This is Jason Cuneo (he/they), Senior Manager of Senior Services, with our quarterly update on Senior Services at The Center.
As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and engagement, The Center hosted a Senior Services Listening Session on September 14 to share updates about our Senior Services work and the Senior Services Community Advisory Committee, hear directly from community members, and provide an update on the Thimot and Rawnsley Fund. We are grateful to everyone who participated, asked questions, and shared ideas for improving services for LGBTQ+ older adults in our community.
Here is a summary of what we shared at the Senior Services Listening Session, what we heard, and next steps.
Thimot and Rawnsley Fund Update
One of the goals of the Senior Services Listening Session was to provide a transparent update on the Thimot and Rawnsley Fund, answer community questions, and discuss how these resources are supporting LGBTQ+ older adults today while helping strengthen services for the future.
The Thimot and Rawnsley gift totaled $18.9 million and was received in full in September 2024. Since its receipt, the fund has grown through investment earnings and a refund of taxes previously paid by the trust.
Between FY22 and FY25, The Center utilized approximately $1.2 million to support LGBTQ+ senior housing and related services. As of July 31, 2026, the fund balance stood at approximately $20 million. The Center remains committed to responsible stewardship of these resources and to ensuring they are used in ways that honor donor intent, which includes LGBTQ+ senior housing and related services.
As we respond to community needs today, we are focused on developing a sustainable, long-term vision for how the fund can support LGBTQ+ seniors well into the future.
What We Heard From the Community
Throughout the listening session and recent Community Advisory Committee discussions, several themes emerged regarding the needs and priorities of LGBTQ+ older adults. Community members highlighted the importance of:
- Social connection and reducing isolation
- HIV and aging services
- Transportation access
- Digital literacy and technology support
- Navigation of resources and benefits
- Meaningful opportunities for ongoing community engagement and input
Participants also expressed strong interest in community trust and transparency, daytime activities, cultural and theater opportunities, and additional ways for seniors to remain involved in shaping priorities and services. These themes were reflected throughout the discussion at the Senior Services Listening Session.
How Community Feedback Is Making an Impact on Senior Services
Community feedback continues to help shape planning efforts, conversations, and future program development. We heard valuable ideas, and several community members and partners offered to help advance these efforts.
We are pleased to share several upcoming programs, services, and events that align with priorities discussed during the Listening Session:
- Tech on the Go at The Center every Tuesday through November, offering in-person support on navigating technology.
- HIV/AIDS Legal Clinic at The Center on October 16.
- Ageless Artists Art Show on Saturday, October 17, from 1–4pm, which we are still accepting submissions for artwork until October 3.
- Medicare Mondays every Monday from October 19 to December 7, offering free Medicare enrollment assistance in both English and Spanish at The Center.
- Medicare Open Enrollment & Scam Prevention Workshop on October 29, presented in both English and Spanish.
- The Old Globe’s Globe for All: Macbeth on Tuesday, November 17, with dinner at 4pm and the performance beginning at 5pm at The Center. This will be a free event open to all ages.
These are just some of the programs, services, and events available through Senior Services at The Center. Visit our website for our full calendar of events, which includes many daytime activities like Trivia and Game Day, Lesbian Café, Women’s Book Club, an Art Group, our Congregate Meal Program, and the anticipated return of Feeling Fit in our Auditorium on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with the completion of our auditorium floor project!
Looking Ahead for Senior Services
The Rawnsley Fund represents a transformational investment in the future of LGBTQ+ older adults. As we move forward, The Center remains committed to responsible stewardship, ongoing transparency, and continued community engagement to help guide how these resources support current and future generations of LGBTQ+ older adults.
We thank everyone who has participated in these conversations and encourage community members to stay engaged through future listening sessions, Community Advisory Committee meetings, and Senior Services programs.
In community,
Jason Cuneo (he/they)
Senior Manager of Senior Services