Good news from the foundation…


Members of the Senior Citizens Foundation Board of Directors at their annual meeting last week. From the left, Bill Seeberg, Ida Marie Bottone, Mimi Brennan and Reeves Thompson. Seated, President Sy Weissman.

The Senior Citizens Foundation of Shelter Island, Inc., a not-for-profit organization incorporated in 1999, held its 2010 annual meeting on Saturday, March 6 at the Senior Activity Center.


The good news coming out of the meeting is that the Board of Directors was able to approve two requests for grants submitted by Alan Krauss, chair of SCAC — one for $15,000 to support the Silver Circle, a social and activity program for older seniors, and the other a grant of up to $1,000, to continue to pay drivers taking seniors to medical and dental appointments. The Triple A transportation grant, which had covered their stipends, expired in December 2009.


These grants were made possible by Islanders like you who responded so generously to the foundation’s annual appeal in 2009. Despite the downturn in the economy last year, a euphemism for “deep recession,” total donations were only about $1,600 less than the 2008 total. That appeal took in over $19,000.


There are still foundation funds designated for home heating assistance for Island seniors who are having difficulty paying their fuel oil bills.


Since the 2009 appeal was officially closed January 31, 2010, the family of the late Dr. Phillip Reilly has designated the foundation to receive donations in his name. This is not only a first-time honor for the foundation, but it also represents an ongoing source of funding to help senior programs until the 2010 appeal is ready to roll later in the year.


Also on the agenda at the annual meeting was the re-election of Directors Ida Marie Bottone, Ruth Staehle and Reeves Thompson to new two-year terms.


In a brief report by Ida Marie, directors were informed of a new SCAC initiative, “Options for Life,” which is exploring ways of bringing a much-needed social worker to the Island. This program could be a future grant recipient.


Eleven years ago when the foundation was incorporated, its principal mission was the creation of a separate, modern senior facility to be built on land donated for that purpose by the Town of Shelter Island. Since then it has evolved from a bail-out agency when there have been short-falls in county or state funding for existing senior programs to a pro-active fundraiser to support and enhance current senior programs.


That is why the news from the foundation’s annual meeting is so good. Your tax-deductible contributions to the 2009 appeal have made it possible for two essential senior programs to continue through 2010. Once again, thank you for your generosity.