Health Foundation of South Florida Receives Renewal Grant from Grantmakers In Aging and The Pfizer Foundation to Help Make Miami-Dade County ‘Age-Friendly’
Miami, FL (PRWEB) November 07, 2014 -- Health Foundation of South Florida was awarded a $120,000 grant from the Pfizer Foundation and Grantmakers In Aging (GIA), a national association of funders, as part of a third year of funding totaling $1.49 million for Community AGEnda, an initiative aimed at helping American communities become great places to grow up and grow old. As part of the grant, Health Foundation is required to raise at least $40,000 in local matching funds for its Miami-Dade Age -Friendly initiative, which is now in its third year.
Health Foundation will use the award to expand on current age-friendly accomplishments, which include the creation of an age-friendly business district in Little Havana and age-friendly programs in County parks. Plans include launching a community planning process to identify age-friendly priorities, developing a three-year action plan, continuing age-friendly work on Miami-Dade County’s master and transportation plans, expanding the age-friendly business district, developing an awareness campaign, and convening an age-friendly summit for the region.
As more than 10,000 Boomers turn 65 every day, communities need to prepare to meet the challenges and embrace opportunities presented by a growing number of older adults.
According to Health Foundation President & CEO Steven E. Marcus, Ed.D., “This grant complements Health Foundation’s success in putting age-friendly principles into practice, as we did with the Healthy Aging Regional Collaborative that enabled more than 36,000 older adults in South Florida to age strong with evidence-based programs since 2008.” He added, “The funding from Grantmakers in Aging/ Pfizer Foundation, combined with support from our community partners, advances efforts to address the needs of a rapidly growing population of older adults.”
“Supporting age-friendly development is a natural role for local philanthropies because of their unique knowledge of the people and particular needs of their own regions,” said Grantmakers In Aging CEO John Feather, PhD. Pfizer Foundation Executive Director Oonagh Puglisi stated, “The movement to make communities more age-friendly is a smart and forward-looking response to our changing demographics.”
What is an Age-friendly Community?
Nationwide efforts to make communities age-friendly take various forms. Often they involve physical environments -- from safe outdoor spaces and accessible public transportation to affordable, well-designed housing. Other age-friendly initiatives tackle social needs: creating engaging cultural and outdoor activities, public services, and volunteering options. The Miami-Dade Age-Friendly Initiative, as with each community, will focus on its own local challenges.
About Grantmakers In Aging
Grantmakers In Aging (GIA) is an inclusive and responsive membership organization comprised of all types of philanthropies with a common dedication to improving the experience of aging. GIA members have a shared recognition that a society that is better for older adults is a society that is better for people of all ages. For more information, please visit http://www.giaging.org.
About The Pfizer Foundation
The Pfizer Foundation is a charitable organization established by Pfizer Inc. Its mission is to promote access to quality health care, to nurture innovation, and to support the community involvement of Pfizer colleagues. The Pfizer Foundation provides funding and resources to local and international organizations that expand and improve global health strategies. In 2013, the Foundation provided over $17.7 million in grants and employee matching gifts to non-governmental organizations around the world.
About Health Foundation of South Florida:
Health Foundation of South Florida, a nonprofit grant making organization, is dedicated to improving health in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. By advancing health solutions, the Foundation makes a measurable and sustainable impact in ensuring access to affordable, quality health services for all residents. Since 1993, the Foundation awarded more than $106 million in grants and program support. For more information, please call 305.374.7200 or see visit: http://www.hfsf.org.
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Health Foundation of South Florida
Media Contact: Shari Gantman
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 305.374.9199
shari gantman, health foundation of south florida, http://www.hfsf.org, +1 305.374.9199, [email protected]
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