Seniors' Resource Center (SRC) hosted the 2009 Gift of Independence Fundraising Breakfast at the Arvada Arts & Humanities Center on Nov. 5, 2009. The breakfast raised $27,000 through pledges and cash donations in support of SRC's $8.7 million Capital Campaign to expand its facility in Wheat Ridge.

In attendance were more than 150 community leaders and SRC supporters, as well as SRC Board Members, including Board Chairman Kathleen Stapleton, Immediate Past Chairman Rita Peterson, Treasurer Shelly DeWit, Karen Buchanan, Darl Hobson, Anne McKinley, and Scott W. Storey. Julie Hayden, an Emmy-award winning Reporter for Fox 31 News was emcee.

Speakers included caregivers Darlene Park, Dan and Dianne Brower, and Nancy Dykeman, all of whom depend on SRC Adult Day & Respite Services to keep their loved ones independent and at home. Each detailed the fact that they would not be able to manage without SRC and would have already turned to premature placement in a nursing home.

SRC President/CEO John Zabawa also spoke, detailing the plans for expansion of the Wheat Ridge site and its services, as well as the importance of providing seniors with a method for staying independent as long as possible using SRC services. He was followed by a powerful new video that highlighted the importance of SRC and what it has meant to caregivers.

"SRC provides the eyes and ears for many caregivers who have full time jobs and are unable to care for their loved ones all the time," said Mr. Zabawa. "We know there will be an explosive growth within our senior population and we are up to the challenge of providing even more care at a continued high level of quality."

This was the second early morning event of its type held by SRC in 2009. A breakfast on June 18 at the Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen raised $29,000 for seniors and their caregivers. Photos and video from the event are available online.

Formed in 1978, Seniors' ResourceCenter, a private non-profit organization, provided direct services to nearly 18,000 individuals across ten counties in 2008. This included a coordinated-care model of transportation, adult day and respite care, in-home care, mental health outreach, job training and care management services.

As the state's 60+ population climbs from 780,000 in 2009 to 1.3 million by the year 2020, Seniors' ResourceCenter continues to pride itself on meeting the needs of older adults from a wide variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. It does so through concerted outreach to low-income, frail, minority and isolated seniors and their families, based out of five homelike facilities in metro Denver and the foothills.

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To volunteer, make a contribution, or inquire about a service, call (303) 238-8151 in metro Denver or (303) 674-2843 in the Evergreen/foothills area. Visit SRC online at www.SRCAging.org.