The following press release from September 26, 2019, does a nice job of capturing the story behind this fund being established at the Juneau Community Foundation at this time. Please take a moment to read and please consider donating to the fund!
PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Sioux Douglas, President
Senior Citizen Support Services, Inc.
Amy Skilbred, Executive Director
Juneau Community Foundation
907-523-5450; info@juneaucf.org
NEW SENIOR CITIZEN SUPPORT FUND ANNOUNCED
A new Senior Citizen Support Fund has been created at the Juneau Community Foundation. This Fund to support Juneau’s seniors was started with an initial donation of $125,000.
The fund was created by Senior Citizen Support Services, Inc. (SCSSI) which transferred its cash assets to the Foundation. SCSSI is dissolving as a non-profit corporation and transitioning into an informal association. It will continue to advocate for and support issues and needs relating to Juneau’s elder community as well as serve as the advisors to the new fund.
“At the rate elders are living longer, and given the fact that soon 25% of Juneau’s population will be over 65, how could we NOT create this fund?” Sioux Douglas, President of SCSSI.
Douglas said this was good timing for SCSSI to transition. The small non-profit has worked diligently for six years to help bring senior assisted living and memory care to Juneau and the community seems closer than ever to seeing that happen. Douglas expressed appreciation to the City and Borough of Juneau for its recognition of the extreme need for senior housing and assisted care and for creating some sound incentives to help with the high cost of development in Juneau. It is likely a competitive request for proposals will soon be released by CBJ to potential developers and operators of assisted living communities. “We are hopeful there will be an award by end of year and construction will start in 2020”, Douglas announced.
SCSSI has been supporting senior needs and issues since the mid-1990’s when it began as a non-profit to support senior housing in particular. It is responsible for building, and then operating for many years, Fireweed Place, downtown apartments for seniors who can live independently.
“This new Fund is the only one at the Community Foundation that focuses solely on seniors,” stated Amy Skilbred, Executive Director. The Juneau Community Foundation is thrilled there will now be a more direct way to provide grants for senior needs and services. “We join with SCSSI in inviting donors to help this important fund to support seniors grow quickly, now and long into the future.”
For additional information about the new Senior Citizen Support Fund please contact Sioux Douglas or Amy Skilbred at 907-523-5450 or info@juneaucf.org.
To Donate
Donate by credit card using the link below or make your checks payable to: Juneau Community Foundation, 350 North Franklin Street, Suite 4, Juneau, Alaska 99801. Please call us at 907-523-5450, or email info@juneaucf.org for information on donating stock, wiring funds, establishing a Fund, gifting a portion of a Qualified Charitable Distribution from your IRA, or naming the Juneau Community Foundation in your will as a designated beneficiary.
