The City of Poway received a generous $100,000 donation from the Friends of Poway Seniors (FOPS) earmarked for older adult programming at the city’s new multigenerational Mickey Cafagna Community Center. The donation was presented at the Aug. 2 Poway City Council meeting and is anticipated to be used toward bringing on dedicated city staff to implement more programs and services for older adults.
“The only thing we can say is ‘wow!’ and thank you for your hard work,” said Poway Mayor Steve Vaus in accepting the donation.
During the construction of the new community center, the organization that formerly ran senior programming restructured to focus on fundraising as FOPS, with the city providing older adult programs when the community center opened in June 2021.
“Our board has worked tirelessly to make sure the Friends of Poway Seniors continued,” said FOPS President Cynthia Elizondo. She explained that the money was raised through the organization’s ReRuns ReSale Shoppe and twice-weekly bingo at the center. FOPS also provides additional funding for the nutrition program.
“It is exciting that we will be able to do all of that and we thank the council for their support,” said Elizondo.
Programming at the community center currently includes the nutrition program, Feeling Fit exercise program, Silver Age Yoga, and line dancing. The center has a lounge open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. that offers a place for socializing, crafting, and playing games. The city is in the process of soliciting proposals from caterers to enhance the current nutrition program by cooking meals onsite beginning in November.
Friends of Poway Seniors board of directors present a $100,000 donation to Poway City Councilmembers at the August 2 council meeting.