2019 Recap

2019 RECAP

RECAPPING OUR TIME TOGETHER IN DALLAS

Whether you joined us in Dallas or not, we hope the following Conference keynotes and materials will be valuable as you calibrate your goals and inspire your teams throughout the coming year. Below you'll find a summary of the big moments, key learnings and the most important information available.

HERE'S WHAT ATTENDEES ARE SAYING

"I loved the whole conference! The ability to network with others and learn more about Meals on Wheels America especially."

"I believe it to be one of the best conferences in that it addresses concerns that apply to our diverse group. I honestly cannot say enough about it."

"This was my very first conference. I was very impressed with content of the sessions being relevant to my new career. Each session that I attended was very informative and helpful."

"I had a good time and it renewed my passion for our Meals on Wheels program and the projects that go along with it. It's nice to hear new perspectives, and in some cases, it's just nice to know that other organizations face the same issues that you face."

"Overall, I really enjoyed the conference and came away feeling motivated and inspired."

"The keynote presentations were the best and I enjoyed connecting with peers – some that I've known for years and some that I just met."

"I felt I belonged to something bigger than our program. I learned a lot to apply to my program and I came back invigorated."

"I enjoyed having the opportunity to expand my knowledge on managing non-profits. I was able to learn new ideas of how to work more efficiently and make better use of the assets in my community."

2019 KEYNOTE EVENTS

KEYNOTE: ELLIE HOLLANDER, PRESIDENT AND CEO, MEALS ON WHEELS AMERICA

Ellie officially kicked off our 2019 gathering with an inspirational “state of the union”-style address, complete with an overview of the Association’s strategic vision, her thoughts on the future and of course, dancing! Watch for a special announcement from 2019 Meals on Wheels Annual Conference Title Sponsor TRIO Community Meals, as well!

KEYNOTE: BECHARA CHOUCAIR, MD, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF COMMUNITY HEALTH OFFICER, KAISER PERMANENTE

Dr. Choucair is a top administrator at Kaiser Permanente, one of America’s leading integrated health systems. He oversees the organization’s national community health efforts and philanthropic giving activities aimed at improving the health of its 12.3 million members and the 68 million people within the communities it serves. Watch as Dr. Choucair shared Kaiser Permanente’s approach to addressing social determinants of health, the value of community-based care and creating the evidence base to better understand the impact of how these services improve quality of life and reduce healthcare costs.

KEYNOTE PANEL: TACKLING THE SENIOR POPULATION'S GREATEST CHALLENGES TOGETHER

No single sector or organization can alone tackle the food insecurity, isolation and rising costs associated with keeping the rapidly growing aging population healthy and independent. This distinguished group of panelists brought together cross-sector perspectives on how to combat these challenges. Discover how we can work together to address the wide-ranging needs of the vulnerable population we all seek to serve.

Moderator: Andrew Renda, MD, MPH, Associate Vice President, Population Health, Humana

Panelists:

Michele F. Bellantoni, MD, CMD, Associate Professor & Clinical Director, Division of Geriatric Medicine & Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
John Feather, PhD, CEO, Grantmakers in Aging
Kate Johnson, MPH, Senior Policy Analyst Health Division, National Governors Association

2019 SISTER ALICE MARIE QUINN AWARD

CONGRATULATIONS WILDA BELISLE!

Meals on Wheels America announced Wilda Belisle, Nutrition Director for Osceola Council on Aging in Kissimmee, FL, as the recipient of the second annual Sister Alice Marie Quinn Award on Tuesday, August 27. New in 2018, the Sister Alice Marie Quinn Award was established to celebrate the life and contributions of one of the Meals on Wheels network’s most respected and influential leaders of all time. A registered dietitian, Sister Alice Marie – affectionately known as SAM – founded St. Vincent Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles, CA, in 1977, and through her leadership and spirit, left an indelible mark on the national Meals on Wheels community.

With Sister Alice Marie’s legacy in mind, this award honors a current leader in the Meals on Wheels network who embodies her compassion, dedication and contribution, and who works to unite and advance the nationwide Meals on Wheels movement.

“Wilda has committed herself to serving the most vulnerable seniors of Osceola County with her whole heart, just as Sister Alice Marie Quinn did for the seniors of Los Angeles,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. “We are thrilled to be able to honor Wilda for her visionary leadership and effectiveness, and her incredible contributions to the Meals on Wheels movement. She is truly the embodiment of the spirit that this award represents.”

Learn more about Wilda here.

UPCOMING INITIATIVES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

SUBARU SHARE THE LOVE EVENT

For the twelfth year in a row, Subaru's Share the Love Event is giving Meals on Wheels America Members an unparalleled opportunity to raise dollars and awareness for your community by once again inviting us to join an incredibly successful national cause marketing campaign. Just as we did last year, we're improving the distribution of the funds raised in an effort to reward those programs that actively contribute to the Event's success. Learn more here.

NEW THREE-YEAR, $3 MILLION PETSMART CHARITIES PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCED

Deborah Turcott, acting President and COO of PetSmart Charities, joined us in Dallas to share the details of a three-year, $3 million partnership with PetSmart Charities primarily centered on providing grant assistance to Members programs in the areas of pet food assistance and pet care. In addition to pet grants, the partnership will support research projects to better understand the need, current state and external environment of Meals on Wheels and pet programming, as well as a veterinary care feasibility study. Be on the lookout for opportunities to apply for pet grants this fall! Learn more about PetSmart Charities here.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & INFORMATION

CONFERENCE RESOURCE CENTER

Meals on Wheels America Members can now access all Conference presentation slides and handouts at www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/resources-2019.

CONNECT WITH EXHIBITORS

Did you find a product or service that would be perfect for your program? Find out more about the companies you met with, including their contact information, through the interactive Expo Map.

THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK

We want to thank all those who took the time to complete our 2019 Conference Evaluation Survey! To show our appreciation to those who submitted their thoughts, we randomly selected Sara Gaston of Clinton County Senior Services in Carlyle, IL to receive a free full Conference registration to attend the 2020 Annual Conference in San Diego. Congratulations, Sara!