Surprise, AZ (Sept. 25, 2024) - Banner Olive Branch Senior Center has been selected as the 2024 Organization of the Year by the city of Surprise Community Legend Awards Program. This award honors those who have made a positive impact within the community and have improved the lives of vulnerable Surprise residents and connected residents to programs that ultimately enhance their quality of life.
The facility was officially recognized Tuesday at the Surprise annual Interfaith and Golden Rule Community event.
“We are incredibly honored to have been recognized as the city of Surprise Community Organization of the Year,” said Banner Olive Branch Director Jennifer Lawless. “This recognition means the world to our staff and volunteers, and we look forward to continuing to work with other non-profit, civic, business and faith leaders to enhance the lives of all residents in the northwest valley.”
The Banner Olive Branch Senior Center had more than 73,000 visits in 2023 and served more than 24,000 congregate meals. They made and delivered 200 home delivered meals daily and have approximately 350 visitors go through their free food pantry every day. Their benefits support program saved local seniors close to $3 million in 2023 and they proudly make and deliver all the meals for the senior centers of the cities of Surprise and El Mirage.
“We live in a time when many people are living longer and retirement planning may change -- living on a fixed income can be extremely challenging for many in our community,” Lawless said. “In the city of Surprise our average client is over 80 years old, lives alone and makes less than $10,000 a year. We are so grateful that we can help those in our community who really need support. And we are so very grateful to live in a community that celebrates those who give back every day.”
About Banner Olive Branch Senior Center
Banner Olive Branch Senior Center has been serving the Sun Cities and surrounding communities since 1988. The senior center offers a variety of social and educational programs, as well as support services, including a home-delivered meal program, daily congregate meals, health and wellness classes and a free food pantry program supported by Banner Health and donations from the community. For information about Banner Olive Branch Senior Center, visit bannerhealth.com/olivebranch.
For further information contact us at: [email protected]
