ITHACA, NY – Today, Assemblymember Anna Kelles announced a $150,000 grant from her office for Lifelong, a vibrant community center for adults 50 and over, serving Tompkins County since 1952.

These funds will allow Lifelong to continue its support of older adults in aging with dignity, whether by fostering connection, encouraging health and wellness and creative arts, offering semester-based classes, or providing assistance with Medicare, taxes, technology, and access to adaptive equipment. The grant will allow Lifelong to update their facility and maintain their exemplary programs and services in Tompkins County.

The funds will be used to renovate and enhance Lifelong’s community center by improving energy efficiency with new windows and LED lighting. Additionally, an outdoor pavilion will be constructed for events and programs. The grant funding will also enable Lifelong to update its phone server, enhance accessibility at the front entrance, replace outdated computers, and significantly upgrade the audio-visual system to better support programming needs. These upgrades will ensure that Lifelong can continue providing the extensive range of services that the community relies on.

“We are incredibly grateful for this funding”, said Liza Burger, Executive Director of Lifelong. “Creating a more energy-efficient, and welcoming building and grounds will allow us to better serve older adults in Tompkins County in a way that is more sustainable and accessible into the future. We are eager to get started! This funding is not just an investment in our center, but in the well-being and dignity of the community we serve.”

Said Assemblymember Anna Kelles; “We all hope to age with dignity and in good health. I am thrilled to award these funds to Lifelong so that they can continue to offer robust services, programming both at the center and in the community, and educational opportunities for years to come. The funds also further Lifelong’s commitment to sustainability, enabling the center to convert to LED lights and install more energy efficient windows, building upon their effort to become a greener organization. With this grant, Lifelong will continue to provide a helping hand and a warm environment to the older adult population of Tompkins County, work that is essential to ensuring that their later years can be enriching and meaningful.”

Background: Lifelong, founded in 1952, and based at 119 W. Court St., offers a variety of activities and resources that enhance the overall mental, physical, emotional and financial well-being of adults who are 50 and older in the community. Some services it offers include free tax preparation services, access to mobility devices, Medicare counseling, technology support and classes, events, support groups, and social outings.

Lifelong focuses on building the overall mental, physical, emotional and financial well-being of older adults in the community. It offers health and wellness and creative arts activities, semester-based classes, events, and support and social groups that promote mental, physical, and creative growth in a welcoming and inclusive environment. Lifelong’s programs are offered at their centrally located building in downtown Ithaca, at sites throughout Tompkins County, and virtually. Lifelong is also a center for information and services for those seeking help with technology, taxes, health insurance, volunteer opportunities, and other matters connected with living well after 50.

Lifelong has focused on greater accessibility over the past year, offering a formalized scholarship program to complement the conversion to a sliding scale for membership implemented the previous year. Scholarship recipients have the flexibility of using a $250 credit on their Lifelong account to use in a flexible and dignified way toward membership, classes, activities, social groups, or day trip expenses.

It has also replaced its HVAC system and hot water heater with a much more efficient, all electric environmentally friendly heat pump system.

Lifelong has also successfully advocated for an occupancy agreement at the Community Room at Library Place, so the space can be used for programming for at least the next ten years, with options to renew this agreement after that time. This provides a great sense of permanency as Lifelong will have the first right to access this space over that time. The space is ideal for larger events such as the upcoming Fall Fling and the Silent Auction Kick-Off and also for the many classes Lifelong has offered in this space (including ukulele, Tai Chi, and fitness classes).