Bay Ridge Center, the lead community organization for older adults, showed some love to supporters during its annual “Giving Celebration” and awards ceremony on June 29.
This year, the group honored two remarkable individuals who have made a significant impact on the organization’s mission — board members Donna McClellan and Paul Knudsen — during a luau-themed celebration.
According to Todd W. Fliedner, executive director of the Bay Ridge Center, McClellan and Knudsen were chosen for their instrumental role in helping the neighborhood navigate challenging times, and for pushing the organization to open its new state-of-the art space earlier this year.
“We just thought it was a way of thanking them for hanging in there and helping us get back on our feet,” Fliedner told Brooklyn Paper. “They’re the ones that got the agency through some very rough times in the past and really kind of positioned ourselves so that we could do what we have done in the last three years.”
Saturday’s celebratory luau was made complete with live music, games, raffles and more. Keeping with the theme, guests sipped on tasty Pina Coladas and snacked on tropical treats.
Fliedner expressed gratitude for the community’s support, and said he’s already looking forward to next year’s event.
Established in 1976, the Bay Ridge Center serves older adults with comprehensive services and programs aimed at enhancing their well-being and independence. The center offers nutrition programs, fitness and wellness activities, social services, transportation, and tech support, as well as hot meals, gym equipment and art therapy.
The organization previously operated out of the basement of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, but opened a brand new 21,000-square-foot facility in March after almost a decade of planning and coordination.
For more information, visit bayridgecenter.org.
