Success at Our First Preserving Dignity Giving Day!
PRESS RELEASE: SOULRAPHA PARTNERED WITH ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION TO RAISE $19,470 DURING PRESERVING DIGNITY GIVING DAY
24-Hour Fundraiser Collectively Raises $389,684 and Helps SoulRapha Deliver Holistic Wellness in
Orange County
Tustin, Calif. (July 21, 2021) — SoulRapha partnered with the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) to host Preserving Dignity, a collaborative 24-hour Giving Day on July 14 to generate support for nonprofits serving Orange County’s older adults in need. SoulRapha today announced 44 donors helped raise $19.470 to support holistic wellness for aging care communities, including skilled nursing, assisted living, board and care, and memory care. In total, OCCF’s Giving Day raised $389,684.
In Orange County, there are more than 450,000 adults aged 65 and older, which accounts for 14.3% of the population. By 2045, this number is projected to increase to 17.3%. According to the Orange County Strategic Plan for Aging, adults will face a new set of economic, social, health, and lifestyle challenges associated with aging, and Orange County is not able to provide adequate support of this growing population.
There are 8,300 skilled nursing residents and 14,350 assisted living residents today in Orange County, while 35,000 seniors enter and leave some form of assisted living care every year. Of this older adult community, 60% never receive an outside visit. The problem faced in assisted living facilities is clear: senior isolation and senior loneliness are deadly. SoulRapha addresses the causes of these devastating conditions by reestablishing the human connection for residents.
SoulRapha is leading from the future by leveraging the power of contemporary technology supplemented with strategic in-person interaction to deliver their support. The nearly $20,000 raised will make it possible to continue to provide this new paradigm whereby seniors stay connected to the love of the community and their neighbors. The culture SoulRapha is advancing around senior care sets a precedent for the future of holistic senior wellness for all of us.
“It is a privilege to be part of a community that joined forces and really rallied for older adults in need,” said Heather Riley, Executive Director and CSO of SoulRapha. “Nothing is more powerful than a life healed—body, mind, and soul. Dr. Jay Calvert said it best in an Instagram post promoting the fundraiser: ‘If you know a senior in OC or plan to be one - give to SoulRapha!’ You can create a more compassionate existence for our seniors today and a brighter future for yourself by becoming a SoulRaphian—a soul healer! Thank you to those who chose to be a hero in the life of OC’s most isolated seniors by donating to SoulRapha!
In addition to SoulRapha, other participating organizations – all of which offer a range of supportive services – included Alzheimer’s Orange County, Council on Aging – Southern California, Human Options, Inc., Meals on Wheels Orange County, Southern California Hospice Foundation, and St. Francis Home of the Franciscan Missionary Sister of the I C Inc.
“We are so grateful to everyone who supported the Preserving Dignity Giving Day and the organizations working tirelessly to ensure Orange County’s older adults have the resources they need to live high-quality, independent lives,” said Shelley Hoss, president and CEO, OCCF. “We are continuously amazed by the generosity of our local Orange County community, which united to help support our most vulnerable neighbors.”
More information on Orange County Community Foundation Collaborative Giving Days, can be found at oc-cf.org/givingdays.
About SoulRapha
SoulRapha offers holistic care by integrating social, emotional, and spiritual support for aging care community residents and staff. With the power of technology, we can extend our services to reach this isolated population.
About Orange County Community Foundation
Founded in 1989, the Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) works with donors, strengthens the local nonprofit sector and works to find solutions to community needs. Since its inception, OCCF has awarded nearly $780 million in grants and scholarships, placing the organization in the top two percent in grantmaking among U.S. community foundations.
