On March 27, 2023, Ethos, the Jamaica Plain-based nonprofit, will celebrate 50 years of providing vital services to older adults in the Boston community.
Founded in 1973 as Southwest Boston Senior Services, Ethos has been dedicated to improving the quality of life for seniors throughout Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, Hyde Park, Mattapan, West Roxbury, and beyond. Over the past five decades, Ethos has grown from a small organization with a handful of volunteers to a multifaceted agency that provides a wide range of services and programs to thousands of older adults each year.
Ethos has been an integral part of the southwest Boston community for 50 years, providing a range of services including Meals on Wheels for the entire city of Boston, home care, case management, health and wellness workshops, social activities, mental health counseling, and support for caregivers, to name a few. With the support of its dedicated staff, volunteers, and community partners, Ethos has been able to make a difference in the lives of countless older adults over the years.
In 2022 alone, Ethos served 2.5 million+ meals to approximately 10,000 older adults at home and across 40 community dining sites throughout every neighborhood in Boston. In addition, Ethos provided more than 650,000 hours of home health aide and homemaker services to more than 1300 older adults in Boston. Ethos’ nursing team completed 1000+ health screenings to determine eligibility for services. Additionally, Ethos assisted more than 3,000 disabled Boston residents through its Personal Care Attendant (PCA) program.
Nearly 1400 older adults attended 400 individual health and wellness classes and events throughout 2022, totaling 500 hours of programming. Ethos also hosts the largest Pride event for LGBTQ+ older adults in New England, attracting over 300 attendees from across the Commonwealth.
As part of the 50th anniversary celebration, Ethos will be hosting a series of events throughout the year to honor its history and the individuals who have made its work possible. These events will include a cornerstone event, hosting a 50th Anniversary Gala, “Where the Heart is” on September 28th, at the 521 Overlook at Fenway Park, where supporters will come together to celebrate the achievements of Ethos and its contributions to the community. This year will also mark the return of their annual Senior Prom on Thursday, May 25th, at the Irish Social Club of Boston in West Roxbury, where older adults will dance, be treated to a special luncheon, and enjoy a special afternoon with their friends.
“We are thrilled to be celebrating 50 years of serving older and disabled adults in Boston and surrounding cities and towns,” said Valerie Frias, CEO of Ethos. “We are proud of the work that we have done over the past five decades, and we are grateful to the individuals and organizations who have supported us along the way. As we look to the future, we remain committed to our mission of empowering older adults to age in community with dignity and independence, having meaningful lives and engagement as a part of the tapestry of their communities.”
For more information on Ethos and its 50th anniversary celebration, please contact Raymond Santos, Chief Development & Community Relations Officer at 617-477-6638, email [email protected], or visit www.ethocare.org.