Mary McNamara
Meals On Wheels Association of America
Assistant Vice President, Membership and Communications
(p)703.548.5558
mary@mowaa.org
For Immediate Release
MetLife Foundation Grant Will Help Meals On Wheels Programs Feed More Seniors
Alexandria, VA (July 21, 2011) - MetLife Foundation has awarded $200,000 to the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) for the creation of a new program intended to reduce food insecurity and hunger among seniors in ten targeted communities across the United States and increase the quality of services in those communities. Specifically, this will be accomplished through the use of a program self-assessment tool developed through the grant, which will enable local Meals On Wheels programs to evaluate the operations of their programs against uniform national standards that are part of MOWAA’s Magnet Accreditation Program (MAP).
Meals On Wheels programs in the ten cities will be given the self-assessment, which will help them examine program operations in seven key areas: resource development and management; staffing and human resource management; meal and nutrition services; operational management; fiscal management; governance and long-range planning; and emergency preparedness. MOWAA believes these are necessary to ensure effective program management, client safety, fiscal soundness, accountability and sustainability. Concurrently with the programs’ self-assessment activities, MOWAA will develop training modules that will address program deficiencies and assist programs in implementing changes to bring them into compliance with MAP standards.
MOWAA will also work with experts to develop a prototype nutrition risk assessment tool. This tool will assist programs in prioritizing and targeting nutrition services to those in greatest need in their communities. Currently, no standard nutrition risk assessment tool customized to Meals On Wheels progams exists.
“The development and testing for both these assessment tools is a major step in our mission to end senior hunger in America by the year 2020,” said Enid Borden, MOWAA President and CEO. “Used in tandem, we believe they will ensure that more seniors can receive the nutritious meals they need from Meals On Wheels programs now and in the future. Compliance with MAP standards should improve operations, build capacity and assure sustainability in a time of increasing demands. Achieving MAP is synonymous with meeting the gold standard. MetLife Foundation understands how important that is, which is why they have joined our national movement so no senior goes hungry. We are grateful for their support.”
“Local senior nutrition programs play a vital role in preventing hunger among the country’s growing older adult population,” said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to join MOWAA on this initiative that will strengthen the operations of 10 local programs and enable them to respond effectively to growing needs.”
The programs selected to participate in the MetLife Foundation-MOWAA Excellence in Operations Award Program are:
Oldtimers Foundation - Huntington Park, CA
Meals On Wheels of Tampa - Tampa, FL
Senior Connections - Chamblee, GA
Senior Resource Connection – Dayton, OH
Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa - Tulsa, OK
Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland - Baltimore, MD
St. Louis Area Agency on Aging - St Louis, MO
Meals On Wheels of NEPA - Scranton, PA
Meals On Wheels of Rhode Island - Providence, RI
Meals On Wheels of Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
The 10 programs will send a representative to special preconference training in conjunction with MOWAA’s upcoming Annual Conference in Chicago from August 30 through September 1.
About Meals On Wheels Association of America
The Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is the oldest and largest national organization in the United States representing those programs that provide meals to people in need. MOWAA’s vision is to end senior hunger by 2020. To obtain more information about MOWAA or to locate a local Meals On Wheels program, visit the MOWAA website at www.mowaa.org.
About MetLife Foundation
MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to carry on MetLife’s longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation is committed to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide. Through programs focusing on empowering older adults, preparing young people and building livable communities, MetLife Foundation increases access and opportunities for people of all ages. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has made more than $500 million in grants and $75 million in program related investments. For more information visit www.metlife.org
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