St. Petersburg, FL (June 21, 2021) – Voices of Hope for Aphasia is pleased to announce a grant from the Pinellas Community Foundations Senior Citizens Services Wellness grant. SCS is an organization focused on serving the needs of senior residents of Pinellas County.
Voices of Hope for Aphasia is the only community aphasia center in the Tampa Bay area. Aphasia is a language disorder due to stroke or brain injury which can severely impact the way a person expresses themselves, and connects with others, causing many to withdraw and isolate themselves from the rest of the world – the added isolation due to COVID-19 has placed them at even greater risk.
At present, Voices of Hope for Aphasia offers 16+ activities and support groups each week. These programs are vital to those who struggle with aphasia as well as their families and loved ones. Members select a curriculum based on interest and language ability. Other programs provide unique access to aphasia experts who provide education and resources for the family unit. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, Voices of Hope for Aphasia offered all of their activities and support programs virtually for the safety of their members. Now that the pandemic has abated, the generous award of this grant will help to provide in-person programs for seniors who were not able to participate virtually due to technical reasons. This grant award will also allow Voices of Hope for Aphasia to expand the offering and availability of their Aphasia, Now What…? Workshop, a two-day interactive workshop that provides education, support, and strategies for the entire family.
“We are so grateful to Pinellas Community Foundation and their Senior Citizens Services Grant for their support and commitment to helping organizations that serve the senior population of Pinellas”, says Debbie Yones, Voices of Hope for Aphasia’s Executive Director. “The past 16 months have been extremely difficult and demanding for everyone, especially not-for-profit organizations. With the generous contributions of our funders, Voices of Hope can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we are starting to understand what the ‘New Normal’ looks like. The support and continued partnership with Pinellas Community Foundation will help to strengthen our community for decades to come. The future is brighter for all of us, thanks to them.”
Pinellas Community Foundation established a $10 million donor-advised fund buy Senior Citizens Services Inc., a local not-for-profit founded in 1960 which has enlisted the expansive grant management expertise of PCF for the benefit of seniors (55+) in Pinellas County.
