Senior Center kicks off fund-raising campaign

Elise Gee

COSTA MESA -- Orange County’s tax collector wants your money -- for

a good cause, that is.

John Moorlach will head up the Costa Mesa Senior Center’s annual

fund-raising campaign as the auxiliary committee’s honorary chairman,

officials announced Tuesday at the campaign kickoff.

And he knows where you live.

Moorlach has spearheaded a direct-mail campaign that will send 58,000

letters to the homes of Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Corona del Mar

residents.

Senior Center board members, still riding high on the $50,000

Disneyland Community Service Award received last week, praised Moorlach’s

involvement as a turning point for the center, which is embarking on a

mission to bring a comprehensive wellness center to the facility.

“It really shows that the Costa Mesa (Senior Center) can be a

countywide charity,” board member Amy Morimoto said of Moorlach’s

involvement.

The Senior Center serves about 450 people daily, which adds up to more

than 100,000 visits to the center by 23,000 seniors from 13 different

cities a year.

Tuesday’s kickoff also gave the center a chance to introduce Alan

Myers, the center’s new executive director, to the community. Myers is an

attorney with 20 years experience in the field of senior care. He holds a

dual doctorate in psychology and social work.

“What I consider the most important plan is trying to develop a

comprehensive wellness center for the county ... that will be developed

as part of this facility,” Myers said.

The $10-million to $12-million wellness center is envisioned as a

facility that will provide seniors with the services they need to remain

independent rather than having to live in a skilled nursing facility.

Those services would include a fitness center, a nutritionist,

counseling, medical services, physical therapy and other resources needed

by seniors.

The $250,000 that center officials hope to raise this year will be for

operating expenses, not the wellness center, Myers said. It is $150,000

higher than last year’s goal and signifies the center’s commitment to

improving resources and services.

He hopes that Moorlach and other influential members of the

fund-raising committee will help build momentum for the center’s efforts.

The committee also includes former Costa Mesa Mayors Arlene Schafer and

Mary Hornbuckle, fair board member and former Fleetwood President John

Crean and Orange County Supervisor Jim Silva.

Letters will be arriving at homes in a week to 10 days, Myers said.

The Senior Center has received support from numerous local corporations

and individuals in the form of perks for donors. For example, donors who

give certain dollar amounts also will receive benefits such as Home Depot

gift certificates, tickets to a live taping of “Home on the Range” or a

year of membership with the American Automobile Assn.

Moorlach said that as a Costa Mesa resident with the power to make a

positive contribution, he was motivated to help the Senior Center with

fund-raising because it is such an important part of the community.

“Thirteen percent of the population is over 65,” Moorlach said. “That

will double in a short time. It will be busier here every year. Someone

like myself, who’s 40, should be planning ahead 20 years.”