Friends group's focus is on furnishing new center

Date: 2/29/2012

Feb. 29, 2012

By Debbie Gardner

debbieg@thereminder.com

WESTFIELD — As the city moves ahead with plans to construct a new Senior Center on Noble Street, another group is also working to ensure the new center has all the amenities to make it a gathering place for the city's elders.

Atty. Tom Keenan, board member for the recently re-formed Friends of the Westfield Senior Center Inc., told Reminder Publications the non-profit group has taken to heart Mayor Daniel Knapik's suggestion — based on advice from similar fund-raising groups at other area senior centers — that they set a goal of raising $500,000 toward furnishings for the new center.

Keenan said the group's hope is to purchase, among other things, a new television and pool tables for the center.

As stated on its brochure, the mission of the new Friends group is to "provide enhancements to the programs and activities of the Westfield Senior Center through fund-raising, advocacy and facility improvement."

The 80-member Friends, which Keenan said was incorporated in March 2011 and achieved 501c3 non-profit status in mid-July, kicked off its mission with a dine-in evening at the Applebee's Restaurant located East Main Street on Dec. 15, 2011.

Keenan said it was a small, but positive first step for the group.

"We just started our fund-raising," he noted. "We're not looking to make the $500,000 this year."

They are, however, planning to keep the group's momentum going, starting with a March 3 fund-raiser at Shaker Farms Country Club. Dubbed a "Shake off the Winter Party," the evening, which begins at 7 p.m., will feature hors d'oeuvres, entertainment by the popular Westfield-based group Cory & the Knightsmen and raffles.

"We have a 32-inch high definition TV, $100 in cash, rounds of golf for various courses including Shaker Farms and East Mountain Country Club [and] a free simple will or $100 off any other legal service [with his office]," Keenan said of the raffles, which are priced at $5 a ticket. The evening will also feature additional raffles including a $25 gift certificate to the School Street Bistro, haircuts at Puffers Day Spa and similar prizes.

Tickets, which are priced at $20 per person, are available at the Council on Aging Office in City Hall, Room 206, at Keenan Law Offices, 48 Elm St.

Council on Aging Director Tina Gorman said tickets will also be available at the door the night of the event.

Keenan said the Friends hope not only to reinvigorate their fund-raising with the Shaker Farms event, but also to attract more members to join their group.

"We wanted to be a bit bigger [group] by this point. It's all about spreading the word," he said.

Gorman said this new Friends group, which was spearheaded by Senior Center member Jack Leary about two years ago when the Senior Center project "became more of a reality," has so far attracted people "from a range of professional backgrounds" for its Board of Directors and now seeks more volunteers willing to help with the group's mission and fund-raising efforts.

Interested individuals unable to attend the March 3 event should contact the Council on Aging at 562-6435 for information about joining the Friends.