The Senior Friendship Health Center utilizes a nationally acclaimed and award-winning model that includes a staff entirely comprised of volunteer physicians, dentists, clinical, and clerical teams that provide a broad continuum of care for patients in a traditional ambulatory multispecialty center. The providers work to improve the health status of the local population through education, access to maintenance care, and guidance through complimentary social services. The Senior Friendship Health Center manages over 4,000 patient visits annually. Many of the patients served would resort to using local hospital emergency rooms for care if the Health Center’s services were not available. The Health Center regularly detects cancers, returns smiles with new teeth, and restores hope for patients facing difficult diagnoses. Utilizing volunteers allows the Senior Friendship Health Center to maximize the impact of each dollar raised by eliminating the cost of extensive professional staffing.
The mission of the Moorings Park Foundation is to create a culture of philanthropy that affords opportunities to benefit the residents of Moorings Park, its employees, and the greater community. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting agencies and organizations focused on enhancing the lives of seniors. The Foundation Board includes thirteen members, including residents of Moorings Park, who serve on a pro bono basis. Individual Board member contributions to the Senior Friendship Health Center were matched by an anonymous Board member donor.
The Moorings Park Foundation continues to expand its philanthropic Community Outreach Program. Other senior focused organizations that have benefitted from the Moorings Park Foundation’s philanthropy include the Naples Senior Center and the Golden Gate Senior Center. A program of JFCS, the Naples Senior Center serves adults 60 years of age and older and helps them maintain a healthy, satisfying quality of life by providing services and activities in a nurturing environment. The Center offers a central place for seniors to socialize, receive services, participate in programs, and receive a hot lunch. Founded through a collaboration of Collier Senior Resources, individuals, and local organizations, the Golden Gate Senior Center provides a variety of programs, classes, hot lunches, food pantry, employments assistance, and other resources for seniors and caregivers. Educational seminars, support groups, and events for older adults and caregivers provide needed and valuable knowledge and resources. To address the critical issues of isolation and loneliness, the Golden Gate Senior Center offers arts, crafts, music, computer classes, exercise, social gatherings, and recreational and developmental opportunities for seniors.
In addition to its support of senior focused organizations, the Moorings Park Foundation annually provides scholarships and childcare benefits to Moorings Park’s employees and their families. Founded nearly 20 years ago, an ongoing program has given over $1 million to nearly 700 families and students since its inception. A committee reviews applications from employees and their children who are pursuing further education. Some of the students pursue career paths in education or healthcare while others study in various fields ranging from music to engineering. The Foundation has also provided grants to local colleges and technical schools.
“The mission of Moorings Park is to provide Simply the Best® facilities and services for successful aging with professional and compassionate care to each person we serve,” said Lavender. “There is a powerful synergy between that mission and the mission of the Moorings Park Foundation. Through its programs and grants, the Foundation has enhanced the quality of life of our residents, supported our employees and their families, and provided new opportunities for charitable organizations to better serve the needy elderly in our community. The positive impact of the culture of philanthropy the Moorings Park Foundation continues to create on a daily basis cannot be overstated.”