Celebrating 40 Years of Service

[Boulder County CareConnect]

Boulder, CO – With a long history of service to the community, Boulder County CareConnect (BCCC) looks back on 40 years of service and looks forward to successful leadership under their new Executive Director, Emily Ditty. Founded as RSVP of Boulder County, BCCC promotes the security, comfort and independence of seniors and adults with disabilities.

 

The seeds for Boulder County CareConnect (BCCC) were planted in a community meeting following the assassination of President Kennedy. A group of concerned citizens decided they had to do something, creating tasks forces that led to the founding of RSVP of Boulder County and a volunteer center that was one of the first in the country. Marlene Wilson and community leader Clara Clifford recruited 17 volunteers within a month, and within a year, her team had recruited over 150 senior volunteers.  Wilson said that she “felt the spirit of these volunteers as the great need they were working with, and it was contagious.” 

 

This contagious spirit has continued, as the organization has grown from 3 to 13 staff, and seen an even greater growth in the need for services.  Colorado State Demography Office (2009) estimates the senior population in Boulder will double by 2020, an increase of over 50,000 people!  BCCC’s new Executive Director, Emily Ditty has worked for BCCC for 7 years and looks forward to meeting the needs of an ever-growing senior population.  Board Chair Jennifer Tallman states that, “Emily is deeply dedicated with our mission of serving seniors and adults with disabilities and is well known in the community for connecting people to the work of BCCC.” Tallman noted the current optimism, that “BCCC is excited to celebrate 40 years of service with a visionary new leader at the helm.”

 

For more information about Boulder County CareConnect, call 303-443-1933 or visit www.careconnectbc.org.

 

Photo Caption 1: Medical Mobility, one of BCCC's programs, provides volunteer escorts to medical appointments. One client from Niwot undergoing cancer treatment said that, "I have friends in the area but they all work and it is difficult to ask them time and time again to give me a ride. They help me in emergencies, but this program has been a lifesaver. Every volunteer I've had has been wonderful and so generous. I am not sure who I would have relied on if not for this program." 

 

Photo Caption 2: Originally RSVP of Boulder County, Boulder County CareConnect Advisory Committee members pose in front of a school house  that was one of the original offices in the early 90’s.