The St. Louis NORC (an agency of Jewish Federation) is fortunate to have been supported periodically by the Carl and Fay Simons Endowment for Senior Services over the past 10 years and 2013 again finds us a beneficiary of their generosity and foresight. Overseen by the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, the Fund has been a supporter of St. Louis’ Jewish seniors since 1998.
How did they choose to support seniors? According to Carl, both he and Fay have a “soft-spot” for older adults. They both were caregivers for their aging parents and learned firsthand the importance of supporting the independence of adults through stimulation, activity, and care. When they left St. Louis in 1998, moving to Boston to be closer to family, they left a legacy behind that continues play an essential role in the support of Jewish older adults living in St. Louis. Carl has continued to live his philosophy. Now residing in New York, he has been an active volunteer in Dorot, an organization whose mission, like the St. Louis NORC, seeks to help older adults maintain their independence and age with dignity. Carl is specifically involved with their friendly visitor program for homebound seniors. He spent five years visiting weekly with a woman in her own apartment beginning when she was 100. Their visits ended only because she passed away at age 105! Carl certainly saw the power of socialization and its impact on longevity. He has begun another relationship with another homebound woman, now 106…
We are so grateful to Carl and Fay for their endowment legacy and for approving their income this year to help support our program.