(Chelsea Update would like to thank Lisa French for the information in this story.)
The UMRC & Porter Hills Foundation is excited to announce it has received $25,000 from the Aroha Philanthropies Vitality Arts Granting program.
These funds will support arts instruction for residents of UMRC’s historic Chelsea Retirement Community (CRC) campus as part of the project, Art of Aging: Crafting a Creative Community.
This project will offer an opportunity across CRC’s continuum of care for independent and assisted living residents and those receiving care at the Kresge Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center to learn the art of pottery, watercolors, and acrylic painting from local, professional teaching artists.
Each class will also include a culminating event to showcase the finished artwork they create.
“Life enrichment is one of the foundation’s four priority fundraising initiatives, helping the older adults we serve to find their purpose, follow their passions, and live life to the fullest,” said UMRC & Porter Hills Foundation President, Wendy Brightman in a press release.
“We know the arts are a vital part of healthy aging, and we are thrilled to have this unique opportunity to provide meaningful arts instruction for the older adults we serve,” she said.
Since launching arts classes at CRC in 2017, thanks to an initial grant from Aroha Philanthropies and gifts from other funders, UMRC & Porter Hills has offered a variety of arts programming, including theatre arts, ukulele, pottery, painting, and more, for over 200 residents.
“The UMRC & Porter Hills Foundation is grateful to Aroha Philanthropies for this opportunity to continue to provide residents with lifelong learning and creative opportunities,” said Brightman. “Especially following the isolation felt as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, these arts classes are a welcome opportunity for residents to enjoy social times with their neighbors and express themselves in new ways, while developing or discovering their artistic creativity.”
A new art studio opened on the CRC campus during COVID. This space, also made possible thanks to philanthropic dollars, is dedicated for residents to use and demonstrate their artistic expressions.
Brightman added, “We are delighted for the older adults we serve to have the opportunity to utilize this new space for this exciting project and honored to partner with Aroha Philanthropies to make the arts available and accessible for our residents.”
