February 11, 2015: AFTA Hours launches
Celebrating the season of love — of family, friends, partners, companions — friends of Arts for the Aging gathered together at Slate Wine Bar + Bistro in D.C. for the first in a series of AFTA Hours Dinners that will feature demonstrations of our award-winning programs, tastings of specially selected wines and delectable food tastings, all in the name of AFTA’s terrific cause. Stay tuned for more artful, culinary experiences like this one.
JANUARY 14, 2015: Capricorn Party
Under the gracious patronage of the Embassy of France, friends and admirers of the late founder of AFTA, Lolo Sarnoff, gathered together with Arts for the Aging to commemorate her remarkable life and legacy. The “Capricorn Party” was so named after the grande dame’s legendary annual birthday celebration. A slide show of photographs depicting Lolo over decades was the backdrop to guests who paid tribute during an open-mike with stories and fond recollections of the beloved Swiss-German artist, scientist and philanthropist. AFTA’s teaching artists led the crowd in a rendition of Johnny Mercer’s Too Marvelous for Words and saluted the founder with her personal favorite, Johann Strauss’ The Blue Danube Waltz. Many expressed solidarity with France in light of recent tragic events in Paris. We could not have hosted an evening so befitting to Lolo’s elegance and finesse were it not for Ambassador Gerard Araud and all at the Embassy of France. Among her many accolades, honorary doctorates and awards, in 2008, Lolo Sarnoff was named by the French Government a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for her dedication to science, the arts and cultural life in Washington. For this His Excellency Pierre Vimont declared so beautifully our mutual admiration for Lolo’s “uprightness, resolve and generosity.” For event photos from Gene Carl Feldman, visit our Flikr stream here.
News of AFTA Founder Lolo Sarnoff
We have some sad news to share: the founder of Arts for the Aging, Lolo Sarnoff, passed away on Sunday, November 9. She was 98.
On our director’s last visit with Lolo they had tea on a breezy afternoon. She was so peaceful and glad to hear of Arts for the Aging’s progress and good works. In particular, she was really taken by the number of supporters listed in our annual report. It made her very happy that we have carried on so well.
Lolo had a lilting and practical way of talking about becoming an “angel” some day. We will miss her, but now she has her wings!
In Memoriam
A burial and memorial service will be held at a later date in Vermont, Lolo’s beloved second home where she spent many summers. Arts for the Aging will be in touch about plans here in the D.C. area to celebrate her life. The obituary in the Washington Post is available here.
Lolo’s final wishes indicate that she would be happy if memorial donations were made to AFTA. We are honored to accept them as we continue to keep her vision alive and growing: Arts for the Aging is at 12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Online donations can be made through our website by clicking here. You can also call us at 301-255-0103.
What does this mean for AFTA?
We have been preparing for this moment ever since Lolo retired in 2010. Not only did our board institute a succession plan, but we have grown our support base, expanded our program’s reach, strengthened our impact, and we are training others in our best practices. Arts for the Aging has a healthy mix of income sources from foundation, corporate and government grants, from more than 400 individual donors, and through community partnerships. The board, our teaching artists, our staff and volunteers all remain committed to strengthening the future of AFTA and the growing population of older adults who need our arts engagement services most. More about our accomplishments and plans are in our Annual Report, and in this viewbook about our workshops.
OCTOBER 22, 2014: 26th Annual Gala
Arts for the Aging hosted its annual fall gala at Society of the Cincinnati at Anderson House on October 22 with a reception, arts performance by Verge Ensemble, and toasts honoring Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. In an evening emceed by artist Bill Dunlap, the 6th Lolo Sarnoff Award — so named after our nonagenarian founder — was presented to the Supreme Court Justice by longtime friends Bill and Dorothy McSweeny, and patrons gave a touching interactive tribute led by AFTA teaching artist Miles Spicer with members of Downtown Clusters Geriatric Day Care Center, inviting everyone in a serenade of the pop standard, “I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter”. Justice Ginsburg cited AFTA’s founder for her “love of music and art, and caring about the right things” — a moving sentiment for the occasion, Celebrating Lifelong Creativity. Event photographs are available for viewing here (by Gene Carl Feldman), and also at these links from Washington Life, DC Hotspots and The Georgetowner. For the evening’s program, click here.