Philanthropy – Tess Perko's Blog

Retirement can be lonely.

People who are used to working with a diverse group of people may miss that dynamic social network. For example, I worked as a professor at a community college. Every day was filled with fascinating interactions with numerous college students full of young energy and ambition. After I retired, I missed my students’ vigor and spontaneity. I also missed the intellectual conversations I had with other professors whose goals were aligned with mine.

Individuals used to engaging with technological advances may miss those challenges. A software programmer I know felt bored when he retired from his technical job. He also developed anxiety that he would become out of date.

Medical workers such as doctors and nurses who strive to care for others often miss the opportunities to help their patients. When they retire, they may find it difficult to focus solely on their own needs instead of the needs of others.

Retirees often face loneliness due to the changes in their families. When they retire, they no longer have their parents or children available in their lives on a frequent basis. Their parents may have passed away, and their children may have become adults with busy careers and families of their own.

This blog post addresses how retirees can avoid loneliness and achieve a socially-satisfying retired life with stimulating friendships and meaningful activities.

Take a Class

One way to meet people with the same goals is to take a class on a subject that interests you.

I’ve always wanted to become fluent in another language, so when I retired, I found some adult education classes that taught Spanish. I started this activity during the pandemic, so the classes were held online. When the pandemic ended, the students, who are mostly retired, voted to keep the classes online.

I began taking Spanish 2 and now I’m taking Spanish 4 with many of the same students I’ve known for two-and-a-half years. During class, we were in groups a lot, so I’ve even more familiar with four of five people with whom I’ve worked. Besides helping each other learn Spanish, we share our hobbies, family news, backgrounds, and travel adventures as we converse. Sometimes, we have even helped each other with technical problems relating to the class. Furthermore, a few of us meet outside of class to strengthen our Spanish conversation skills while we enjoy a cup of coffee or have lunch together.

My community offers a variety of classes for seniors including courses about Medicare, computer skills, line dancing, and yoga. My town also organizes social outings for seniors such as trips to theaters, local public gardens, or historical monuments.

One of the most interesting classes I’ve taken is a class on movie directing. In the class, attendees watch movies by specific directors and then discuss the techniques used in the movies. I found this class not only relaxing, but intellectually stimulating.

Join a Philanthropy Organization

Individuals who love to contribute to their community can find many opportunities to do so by joining a philanthropy.

One of my retirement goals was to help financially disadvantaged students. I joined an organization which raises money for college and vocational scholarships. In fact, I’m now the chairperson of the scholarship committee which gives me many opportunities to interact with high school seniors and college students. I also manage the production of a scholarship luncheon at which we award our scholarships.

A woman with a degree in gerontology and psychology volunteers on a county committee that develops transportation options for senior citizens. She interacts with a variety of county agencies and uses her expertise to develop worthwhile programs.

A woman who retired as a buyer for Safeway now works at the county food bank, sorting food and organizing bags for distribution. She enjoys talking with the management about sources of food and how best to store them.

Hang Out in a Bookstore

One of the most stimulating places to hang is a local bookstore. The bookstore in my town always has its door open even when it rains. Its display tables and shelves are chock full of the latest books or books recommended by its staff.

When I looked up this bookstore’s website, I found out that it has a mailing list so that customers can stay abreast of the store’s activities. They invite authors into their store for readings, arrange readings at various schools, and …

The store also sponsors eight book clubs. One is for mystery readers. Another is for wine drinkers. On Wednesdays, a book group meets at 10:00 a.m. and goes for a 45-minute walk while discussing their book. Another meets at a local assisted-living home. Obviously, this book store aims to please all of its potential readers.

Find a Social Group

The goal of some retirees may be to socialize as much as they can after working hard in a career.

In my area, there are men’s groups known as Sons in Retirements (SIRS). This group is organized into various chapters. Each chapter caters to the interests of the men in that chapter. For example, the chapter to which my husband belongs offers a wine club, golf, book clubs, hiking, and bocce ball on a weekly basis. The group also sponsors monthly lunches with speakers, a spring lunch for spouses, and a Christmas Dinner Dance for couples. My husband had never played Bocce Ball before joining this group, and now he never misses a game.

My local town offers Mah Jong and Bridge socials. If you belong to a country club, they may also offer games such as poker or other card games.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, retirees have lots of options for hiking and walking. My philanthropy organization sponsors a hike once a month. I found a MeetUp group for seniors that hikes on various open-space trails. I even found a MeetUp walking group that focuses on interesting walks in Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco.

The best thing to do is to pursue activities that you enjoy. While you’re doing those things, you’ll meet like-minded people. Don’t be shy. Reach out and develop stimulating friendships.

Photo taken by Peggy Fleming

This is the story of 69 women who dedicate themselves to improving their community.

Every year, for the last 87 years, the Alamo Women’s Club (AWC) has given scholarships to college-bound students. For the last several years, they have offered $5,000 scholarships to single parents who are attending local community colleges and to students who have been emancipated from the California foster system. They also offer financial-needs scholarships to local high schools, but that topic is for another blog post.

How do they raise money for these scholarships? Well, in creative ways. First of all, every October, AWC hosts an Authors’ Faire to which they invite five to six authors to speak at a catered luncheon. The authors sell more books and AWC makes a profit on the event.

Most importantly, for raising money for scholarships, AWC collaborates with a local senior group to collect unwanted used jewelry, both precious and costume. Four times a year, AWC sponsors jewelry sales to which they invite the public. They’ve raised over $200,000 from these sales so far.

Most of these AWC women are retired, but in no way inactive. The organization has a five-year-plan for growth and an updated website for both members and the public. They attend business meetings one Wednesday a month and social luncheons with speakers for another Wednesday a month.

Most of all, however, these women work hard on philanthropy. The Author’s Faire takes a boatload of women to recruit new authors; choose a venue with great food, sufficient parking, and reliable service; and orchestrate the luncheon. A crew of women set up the jewelry sales. Others help sell it, and another team packs it up for the next event. While they’re working, they discover common interests and develop new friendships.

The AWC Scholarship Committee started its work last September. First, they contacted the Contra Costa community colleges and Youth Homes (for emancipated foster children) to notify them about their scholarships.

The important thing about offering scholarships is getting the information to the students. AWC’s Scholarship Committee worked hard to stay in contact with the counselors of each school and to ensure that students could access the scholarship information on AWC’s and the schools’ websites. For example, as soon as AWC received the first application from Diablo Valley College, they wrote an email to the counselor thanking her for her work. This continued all the way up to the due date.

Meanwhile, the Author’s Faire was a resounding success with over 200 people in attendance, and the jewelry sales earned money bracelet by bracelet.

In March, the Scholarship Committee chose ten single parents and one former foster child to receive $5,000 scholarships. The recipients were chosen for their financial need and their dedication to continuing their college education. Several were nursing majors and the former foster student wants to become a programmer. If they can stay in school despite their financial hardships, they can all become successful.

Immediately, the AWC members started planning the Scholarship Luncheon. One group chose the caterer. Another arranged for the table decorations. A kitchen crew covered the tables with tablecloths and set the China and silverware. A video was developed to honor the Scholarship Committee and the recipients. Finally, a cake was ordered and decorated with the words We Are the Champions!

The Scholarship Committee created and ordered a new banner to hang outside the clubhouse that said Congratulations to our 2023 Scholarship Recipients! They also designed and ordered the programs, arranged for members to greet and escort the scholarship recipients throughout the luncheon, and hosted the presentation of the certificates.

On that special day, over 70 people came together to celebrate boosting the success of students who may not otherwise achieve it. The recipients came with their guests and sat with the AWC members for lunch. They received their certificates and shared their stories. The women were all smiles and the recipients blushed with gratitude.

One of the students stood up to tell her story of single parenting. She ended her speech by saying that, for her, the scholarship was more than just money. It represented support and new friendships, gifts that would last a lot longer than money.

The AWC members nodded their heads. Philanthropy and friendship were natural companions.

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Female Philanthropy