Movement empowering Older Americans to Age in their Communities gets $1.3 Million to expand in California

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thousands of older adults in nine California counties will now have more choice and control to remain in their homes and communities as they age. The Archstone Foundation announced grants totaling $1.3 million under their initiative to expand and strengthen "Villages" throughout the state so that older adults may age in place with maximum independence and dignity.

The Village model is rapidly expanding across California and the nation. Currently, there are 29 Villages inCalifornia – eight are open and 21 are in development. Nationally, there are 55 operating Villages with an additional 120 in various stages of development.

"We have an obligation to our parents, ourselves, and our children to respect the value of a meaningful life no matter what one's age," commented Terry Simonette, President & CEO, NCB Capital Impact. "We must do all we can to create sustainable ways for all Americans to remain independent, dignified, and connected to our communities throughout life," he added.

Villages are self-governing, membership driven, non-profit organizations run by small staffs and volunteers working together to build welcoming communities, provide social supports, and coordinate affordable services, including transportation, in-home medical care, home repairs and other day-to-day needs for people wishing to remain in their home and communities. In 2010, NCB Capital Impact and Beacon Hill Village launched the Village to Village Network to provide a national peer to peer network to help communities establish and sustain their own Villages.

"We know that older adults desire and plan to age in place, close to the people, organizations, businesses and services they know," said Susan Poor, Senior Policy Advisor, NCB Capital Impact and Village to Village Network. "Capital Impact's technical assistance through the Archstone grant includes individual work with grantees, group convenings, regular conference calls, and peer to peer learning that will advance the 'state of the art' in the Village movement to grow and sustain Villages throughout California, and sharing best practices nationwide."

Villages supported by these grants will receive training in business planning, marketing, sustaining growth and viability, creating and managing strategic partnerships, and designing member programs, services, and benefits.

"With these grants, the Archstone Foundation has continued its commitment to serving older adults.  These grants represent an investment in Creating Aging Friendly Communities through the Expansion of Villages, which seeks to further understand and document the varying village models being developed.  Through these grants, the Foundation is supporting consumer driven culture change for delivery of services for older adults who desire to age in community, and will identify the key organizational characteristics to advance the effectiveness and sustainability of these innovative models.  

"The movement for Villages will grow and provide meaningful, viable options for older persons to age in community across America.  If villages are successful and sustainable then together we will be pioneers in a movement that will be tailored to meet the needs of an aging population," said Archstone Foundation President and CEO, Joseph F. Prevratil, J.D.

Grants awarded by Archstone Foundation for the Creating Aging Friendly Communities through the Expansion of Villages Request for Proposals are:

NCB Capital Impact, Washington, District of Columbia, ($229,910):  A two-year grant to provide technical assistance to Foundation supported villages and convene four meetings of California villages.  

Ashby Village, Berkeley, California ($100,000):  A two-year grant to support the expansion of a grassroots village model serving the greater Berkeley area.

Avenidas, Palo Alto, California ($100,000):  A two-year grant to support the expansion of a grassroots village model serving the greater Palo Alto area.

Community SeniorServ, Orange, California ($52,727):  A one-year grant to support the development of a hub and spoke village model serving Orange County.

Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, California ($98,700):  A two-year grant to support the launch of a grassroots village model serving Santa Barbara.

Pomona Valley Community Services, Claremont, California ($100,000):  A two-year grant to support the launch of a hub and spoke village model serving the eastern part of Los Angeles County and western part of San Bernardino County.

Plumas Rural Services, Quincy, California ($100,000):  A two-year grant to support the development of a hybrid village model that expands upon an existing time bank and the launch of two village spokes.

San Francisco Village , San Francisco, California ($100,000):  A two-year grant to support the expansion of a hub and spoke village model serving the City of San Francisco.

Tierrasanta Village of San Diego, San Diego, California ($100,000):  A two-year grant to support the expansion of a time banking village model in the community of Tierrasanta.

WISE & Healthy Aging, Santa Monica, California ($100,000):  A two-year grant to support the expansion of a hub and spoke village model serving west Los Angeles.

University of California, Berkeley , Berkeley, California ($235,372):  A 30-month grant to conduct an external evaluation of the Foundation supported Expansion of the Village Movement initiative.

About NCB Capital Impact 
NCB Capital Impact helps people and communities reach their highest potential at every stage of life. As a national, non-profit community development finance institution, Capital Impact provides financial services and technical assistance to help make high-quality health care, healthy foods, housing, and education more accessible and attainable, and eldercare more dignified and respectful. Capital Impact has used its depth of experience, cooperative approach, and diverse network of alliances to generate over $1.6 billion in critical investments that create a high quality of life for low income people and communities. www.ncbcapitalimpact.org

About Archstone Foundation 
Archstone Foundation is a private grantmaking organization whose mission is to contribute toward the preparation of society in meeting the needs of an aging population.  Under the leadership of Joseph F. Prevratil, J.D., President and CEO, the Archstone Foundation has awarded more than $77 million in grants since it was established in 1986.  The Foundation's funding priorities include end-of-life issues, elder abuse and neglect, fall prevention, and responsive grantmaking to address emerging issues within the aging population. A complete list of Archstone Foundation grantees and additional information may be found at www.archstone.org .

About the Village to Village Network 
The Village to Village (VtV) Network is being created by Villages for Villages.  The VtV Network helps communities establish and manage their own "Villages." The Network is sponsored through a joint partnership between Beacon Hill Village and NCB Capital Impact and was developed in response to requests from Villages nationwide. For more information, visit  www.vtvnetwork.org .

SOURCE NCB Capital Impact