Donation Funds Access to New Wellness Opportunities for Seniors

MANCHESTER, NH - To help address the unique health and wellness needs of area seniors, the Mary and John Elliot Charitable Foundation and The Granite YMCA are teaming up to offer a specialized program for those who need it most. The Foundation awarded Granite YMCA with a $50,000 Pearl Manor Fund grant to launch a new wellness initiative for low-income seniors in the community.

“NH’s seniors, especially those who are low-income, face a host of challenges,” said Hal Jordan, president and CEO of The Granite YMCA in a press statement. “Among those is access to a regular health and wellness routine. Thanks to this generous grant from the Pearl Manor Fund, we’re able to provide a broad range of programs that will be free or of nominal charge to area seniors.”

As part of the new partnership, The Granite YMCA is offering programs such as Water Aerobics, Yoga, and Senior Fitness through its Manchester and Goffstown YMCA branches. The new services are available to seniors who live in Amherst, Bedford, Londonderry, Portsmouth, Salem, Windham, as well as Manchester, Hooksett, Goffstown, New Boston, and We are, according to Christopher R. Dugan, VP of Marketing and Membership at The Granite YMCA.

Six seven-week sessions kicked off recently and will be offered each year. They feature supervision by trained and certified exercise specialists. In addition, nutrition education and a special educational program on slips and fall prevention will be offered each session.

“We are pleased to make this contribution to The Granite YMCA and improve upon senior health and wellness,” said Nicholas S. Zaharias, VP, Mary & John Elliot Charitable Foundation. “We view it as a meaningful way to support and strengthen the wellness of senior population for our communities.”

The initiative will serve the senior population with annual income below $12,000 (at no charge) and classes will be at a minimal charge for those earning up to $23,500. Pre and post testing for functional capacity and lifestyle changes will be administered prior to, and following, each class.

For more information, please contact Donna Wheeler, Development Coordinator at the YMCA at 603.782.2804 or via email at dwheeler@graniteymca.org. For more information about the annual Pearl Manor Fund grant process, visit elliothospital.org

Caption: Nicholas S. Zaharias, Elliot’s VP of Development, Foundation Trustee & Pearl Manor Committee Member Richard L. Rawlings, Harold J. Jordan, The Granite YMCA President/CEO, and Meghan Durkee, Elliot’s Development Specialist.

Submitted by The Granite YMCA.