News
Transformational Award
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation is pleased to award the first annual 2010 Transformational Award to the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation for their innovative services, models, and leadership in the areas concerning older adults and their caregivers. The $2.2 million dollar grant over the next five years will provide support for the Wilder Community Center for Aging. The grant is intended to support the following in the areas of older adults and their caregivers: enhance and expand services and models, conduct research and evaluations of existing programs and initiatives, engage partners from Minneapolis and St. Paul in collaborative process that will improve service models, inform policy makers and influence systems change, and provide leadership and sharing of ideas to address the issues facing older adults and their caregivers in our communities. The grant will not be used, nor was it intended, for any brick and mortar needs.
According to the January 2007 article by Wilder titled "The Changing Face of Aging in Minnesota", "by
2030, the number of adults in Minnesota over the age of 65 will double. The number of adults over age 85
will also grow each year for the next 20 years." The article also states the following, "Community-based
services can promote the health and well-being of older adults through improved access to home health
care, exercise programs, and mental health services. These services can also provide information about
self management of disease, which can help to stabilize, and reduce the cost of chronic care. Nonmedical
support such as chore, transportation, and meal services can reduce costs by allowing people to
remain in their own home."
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation supported this program because of the extensive commitment
and leadership Wilder has in this area and the significant need for innovation it also requires. The
Foundation is excited about the partnership and the opportunity to replicate cost effective strategies in
both St. Paul, Minneapolis and beyond the Minnesota borders, to ensure all elder adults and their
caregivers are informed and able to access the services and programs that are available.
The Transformational Grant is awarded to organizations that have an idea, model, process or program
that creates a transformational impact to benefit mankind. The innovation must be in its third year of
operation and a thorough business plan with measureable results must be completed. Please review the
website for a more comprehensive description. Only one Transformational Grant will be awarded
annually.