Julia Wengrovitz, Board Member
At Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly, we have a Highlight of the Week series where we shine a spotlight on members of the LBFE community including board members, older adults, volunteers, students, staff, CitySites (and more!) to learn about them and their experiences with LBFE. This week’s highlight is of one of our board members, Julia Wengrovitz.
Please tell us a little about yourself- what background/professional experience do you have?
I joined LBFE about 4 years ago. My background is in Marketing. I currently work for a software company running their marketing campaigns. I also have a bit of an events background, which is why I am so excited to be chairing this year’s A Taste of Grandma’s Kitchen fundraiser (September 27th)! Get your tickets now at: www.grandmaskitchen.eventbrite.com
What inspired you to get involved with LBFE and what makes you want to continue staying involved?
I was looking for opportunities to volunteer and the mission of Little Brothers immediately struck a chord with me. We are one of the only cultures that doesn’t prioritize caring for our elderly, and there is so much to be gained from intergenerational relationships that the mission of LBFE cultivates, that I immediately knew it was an organization I wanted to be a part of.
If you had 30 seconds to share why inclusive programs for older adults is important, what would you say?
There have been so many studies recently about the negative physical effects that loneliness and isolation can have on one’s health and building inclusive programs for older adults is critical to fight those. What I particularly think is so wonderful about the programs that LBFE puts on in our community is that it brings people together in a casual and interactive way to build friendships. There is so much value in intergenerational relationships that we foster in our weekly programming, but what is even greater is that they foster relationships between the residents in the buildings, so long after we have left for the day, our elders can see familiar faces and build friendships with neighbors they might not have known otherwise.
If you had to think of a song or quote that describes LBFE’s mission or programs, what would it be and why?
“You’ve Got a Friend” by James Taylor. I really feel like LBFE is there for our older friends any time they need us, whether it’s through our year-round City Sites, holiday events, Friendship and Flowers, food pantry programs, or even just a check-in phone call.
Do you have an older adult you were/are close to? What qualities did/do you admire about them? If not, what qualities do you admire about older adults in general?
I was lucky enough to grow up knowing my grandparents, and they always had amazing stories and advice to share. My grandparents grew up during the Great Depression and fought in WWII (as many of the current generation of older adults did), so their determination and hard work to build great lives for our family is something I will always admire and we will continue to honor their legacy.
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