| |
| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #886 |
| The Diamond Club |
| |
| Requester: |
Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, Executive |
Organization: |
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service |
| |
| Project Title: |
The Diamond Club |
Date Submitted |
1/12/2006 5:07:50 PM |
| |
| Sponsors: |
Aronberg |
| |
| Statewide Interest: |
| The Diamond Cub was formed 20 years ago when the club's Volunteer Coordinator and one of its founders, could not find any social activities for her mother-in-law, who was over 90 years of age. It was easy to find clubs for seniors 65 and older who were just retiring to South Florida, but for those 75 years and older, there was nothing available. In response to this clear need for the "old-old" segment of the population also to have social, recreational, and support opportunities within the community, Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service developed the Diamond Club.
In a community with an high concentration of senior citizens, and with an "aging boom" that has dramatically increased the number of all seniors within South Palm Beach County and made those who are 85 and older the fastest growing segment of the population, the need for The Diamond Club has grown steadily.
|
| |
| Recipient: |
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service |
|
Contact: |
Anne Chernin |
|
| |
21300 Ruth & Baron Coleman Boulevard |
|
Contact Phone: |
(561) 852-3328 |
|
| |
Boca Raton 33428 |
|
Contact email: |
annec@bocafed.org |
| |
| Counties: |
Palm Beach |
| |
| Gov't Entity: |
|
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
| |
| Project Description: |
| The Diamond Club is a social and recreational program for senior citizens, age 75 and older. The average participant is in his/her late 80's. Members meet once a week at Temple Emeth in Delray Beach. They discuss such topics as current events, social issues, and families. The members reflect on their lives and the memories they share. They have speakers and entertainment, and they are actively involved in community service work such as creating decorative hats for young cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatments, making and stuffing pillows which they send to the American Cancer Society, and making lap quilts and bandages for terminally ill patients at Hospice of Palm Beach County. This program offers a wonderful opportunity for senior members of our community to have a social outlet and an opportunity to mingle with their peers. Most importantly, the group strives to remain active, productive, and involved. The Diamond Club has been in existence for 25 years and currently boasts more than 100 members. A caseworker is always present and also provides follow-up visits to those members in need of additional assistance. |
| |
| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
| |
| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Empirical research has shown that socialization for the elderly has proven to be an important criterion for improving their lives. The impact of this program on seniors that regularly attend will be they will be more productive; it will reduce depression and enable them to remain independent longer. We measure this program utilizing consumer evaluation survey. Last year the survey was distributed we received 64 responses out of 120 sent. The average score was 4.9 out of a possible 5 (highest accolades) |
| |
| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$85,000 |
| |
| Total cost of the project: |
$92,000 |
| |
| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
| |
| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
| |
Cash Amount |
$ |
|
In-kind Amount |
$20,000 |
| |
| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
|
No |
| |
| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
|
Yes |
|
Amount: |
$85,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations |
| |
| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
|
No |
| |
| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
| |
| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
| |
Documentation: |
We utilize consumer surveys combined with a 2005 Demographic study of the community. |
| |
| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
|
Yes |
| |
Hearing Body: |
Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation |
| |
Hearing Meeting Date: |
11/22/2005 |
| |
| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
|
No |
