zealousness 4 Senior Connections Program 2017 10 | Page 4

BOARD OF DIRECTORS A Message to Our Donors & Supporters
CHAIR OF THE BOARD
Deirdra Williams, Accenture The Board of Directors of Senior Connections and I would like to welcome you to the 2017 Senior Prom and to
thank you for your continued commitment to help seniors. As many of you know, there is a great deal of un-
certainty right now about the state of our national safety net programs and how hard seniors will be affected by
potential cutbacks.
VICE CHAIR
Courtney Lewis Enslow, Retired, AT & T
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Walt Bryde , Rhodes, Young, Black and Duncan, CPA’s
According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, the metro-Atlanta area will see a population increase of 1.5 mil-
lion people by 2040, a 37% jump. Between Generation X and Baby Boomers, 1 in 4 residents will be over the age
of 60 by 2040. Combined with current levels of insufficient funding for meals, in-home care and home repair, we
are facing a perfect storm of senior need in the next decade and beyond.
SECRETARY
Teah Glenn Kirk, Attorney-at-law
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jennifer Bedard, Cox Automotive
Andrea L Belfanti, International Society Of Hospitality Consultants
Barbara Blevens, LexisNexis
Ajiah Brown, Brookdale
Seth Ford, Troutman Sanders LLP
Pastor Mary Lou Gilbert, Oak Grove United Methodist Church
Bob Hadley, Manheim
Dr. Kevin T. Hendler, DDS, Emory Healthcare
Jerrilyn Levetan, Levetan & Preuss Real Estate Services, Inc.
Asif Mujtaba, Private Bank of Decatur
Tammy Palmgren, Kaiser Permanente
Michael Presto, SouthStar Energy
Roger Whitson, UPS
It is the sad truth that more than 25 million Americans aged 60+ are economically insecure—living at or below
250% of the federal poverty level of $29,425 annually for a single person. That’s less than $800 per month. These
older adults struggle with rising housing and health care bills, inadequate nutrition, lack of access to transporta-
tion, and diminished savings. Each month agencies like ours are inundated with calls asking for help. Assisted
living and nursing homes – even if there were enough which there aren’t – are not the answer. Statistics have
continually shown that communities with senior residents are safer and more vital. Seniors who remain living
independent, with the help of home and community-based services such as Senior Connections provides, stave
off mental decline longer.
An aging population growing exponentially. Seniors retiring to Atlanta without extended family here. Threat-
ened (and real) budget cuts to senior support programs at the federal level affecting state and local funding as
well. For those of us concerned about seniors in need, we are faced with serious problems in the coming years.
We are asking you – as a Senior Connections’ supporter – to give generously tonight, in the coming months and,
when you have a the opportunity, speak up with your elected officials for those who are seldom heard on the
Capitol steps. Be their voice.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Debra Furtado
ADVISORY COUNCIL
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Barbara Blackford
Dr. Elisabeth Burgess
Dr. Missy Cody
Broc Fischer
David Gaynes
Lori Geary
Lee Ann Hantula
Donald Horace
Kevin Isakson
Dr. Theodore M Johnson II,
M.D.
Liane Levetan
Brandon Marzo
Geraldine McCarley
Trish McFadin
Alan McNabb
Charles Miller
Rev. Susan Pinson
David Purcell
Queenie Jordan
Linda Rawlins
Janet Rechtman
Arnie Silverman
Libby Walsh
Chip Williams
Elizabeth Wilson
Thank you.
Best regards.
Debra Furtado Board of Directors
Chief Executive Officer Senior Connections
A Special Note of Thanks: Senior Connections is proud to be associated with these
fine organizations:
DeKalb County Office of Aging, Fulton County Housing and Human Services, Rock-
dale County Senior Services, Decatur First United Methodist Church, Visiting Nurse
Health System, City of Atlanta Parks and Recreation; Meals on Wheels Association of
Georgia, Meals on Wheels America, Division of Aging Services, Georgia Department
of Human Services, Jewish Family and Career Services and our many Adult Day Care
partners.
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