#GivingTuesday feature in The Washington Post
We are delighted to be included in The Washington Post columnist Petula Dvorak's piece about #GivingTuesday. Join the AFTA cause by making a gift today! It will support our skilled and trained professional teaching artists who uplift the lives and improve the health of older adults living with physical and cognitive health vulnerabilities. Our celebrated artistic faculty lead therapeutic and multidisciplinary arts engagement programs in 31 community and residential care settings in Greater Washington, this year impacting 1,000+ seniors in the region with weekly and bi-weekly activations. Help us ensure underserved senior communities have continued access to the transformative power of regular arts participation. Donations will be matched dollar for dollar by The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation for up to $15,000!
AFTA Party and Exhibition at The Swiss Residence
On November 13, under the gracious patronage of His Excellency Martin Dahinden and Mrs. Anita Dahinden, Arts for the Aging exhibited artwork inspired by The Phillips Collection exhibition, Ten Americans: After Paul Klee, and created by participants in AFTA workshops at five of the 31 community and residential care settings we serve: Alexandria Adult Day Services Center, Alexandria, VA; Arlington Adult Day Services Center, Arlington, VA; Downtown Clusters Geriatric Day Center, Washington, D.C.; The Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Adult Day Services Center/Easterseals of Silver Spring, MD; East County Community Center, Silver Spring, MD; Sacred Heart Home, Hyattsville, MD; Town Center - Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) and Montgomery residence of Rockville, MD. AFTA's artistic faculty, along with older adult participants with works featured in the exhibition spoke from the heart about the joy of self-expression and new friendships made through AFTA programs. Karla Kombrink talked about the renewed sense of purpose that she never had before; how she looks forward to the arts participation we offer because it combats the loneliness many older adults feels as they become less agile or mobile in the aging process. Photos from the night can be found here.
Creative Aging Exhibition at The Phillips Collection
We marked another 30th anniversary milestone in 2018 with the mounting of a Creative Aging exhibition at the stunning Phillips Collection museum in Washington D.C. Works in the show highlight community partnerships that celebrate art and wellness. Art featured made by AFTA participants center around themes explored in the Phillips' 10 Americans: After Paul Klee show which we visited with older adult participants in our programs earlier this year. Visit the exhibition through December 31 by contacting Donna Jonte at [email protected]. View photos from opening night here.
30th Anniversary Gala: Celebrating Pioneering Creative Aging
On October 15 AFTA celebrated its pearl anniversary with a gala and awards dinner at Top of the Hay, the crown atop the historic Hay-Adams hotel in Washington, DC, featuring a special program showcasing AFTA’s gifted professional artists. It was a beautiful evening recognizing luminaries in philanthropy, humanitarianism and thought leadership in health, aging and the arts. 30th Anniversary Gala Awardees were Teresa Heinz, Chair Emeritus of The Heinz Family Philanthropies who was recognized with the Lolo Sarnoff Founder's Award for Humanitarianism and Philanthropy; and Dr. Jehan El-Bayoumi, Professor of Medicine, George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates and Founding Director of the Rodham Institute of GWU School of Medicine and Health Sciences. View the Gala program here. View photographs from the evening here
