Foundation on Aging Increases Emergency Funding
The Foundation on Aging for Larimer County has announced an increase in its budget for 2011 to fund its emergency assistance program. The purpose of this program is to support low income seniors with immediate, one-time assistance for unanticipated expenses for basic needs, such as medical, housing, utilities, and transportation. In 2010 the Foundation gave out $4000 to local nonprofit agencies for this purpose and dispensed $xxx.xx directly on behalf of individuals in need of assistance. Many requests were denied due to funding limitations. In anticipation of increasing need, the FOA board has made a commitment to raise funding from $10,000 in 2010 to $25,000 in 2011. While some of money to support this effort will come from savings in other program areas, the balance will be raised through education and awareness efforts to highlight the need for community support. Individual emergency grants have ranged from $30.00 to keep phone service from being disconnected, to $250 to help with the purchase of eye glasses. In many cases, FOA can work with a vendor to reduce the cost of a service or with one or more agencies to collectively fund a need.
