MOWAA Staff Visit Members in Florida

For those of you who have read my blogs entries since I stared at MOWAA just about a year ago, you know that my favorite days are the ones where I either deliver meals with or visit with one of our Member programs around the country. As the Director of Development, when I travel, it usually involves a fundraising event or meeting with a corporate or potential corporate partner. On these trips we always take time to visit with the Meals On Wheels program(s) in the area we are visiting. Without fail, visiting those programs always inspires me, recharges my batteries and reminds me of why I do what I do.
Nothing makes me better at fund raising than a reminder of what I am raising the funds for.

Yesterday, we visited with two wonderful Meals On Wheels programs in the Orlando, FL area. First we stopped at Osceola Council on Aging to take a tour of the facility and so Enid and Larry Magee (the CEO of Bridgestone Retail Operations) could deliver meals together. The folks at the program were so hospitable, their facility is amazing and kitchen was just spectacular. Not to mention they made us scones fresh that morning that were the best I’ve ever had (thanks Cathy)!

My favorite part about visiting Osceola Council on Aging was the seeing the joy on the seniors’ faces who were there for congregate meals.
They were happy and engaged and many were dancing to the music that was being played for them. This party was better than my New Year’s party I think. The mutual love and respect between the staff and the neighborhood seniors is really special.

I also want to acknowledge the impact that the seniors at the center and the seniors who received meals seemed to have on Mr. Magee. I think he was touched and understands why Bridgestone’s support is so important.

We wrapped up our day visiting another outstanding program, Seniors First, Inc. in Orlando. Hearing from them how much they appreciate the support and opportunities MOWAA provides them made my day. It was also hugely helpful to hear what more we can do. The work they do with their emergency meal program is outstanding and provides a model that Meals On Wheels programs around the country could follow. To learn about the challenges they face and the ingenuity they use to overcome those challenges…wow. It’s just awesome the work our programs do in communities with such limited resources. I wanted to get on the phone to find new partners before we even got back to the hotel.

I hope the rest of our visit to Orlando is fruitful and we come home with wonderful news and ideas from our partnership with Bridgestone, but nothing will compare to my day on Thursday. It thrilled me to meet such fabulous people who are doing truly astounding work. I know we can end senior hunger in America by 2020. With the brains and hearts I’ve encountered, there is no doubt in my mind. We just need stay together, as one great movement, and find some new friends to join us along the way.

Matthew Levine
Development Director
MOWAA

Monday, February 1, 2010 | Program State: Florida, National Headquarters | Comments (0)

Meals on Wheels of RI CEO Announces Retirement

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island announced today that its long-time President and Chief Executive Officer is retiring. Sandra (Sandy) Centazzo, a 28 year veteran of the non-profit agency, leaves after leading the Rhode Island organization to become one of the largest and most respected senior nutrition and elder care programs in the United States. Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, under Ms. Centazzo’s leadership, has repeatedly been recognized by the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) as one of the nation’s best, granting the Rhode Island agency numerous accolades and awards.

“It’s been a wonderful and fulfilling 28 years,” stated Ms. Centazzo “And, I’m confident in the senior team’s ability to take Meals on Wheels to the next stage.” Sandy intends to take some extended time off in 2010, her first time doing so since joining the organization in 1981. She then expects to focus on volunteer work and continue to advocate for the rights of senior citizens on a national and local level.

Joseph Brown, the organization’s founder and its first Executive Director and a current member of its Board of Directors, stated: “Sandy, through almost 3 decades, had a 100% commitment to Rhode Island’s frail elderly population. I sincerely appreciate her efforts on behalf of Meals on Wheels. She will be missed.”

Monday, January 25, 2010 | Program State: Rhode Island | Comments (0)

MOWAA Member Reaches Milestone

MOWAA Member program Wilson County Office of Senior Citizens Affairs has served thier one millionth meal after nearly thirty years of serving the seniors of their community. This is a testament to the major impact that just one Meals On Wheels program can have on the seniors in their area. We join their neighbors in Wilson, NC in congratulating them on this major accomplishment.

The Wilson County Office of Senior Citizens Affairs has reached a milestone. We have served our 1,000,000th meal in Wilson County, North Carolina. We are a small rural area, so you can imagine how excited everyone is about this. We will have been in operation 29 years in March.
Debbie Raper
Executive Director

Thursday, January 21, 2010 | Program State: National Headquarters | Comments (0)