, education, and the forging of meaningful partnerships that will ultimately create awareness and inspire much-needed resources.”
The Sarah Ralston Foundation's Commitment to Trust-Based Philanthropy: Questions and Answers with Board President, Neville Strumpf
Neville Strumpf
How is Trust-Based Philanthropy different from traditional philanthropy? Trust based philanthropy is a philosophical shift from traditional philanthropy in that it centers on the relationship between a foundation and grant recipient, creating a greater sense of partnership on matters of justice and equity.
Why is this approach important to The Sarah Ralston Foundation? When The Board of Directors considered its mission and core values as a new foundation, we wanted an organization committed to leveraging community assets, practicing diversity, equity and inclusion, and serving vulnerable and underrepresented older adults. As we educated ourselves, we found the ideals of trust-based philanthropy well suited to our mission.
What is your hope or vision for how this will manifest in our work? Having completed a first round of grant making for operational support for 28 diverse organizations serving older adults—everything from housing, food, companionship, and more—i have every confidence that the Sarah Ralston Foundation will have an impact on the well being of older adults in Philadelphia, as it did when the organization was founded in 1817 as a refuge for older women in need of shelter. Beyond simply funding organizations carrying out the work of supporting and enhancing quality of life for older adults, I hope the Foundation will increasingly become a thought leader, contributing in significant ways to models of care for the old among us in Philadelphia.
Is there anything you’d like to add? Every grant maker wants to have an impact on society in one way or another – I believe those practicing trust-based philanthropy have a special opportunity to create new paradigms of success with their approaches to interactive and supportive processes, mutual accountability, and partnerships in the spirit of service.
Innovative Project Support Grant Updates:
The Sarah Ralston Foundation is in the process of reviewing applications for our Innovative Project Support Grant. We will notify recipients by November 15th. “A nice mix of nonprofit organizations applied, and we are excited by the number of applications received. It’s great to see such interest in innovative projects to support elders in Philadelphia,” said Allison Cooper, Grants and Financial Manager for The Sarah Ralston Foundation. “I am hopeful that our funding is able to support some really great projects that our partners are implementing, and I am excited to see the impact our funding has on older adults in Philadelphia.”
Applications for the next grant cycle for General Operating Support will open on February 1st, 2024, and the application deadline is April 1st.
Blog Article: Funding Organizations that Advocate for Our Elders
The Sarah Ralston Foundation provides funding for nonprofits that serve vulnerable, underserved older adults in Philadelphia. In our inaugural grant cycle this spring, twenty-eight nonprofits received funding to bolster their work. These organizations all support the elderly population in various ways, from food and housing support to programming and social services. Advocacy is woven into much of the good work that our grantee partners do to obtain the services that their clients need.
“It’s important that our elders have a voice,” said Lynette Killen, Executive Director of the Sarah Ralston Foundation. “They need someone who advocates for their rights and well-being, because they often aren’t heard. Seniors may have physical, mental, or mobility impairments that make them more vulnerable to unjust treatment and less able to protect themselves. Our country also has systemic bias against elders that is evident in many ways – including funding, regulations, and myths. Charitable organizations that focus on advocacy of the elderly are needed now more than ever.”
We are highlighting three organizations that advocate on behalf of seniors, which the Sarah Ralston Foundation is proud to support through grants: Aging People in Prison – Human Rights Campaign (APP- HRC), Grand Central-Kinship Care Resource Center, and The Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders (CARIE).
Support Our Work
Your financial gift to The Sarah Ralston Foundation helps to support and enhance the quality of life of vulnerable and underserved older adults residing in Philadelphia County. We provide General Operating Support and Innovative Project Support to nonprofits throughout the City.
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