Since 2011, Program Annually Funds Projects and Services That Align With the Social Responsibility Mission of Front Porch
Glendale, Calif. July 16, 2014 – Front Porch is a not-for-profit ‘human serving’ organization featuring innovative communities and programs that meet the changing needs of individuals as they age. Today, Front Porch is pleased to announce that its Social Accountability in Action program is providing a $15,000 grant to Resounding Joy’s Joy Giver Program, a recreational quality-of-life-enhancing music program for older adults at the San Diego Senior Community Centers and for at-risk seniors served by the Alzheimer’s Association – San Diego Chapter.
Front Porch’s Social Accountability in Action program began in 2010, with annual funding starting in 2011 to enhance the Front Porch mission of “meeting needs through excellence in human services.” The program sets aside money annually to fund projects, programs and services that align with the social responsibility mission of Front Porch.
“Music has the power to improve emotions, as well as our physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing,” said Terry Bluemer, SVP, Organizational Accountability Group at Front Porch. “Resounding Joy’s Joy Giver Program provides a healing mechanism for older adults and residents living with Alzheimer’s, and offers social engagement from its volunteers who range from adults to children ages 8-to-17 … also known as Junior Joy Givers. This program fits with Front Porch’s human serving goals. Our Social Accountability in Action council is pleased to provide this contribution.”
In the past fiscal year, Front Porch’s Social Accountability in Action council has provided $294,000 in funding for:
- Cecil Pines ‘Lady Crafters’ – A group of residents producing personal items for the comfort of hospital patients, hospice residents and members of military in war zones.
- Bethany Towers – Financial support to provide housing and services to improve the lives of elderly, moderate-income residents in Hollywood.
- CARING Housing Ministries (CHM) Community Benefit and Teambuilding – Contributes matching funds to a unique program for CHM employees to select a charity and provide support by doing volunteer work and fundraising. Through this program, CHM chooses to foster team development and nurture team building by leveraging the effort to “do good” and learning to “do it well” as employee teams work for six months to support their designated charity.
- Claremont Senior Services – Supports the ‘REAL Connections’ program by paying membership fees for seniors who could benefit from the ‘connections’ program but cannot afford it, allowing local seniors to connect with neighbors and utilize local services and resources.
- LeadingAge – A two-year commitment to its national association for sponsorship of technology research and development for seniors.
- Alzheimer’s Association – Matches fundraising efforts of Fredericka Manor and Fredericka Manor Care Center employees and residents to support research for Alzheimer’s disease.
Since its inception in 2004, Resounding Joy has served more than 75,000 people, from infants to seniors, throughout San Diego County. The organization promotes healing through music-making to seniors, children who are hospitalized, teen parents and their children; active duty military personnel, veterans and their families.
Its programs provide professional music therapy services, recreational music experiences and supportive musical engagement. Among these programs is the Joy Giver program, a volunteer training platform in which trained volunteers provide supportive and recreational music services to Joy Receivers – children and adults who are either in a community, hospitalized or home-bound.
“Our programs are highly replicable and are often cited as model music programs,” said Barbara Reuer, PhD, Executive Director of Resounding Joy. “Both our Joy Givers and Joy Receivers have reported life-affirming benefits from their music experiences. We appreciate this generous contribution from Front Porch’s Social Accountability in Action council, as it will allow us to expand our offerings to older adults, helping them build connections with one another and their communities through recreational music.”
About Front Porch
Front Porch is a not-for-profit support system for a family of companies that serve individuals and families through full-service retirement, active adult communities, affordable housing communities through CARING Housing Ministries and related management and development services. No two Front Porch communities are alike! Each community is as unique as the individuals who live in them. Front Porch active adult and full-service retirement communities offer a full range of options from independent living to skilled care, including assisted living and memory support in unique settings.
Specialized programs like the Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, Front Porch Gallery and affiliated Centers for Spirituality and Aging support the Front Porch belief in understanding and meeting needs so that residents can live life their way. Front Porch is expanding its ‘human serving’ capabilities with its commitment to ‘Humanly PossibleSM’, a cultural imperative that harnesses the innovative spirit of all of its staff in an effort to do whatever is humanly possible to meet emerging needs in the communities it serves now and in the future. With innovative communities and programs that meet the changing needs of people as they age, Front Porch represents a leading-edge approach to enhance wellbeing. Front Porch is comprised of 10 full-service retirement communities in California and two adult living communities: one in Louisiana and one in Florida. Front Porch also serves individuals and families through more than 20 affordable housing communities managed by Front Porch’s affiliate, CARING Housing Ministries. Front Porch, based in Glendale, Calif. and founded in 1999, is a not-for-profit organization that gives back to its residents and the communities it serves. More information is available at www.frontporch.net.
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