The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona is pleased to announce that a total of $75,000 has been awarded to three Southern Arizona nonprofits through the Shaaron Kent Endowment Fund. The Shaaron Kent Endowment Fund will support grantees for up to three years, awarding $75,000 annually.
After the tragic and sudden death of Shaaron Kent, a portion of her estate came to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona to support three areas that she felt passionate about, including End-of-Life Care Services. The Shaaron Kent Endowment Fund was established in 2012 to honor her wishes.
“We’re proud not only to be able to carry on Shaaron Kent’s legacy and support an area she felt passionate about but also to provide this multi-year funding to three nonprofits here in Southern Arizona who will make all the difference for community members and their families as they navigate end-of-life care and services,” shares Jeaiza Quiñones Ivory, Director of Community Impact at CFSA.
The three organizations who have been awarded the Shaaron Kent End-Of-Life Care grant are:
“For the LGBTQI+ older adult community, Advance Medical Care planning is essential to ensure their specific end-of-life wishes are met, particularly given that our community members are twice as likely to be single and four times less apt to have children than non-LGBTQI+ older adults. Without this essential funding from the Shaaron Kent Endowment – End-of-Life Care and Planning Grant, Southern Arizona Senior Pride would not be able to sustain and build upon the organization’s efforts in this area,” shares Scott McDonald, Executive Director of Southern Arizona Senior Pride.
“Funding from the Shaaron Kent End-of-Life Care grant will help us provide individualized and group support to those impacted by cancer,” shares Debbie Rich, Director of Philanthropy and Communications at Tu Nidito. “We walk with these families throughout their journey, from diagnosis, through treatment and end-of-life care, if needed. Funding will also help us provide a peer-to-peer support group for these families. It is often the only place where cancer patients, their care partners, and children can process the disease with others on the same journey, providing a safe space to discuss end-of-life wishes and planning.”
“Pima Council on Aging is sincerely grateful to the Shaaron Kent fund held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona for supporting our continuing End of Life Initiatives work. PCOA staff assist active PCOA clients with end-of-life issues in many different program areas as best they can. These additional funds support our ability to serve older adults and their loved ones outside the scope of other PCOA programs. Having staff time dedicated just to the end-of-life space ensures our staff receive the most up-to-date training, and more older adults and families have access to resources that help them have conversations and make informed decisions about end-of-life care,” shares Halley Torres at Pima Council on Aging.