Farmers Weekly Review

Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) Acting Director Mary Killough recently announced the recipients of the 2024 Governor’s Engaging Aging Award, presented annually to up to 13 community organizations that have gone above and beyond to make a positive impact in the lives of older adults over the past year.
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, was one of the recipients this year for the 2024 Governor’s Engaging Aging Award.
Catholic Charities is a faith-based organization providing service to people in need and calling others of good will to do the same. In 2023, Catholic Charities of Joliet’s Aging and Disability Services division served 17,845 people across its multi-county service area.
AgeGuide, the Area Agency on Aging in Northeastern Illinois, nominated Catholic Charities for the Governor’s Engaging Aging Award because of its innovative and unique service delivery approaches.
“They are always eager to seek out partnerships to bring programs and resources to older adults and caregivers in their local communities,” said Marla Fronczak, AgeGuide’s Chief Executive Officer, in a press release.
“These collaborations have proven to be successful in keeping older adults connected and engaged. Their willingness to try new and innovative ways to support older adults has made them a leader in their field.”
Catholic Charities partners with local townships, churches, libraries, food banks, and other community-based organizations to serve older adults and their caregivers through their Aging and Disability Resource Network (ADRN) services, as well as their Community Connection Collaborative and caregiver services.
Catholic Charities has also developed unique intergenerational partnerships for service delivery, including utilizing Lewis University students to deliver telephone reassurance and starting a garden project at their main office with the Horticulture Club at Kankakee Community College.