Boulder County CareConnect to Relocate to Frasier Campus
Boulder County, CO – After a decade of rapid growth, Boulder County CareConnect (BCCC) is relocating to a larger office on July 12th through a partnership with Frasier Meadows Retirement Community. BCCC, a 41-year-old nonprofit, is building capacity to meet the tremendous demand for senior services. The donated office space on the Frasier campus will allow for continued growth and collaboration.
Over 2,500 Boulder County residents rely on BCCC’s vital services each year. A force of over 1000 volunteers provides grocery delivery, escorted transportation to medical appointments and minor home repairs to seniors in need and adults with disabilities – all at little to no cost to the recipient.
BCCC has sustained three-fold growth since 2003. In order to meet the mushrooming demand for senior services locally, BCCC’s annual operating budget has grown from approximately $200,000 to approximately $700,000 in the past decade. Executive Director Emily Ditty estimates that BCCC’s services have touched over 100,000 local seniors since the organization’s inception in 1972.
Frasier Meadows Retirement Community has been a supporter and Business Partner of BCCC since 2011. When Frasier President and CEO, Tim Johnson, “saw the great work happening at Boulder County CareConnect, he immediately started looking for ways to expand the relationship,” said Kathy Pollicita, Frasier’s Vice President for Mission-Advancement. Frasier is donating the 1,200 square foot office space in-kind. “Our mission is to enrich the lives of seniors – even beyond the walls of Frasier. Supporting BCCC is one way we’re working to serve the whole community,” said Pollicita.
Since 2003, BCCC has operated out of a Boulder Housing Partners property nestled between the Boulder Public Library and the West Senior Center. A staff of thirteen now occupies the same space originally selected for a staff of five. “We’re packed in here like sardines!” said Ditty. Despite an expanding staff, BCCC has remained in the same space because of its prime location and low-cost rent. “We’re so grateful to Boulder Housing Partners for granting us this incredible opportunity to call this space home for the last 10 years,” said Ditty.
A larger office space is one of many changes bolstering BCCC’s work to meet the changing needs of Boulder County’s senior population. According to the 2010 Age Well Boulder County Report, the 60+ population accounted for 10.6% of the total county population in 2000. That number will nearly triple by 2030. Anticipating the “Silver Tsunami,” BCCC is developing custom databases that will speed up the process of matching volunteers with seniors in need, and improve efficiencies by thirty percent. In 2014 BCCC will also launch a Financial Literacy educational program in response the Boulder County’s high incidence of financial exploitation targeting seniors.
BCCC will enjoy a host of new amenities in its Frasier location, including a conference room, access to additional rooms for events, plenty of workstations for staff, and a designated “hub” for volunteers. In addition to the nearly 1000 volunteers who provide direct services to seniors in the community, BCCC engages a steady rotation of critical office volunteers. “Right now a lot of them are stationed in our dark basement, along with four fulltime staff members. We’re all looking forward to daylight!” said Emily Perez, Manager of BCCC’s “Fix-It” home repair program. “The new space will create a great opportunity to expand our in-office volunteer support – also to engage Frasier residents in volunteering.”
BCCC will host an open-house in its new Frasier location in this fall, “after the dust settles,” said Ditty. “In the meantime, volunteers, clients, community partners are all welcome to drop by our new office and say hello!” Boulder County CareConnect would like thank Boulder Housing Partners, Frasier, and the BCCC Board of Directors for their support. Ditty said, “We wouldn’t be able to carry out BCCC’s mission without these generous people!”