Before the turn of the year, the Helen Bader Foundation allocated more than $1 million to Wisconsin organizations that are taking bold steps in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease and in the push to promote healthy aging.
The collection of grants target efforts to enhance quality of life for older residents of rural communities. The grants also support the foundation’s annual pledge to back organizations and projects aiding families impacted by Alzheimer’s disease, in addition to healthy aging projects, with an average of $1.5 million.
Since its inception, the Milwaukee-based foundation has contributed to initiatives using innovative approaches to help individuals and families facing the effects of Alzheimer’s, dementia and aging. In total, the foundation has distributed about $43 million in grants to the cause.
“With the rapidly increasing number of older adults, we have been hearing from communities across Wisconsin on how to address the various health, wellness and social needs of Wisconsin’s aging community,” Helen Ramon, program officer at the foundation, said in an announcement. “We at HBF are continually striving to keep our home state a national leader in how we serve older adults, and we’re impressed by the dedication of individuals and communities that share that vision for an elder-friendly Wisconsin.”
The Helen Bader Foundation’s funds are largely allocated to ensure that programs and resources catering to the state’s population of older adults can fulfill the increased demand for services.
Among organizations that benefited in the latest round of grant awards are:
- Waukesha-based Interfaith Senior Programs Inc., which helps older residents of Waukesha County in remaining independent and active in their communities. A two-year, $62,000 grant is serving the organization’s Wisconsin InterFaith In Action Network, a statewide membership program that assists volunteer caregiving programs across Wisconsin.
- Milwaukee Area Technical College Foundation Inc. The organization has received a $100,000 grant that will back the expansion of “Next Avenue Community Conversations” broadcast to reach older adults living at home. The broadcast is created by Milwaukee Public Television, which is owned and operated by MATC, and explores topics relevant to older adults, including health and well-being, money and security, and caregiving.
- Franklin-based Wisconsin League for Nursing Inc., which drives excellence in nursing education in order to improve quality of health and health care throughout Wisconsin. A two-year, $60,000 grant will further the organization’s support of advanced nursing studies, with an emphasis on gerontology in rural parts of the state.
- Elkhorn-based Wisconsin Rural Women’s Initiative Inc., which offers programming for rural adult women. A $15,000 grant will back the Elderwoman program, which features support networks and resources for older women of rural communities who are battling isolation and depression, among other hardships.
