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North County organization dedicated to improving the lives of seniors welcomes new leadership The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing announces new Executive Director Sarah Benson and names new Board of Directors Chair Alison Driessen San Marcos, CA - The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing welcomed its first Executive Director, Sarah Benson, to lead the growing North County non-profit this week. Additionally, the Foundation for Senior Wellbeing thanks past Chair Kirk Effinger for his service and applauds incoming Board of Directors Chair Alison Driessen for her continued leadership. Sarah comes to the Foundation following four years as the Administrative Director at STAY COOL for Grandkids, a San Diego-based non-profit dedicated to engaging seniors in community environmental issues. At STAY COOL, Sarah developed the team of Advisors, located new funding sources and administered the programs and services. Incoming Board Chair Alison Driessen, a retired Registered Nurse with a diverse background in healthcare leadership, has served as The Foundation’s chair for its Program and Services Committee and has been actively serving on the Board of Directors. “I am passionate about serving our seniors and compassionate to the many challenges they face today, including growing housing costs, food insecurity, medical costs and lack of transportation options,” says Executive Director Sarah Benson. “I look forward to leading such an aspirational organization, getting to know our partners and clients, all while helping improve life for our greatest generation: our seniors.” As the new leader, Sarah will manage and govern the Foundation’s programs and services, including its Information Resource Center located in San Marcos. The Information Resource Center links the community to resources in the areas of senior housing, home repair, transportation, food insecurity, emergency assistance, medical and mental health issues, legal issues and more. Powered by Program Manager and Gerontologist Rebecca Steiner, along with a team of skilled volunteers, the center offers hands-on, compassionate guidance, vetted resources and personalized recommendations to its clients. Support is offered for free to those who call or visit, and a follow-up call is scheduled to ensure these clients find the resources they need.
North County organization dedicated to improving the lives of seniors welcomes new leadership The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing announces new Executive Director Sarah Benson and names new Board of Directors Chair Alison Driessen San Marcos, CA - The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing welcomed its first Executive Director, Sarah Benson, to lead the growing North County non-profit this week. Additionally, the Foundation for Senior Wellbeing thanks past Chair Kirk Effinger for his service and applauds incoming Board of Directors Chair Alison Driessen for her continued leadership.
Sarah comes to the Foundation following four years as the Administrative Director at STAY COOL for Grandkids, a San Diego-based non-profit dedicated to engaging seniors in community environmental issues. At STAY COOL, Sarah developed the team of Advisors, located new funding sources and administered the programs and services.
Incoming Board Chair Alison Driessen, a retired Registered Nurse with a diverse background in healthcare leadership, has served as The Foundation’s chair for its Program and Services Committee and has been actively serving on the Board of Directors.
“I am passionate about serving our seniors and compassionate to the many challenges they face today, including growing housing costs, food insecurity, medical costs and lack of transportation options,” says Executive Director Sarah Benson. “I look forward to leading such an aspirational organization, getting to know our partners and clients, all while helping improve life for our greatest generation: our seniors.”
As the new leader, Sarah will manage and govern the Foundation’s programs and services, including its Information Resource Center located in San Marcos. The Information Resource Center links the community to resources in the areas of senior housing, home repair, transportation, food insecurity, emergency assistance, medical and mental health issues, legal issues and more. Powered by Program Manager and Gerontologist Rebecca Steiner, along with a team of skilled volunteers, the center offers hands-on, compassionate guidance, vetted resources and personalized recommendations to its clients. Support is offered for free to those who call or visit, and a follow-up call is scheduled to ensure these clients find the resources they need.
“The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing has successfully developed a robust support system for seniors in through our North County center and programs. But we need to do more for the growing number of struggling seniors in our community,” says Chair Alison Driessen. “I’m looking forward to the leadership of a new Executive Director who will help convert our goals into actions and turn our dreams into reality.”
About Us - The Foundation for Senior Wellbeing is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to serve the health, physical, intellectual and social needs of seniors throughout North County, San Diego. The organization is dedicated to improving and enhancing the lives of a growing population of seniors in need, while supporting their caregivers and families. Major sources of funding for the Foundation include generous donors, the annual Festival of Trees event, grants and endowments.
The Foundation’s Information Resource Center, which opened in 2016, is just one example of the efforts to help the region’s seniors in need. It supports programs which provide community pride, offer supportive relationships, and bring a sense of purpose. The Foundation has been a source of funding for seniors-in-crisis programs and founded the Senior Disaster Resource Alliance, a group made up of first responders, local governments, non-profit service entities and senior care facilities.
For more information, please contact the Foundation’s Information Resource Center at 844-654-INFO (4636), stop by in person at 131 Richmar Avenue in San Marcos, or visit us online at www.TheFoundationForSeniorWellbeing.org.