California Foundation Leaders Congratulate Gov. Ne

Newswise — SACRAMENTO, Calif., January 6, 2021 – Leaders from eight California foundations applaud Governor Gavin Newsom’s release of the Master Plan for Aging (Master Plan), outlining a visionary, 10-year blueprint that seeks to build an equitable California where everyone has the opportunity to age with dignity and independence in the place that they call home. With California’s rapidly aging population, the Master Plan delivers a comprehensive framework for public and private entities at the state, regional, and local levels to address system issues and transform services across health care, housing, community supports, and transportation, among others.

Philanthropic partnership was essential to support the Master Plan’s timely development and release, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis facing California. These eight contributing foundations lauded the governor’s leadership and expressed their support for the plan’s release. Below are statements from the leadership representing the founding partners in 2019, as well as those that joined the effort in 2020.

Founding partners in 2019:

Sarita A. Mohanty, MD, MPH, MBA, President and CEO, The SCAN Foundation “Today, we celebrate California’s release of the Master Plan for Aging—a critical roadmap to transform services for older adults and families in ways that preserve dignity and encourage independence. Governor Newsom’s visionary leadership to call for and produce this Master Plan is even more vital given the COVID-19 crisis and renewed charge to meet the needs of California’s diverse aging population.”

Shelley Lyford, President and CEO, Gary & Mary West Foundation “The Master Plan for Aging is a big and bold investment in the lives of seniors and in California’s future. Its development has been a truly successful public-private partnership that we believe, when implemented, will enable successful aging for our state’s seniors and lead to a more inclusive age- and disability-friendly California.”

Christopher A. Langston, PhD, President and CEO, Archstone Foundation “Archstone Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Californians and their caregivers. We believe that the Master Plan is essential to reaching this goal and achieving a more just society that supports its members throughout the entire lifespan. With our many partners, we look forward to supporting the process of change.”

Janet Y. Spears, CEO, Metta Fund

“In this time of urgent need, the Master Plan provides a critical template for a better life for all Californians, not only for our older generations – but for all of us – to age in dignity and justice.”

Mark Stuart, CFRE, President and CEO, The San Diego Foundation “We commend California’s leaders for coming together to create more equitable and inclusive communities that meet the needs of our aging population. By implementing policies and programs that address these shifting demographics, we can better utilize the talents and energy of our older adults and build thriving communities for all Californians.”

New partners in 2020:

Richard S. Ziman, Trustee and CEO, The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation “The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation invests in Alzheimer’s disease and caregiving research, services innovation, and policy change. The Master Plan for Aging will provide a highly anticipated and much needed roadmap for aligning our grantmaking with the needs of California’s older adults in concert with our partners in the public and private sectors.”

William Smith, CEO, May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust

“The May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust – which supports programs for older adults that enrich quality of life, promote self-sufficiency, and assist in achieving their highest potential – is proud to partner in this effort. Our hope is the Master Plan for Aging will increase innovative solutions to isolation and loneliness, create added supports for California’s care economy and family caregivers, and create affordability and opportunities for self-determination that allow older adults to safely age in community while continuing to focus on ways to maximize safety and quality of care received in long-term care settings.”

Edward B. Kacic, President, Irvine Health Foundation

“Irvine Health Foundation (IHF) is proud to represent Orange County’s enthusiasm for and deep commitment to vibrant, healthy, and engaged longevity for our older adults. We believe the Master Plan for Aging is a vital catalyst for achieving our ambition of offering everyone access to health resources and care, including the maximization of technology to break down barriers and toward realizing the goal of an age-friendly state. As the third largest county and a center of technology and health innovation in California, IHF is relaying the voice of Orange County older adults through this urgent state-wide effort.”

Follow the conversation on social media with hashtag #MasterPlanForAging.

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