Mari Terbrueggen, Founder and President, The Senior Life Foundation Inc.
Mission
The Senior Life Foundation’s mission is to respond rapidly to low-income seniors who are faced with a crisis so they can remain in their own home or apartment and live out the winter of their lives in dignity and independence. We do this by developing community and corporate sponsors to raise funds and by channeling those funds to at-home seniors in crisis and occasionally to local organizations which most effectively help seniors stay in their homes.
Serving Jacksonville
Began in 2000; Jacksonville-based.
Those served
The all-volunteer Senior Life Foundation maintains and staffs an emergency helpline (268-9128) for the purpose of providing rapid response and emergency assistance to Duval County seniors age 60 and older in crisis who live in their own home or apartment and whose total household income is $1,000 per month or less. Seniors are eligible for assistance once every two years. In addition, a board task force is investigating expansion of our services to St. Johns County, effective Oct. 1.
Biggest challenge
Supported by a very dedicated and talented 100 percent volunteer board of directors, there is not just one major challenge. My position is faced with multiple challenges as our environment and various industries change. I work closely with our vice president of development on fundraising, which is always a major ongoing challenge.
Biggest satisfaction
Clearly, the biggest satisfaction comes from helping others, one desperate senior at a time. Just hearing the relief in the voice of an elderly, frail senior when they find not only will they get some financial help but there is also someone out there who cares, provides tremendous satisfaction. It adds remarkable purpose to my life. I believe the more we reach out to help this vulnerable, almost forgotten group of seniors who live below the poverty level, the better we will all be. After all, one of these days we will all reach the winter of our lives and hopefully there will be some compassionate caring people there to help us.
Hometown
Born in Detroit, Mich., grew up on Long Island, N.Y., worked in Jacksonville, Newark, N.J., and Philadelphia, Pa. Lived most of my life off and on in Jacksonville.
First experience with community service
My first experience was at the Prudential in Jacksonville. I was asked to be the first chair and organize the Community Services Committee. It was a wonderful experience to see what the agencies in the city did to help others.
Your job before the Senior Life Foundation
I began working at the Prudential when I finished school and then through the years advanced from supervisor, manager, senior job design consultant, director of public relations and advertising, director of human resources and eventually Vice President, Individual Insurance in Jacksonville. Subsequently, I was promoted to Vice President and Quality Service Officer in our corporate office in Newark, where I reported to the president of Prudential.
Upcoming events
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, the Senior Life Foundation will provide a series of concerts in Duval County Senior Centers featuring board member, pianist and raconteur John Thomas, with the first two in September.
Contact information
www.seniorlifejax.com [email protected] Emergency hotline: 268-9128