Donation provides essential chair yoga classes
The Bonita Springs Community Fund, a fund of the Collaboratory, provided a $5,000 grant to the Bonita Senior Center for chair yoga classes.
The grant supports popular chair yoga classes throughout the year. The center offers as many as three classes a week and all reach full capacity.
Karen Gustafson, executive director of the Bonita Senior Center, credits the low impact exercise classes to increased physical and mental wellness for its participants.
“We are so appreciative of the grant,” Gustafson said. “Chair yoga is too expensive for some seniors, and this support allows us to offer classes that enhance the quality of their lives. The classes benefit mobility, flexibility and fall prevention. They also boost morale and foster camaraderie.”
The mission of the Bonita Senior Center is to help seniors live healthier and independent lives. The chair yoga classes contribute to their mission by increasing wellness and building community.
“We are pleased to support the Bonita Senior Center in their efforts to provide exercise classes to the senior community in Bonita,” said Debi Braendle, Chairman of the Grants Committee. “Staying physically and socially active is critical to good health and longevity in seniors. The Senior Center is growing to meet the needs of our community and fulfills a critical role for several hundred seniors in our community.”
ABOUT COLLABORATORY
Collaboratory is a regional community foundation with an evolved mission committed to coordinating the solving of Southwest Florida’s major social problems by 2040. Not alone, but with everyone—the entire community working together across all five counties: Lee, Hendry, Glades, Charlotte and Collier.
Collaboratory provides community leadership, raises and coordinates funding, and disburses funds to organizations that are helping solve the problems our donors and the community have identified as priorities. Collaboratory also provides capacity building with training and resources for regional partners. Given the complexities of the social challenges in our region, Collaboratory ensures we are all working together and that every generous donor achieves the biggest impact with their funds. By using and sharing data to track progress, we ensure that donor dollars are best invested to move the needle on improving social issues.
Connection and collaboration are at the heart of our mission. Since 1976, we have made over $130 million in grants to individuals and organizations across the region to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations. It is upon that legacy of a commitment to community we will collectively achieve our 2040 goal. To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.collaboratory.org.
ABOUT BONITA SPRINGS COMMUNITY FUND
The Bonita Springs Community Fund, a fund of Collaboratory, was founded in 1997. The BSCF exists to strengthen the community together, enhancing quality of life in the Greater Bonita Springs area through informed needs analysis, responsible funding, and data driven grant making. To learn more and get involved, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.collaboratory.org.
PHOTO: Participants after a chair yoga class at Bonita Senior Center.
