Contact: Jim Flaherty, Communications Director
Office 608/ 286-6308 – Cell 608/ 698-0928, jflaherty@aarp.org
WAUKESHA/MILWAUKEE COUNTIES – A proposal submitted by the Eras Senior Network, Inc. to send out a mailing with information about the latest COVID-19 scams to all 4,700 of their clients throughout Waukesha and Milwaukee counties has been selected to receive an AARP Wisconsin “Small Dollar, Big Impact” grant.
Grants are being awarded each month throughout 2021 to projects across Wisconsin that are designed to improve communities and make them better places for everyone to live, work and play as they age. Judges selected this project for a $1,000 grant after reviewing dozens of proposals submitted from all over the state.
“This project fits perfectly with the spirit and intent of the Small Dollar, Big Impact grant program,” said AARP Wisconsin State Director Sam Wilson. “Our goal is to support communities as they make positive changes that inspire long-term progress on livable issues. This proposal hits that nail right on the head.”
“The Eras Senior Network is very grateful for the AARP’s Small Dollar, Big Impact grant, which will help us provide important information about COVID-19 scams to our senior clients,” said Heather Uzowulu, Development Director for Eras.
Eras Senior Network, a non-profit organization based in Waukesha County, is serving the community in many ways during the pandemic. In addition to providing supportive services like transportation to medical appointments, help with seasonal yard services, and grocery deliveries, Eras sends out information about COVID-19 scams through weekly wellness calls to seniors and adults with disabilities living in both Waukesha and Milwaukee counties.
Uzowulu said the $1,000 grant will support a mailing to all 4,700 of Eras’ clients, providing important information about COVID-19 scams that will serve a discussion topics during wellness calls. The grant should cover the entire cost of creating, printing and mailing the letters.
Eras will develop content for the mailing based on the most often reported scams that seniors are seeing, such as fake testing sites or fraudulent offers for stimulus checks.
“With things changing so quickly, there can be confusion over what’s real and what’s not,” Uzowulu said.
AARP Wisconsin’s launched its “Small Dollar, Big Impact” grant program in 2020 and is now in its second year of helping proposed projects move forward in rural and urban parts of the state.
“These grants are exactly what the name describes – short-term, low-cost solutions that could have remarkable impacts on the shaping of neighborhoods and cities,” said Darrin Wasniewski, Associate State Director of Community Outreach for AARP Wisconsin.
“There are so many great ideas and proposals for making life better in communities across Wisconsin. We know how impactful $1,000 can be. This is our way of extending some seed money to get these projects off the ground. The grant program is open to some nonprofits and government entities. For more information on the program, visit www.aarp.org/WIsdbi