New Senior Wellness Center Seeks Naming Rights

Plans to build a state-of-the-art Senior Wellness Center located at 1150 Powder Springs St. in Marietta have been approved. The county hopes to open the facility in August 2012.

The wellness center has raised about $100,000 out of its goal of $500,000, according to Cobb Senior Services.

The public can help fund the project by purchasing naming rights that go toward buying furnishings. Naming rights opportunities start at $30 for a four-by-eight inch brick in the courtyard and go up to $125,000 for the entire 42,000-square-foot facility.

The facility will also house the existing Marietta Neighborhood Senior Center, the CSS Administrative Offices, and support services staff. 

• The new facility includes renovations qualifying for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Designs) certification that will result in a lower cost operation than the current antiquated building on Fairground Street. Highlights include: high efficiency HVAC system; 46 percent reduction in electrical costs to a comparable building; high efficiency light fixtures; added insulation; improved bus/pedestrian access; water efficient plumbing fixtures; 28 percent reduction in water usage to a comparable building.
• Marietta Neighborhood Senior Center will move from the existing building with current furnishings, equipment, staff and budget. The average attendance is 35-45 clients per day. This Center has been in operation for over 30 years and is supported by annual Federal grants of approximately $80,717.00 as well as client donations of over $7,000 per year, all of which pay for the Program Leader, part-time assistant and a large portion of the operational supplies. Plans are underway to increase the client donation amount and, if approved by the BOC, this revenue is expected to double.
• The grant supported Meals on Wheels (MoW) operation that feeds approximately 225 homebound seniors daily will move into a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen operated by a contracted food service vendor. This long anticipated on-site kitchen will be a first for Cobb County. Staff will provide freshly cooked meals for the MoW program and the three Neighborhood Senior Centers. As part of their contract, kitchen staff will serve continental breakfast and a daily lunch in a relaxed and inviting café setting. These nutritionally sound meals will be available for purchase at a discount rate by seniors attending the Wellness Center. The vendor is obligated to pay 20 percent of the gross receipts from the café to Cobb County on a monthly basis.
• A teaching kitchen will offer fee-based classes on healthy cooking for seniors and special classes for those suffering from illnesses such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.
• A dinner theater with a stage will offer fee-based special events and performing arts.
• An art studio, fitness studio and weight room will offer many exciting hours of continued wellness benefits to senior adults.
• A non-profit clinic will provide services not reimbursable by Medicare or Medicaid such as vision exams, hearing assessments and foot disease prevention. The health services provider will supply all equipment, staff and operational support for the clinic.
• The administrative offices of Cobb Senior Services, including all support service staff, will move from the existing building with current furnishings, equipment, staff and budget.
• Funding for the construction of the Wellness Center is provided by Federal funds.
• Furnishings will be provided through fundraising efforts, which include Naming Rights.

How You Can Help Support the Cobb Senior Wellness Center

Original Artwork on EBay

CSS owns several original oil paintings by renowned Greek artist A. Karafyllakis and pen & ink drawings of the old Lost Mountain store by local artist Robert Rutherford. These are for sale as part of the fundraising efforts.

Visit the “store” on EBay to purchase these pieces of artwork. Click “Advanced Search”; select “Search by Seller” enter “cobbcountypurchasing."

Incredible Edibles Cookbook

Your purchase of the all-new cookbook, Incredible Edibles, will help to support the new Senior Wellness Center. Only $20, your online purchase includes shipping anywhere in the U.S. Visit www.cobbseniors.org to place your order. The cookbook is also available at Multipurpose Centers. All purchases and donations to Cobb Senior Services are tax-deductible.

Buy a Brick

These will be placed in the Courtyard at the entrance to the Senior Wellness Center.

• $30: features up to 3 lines (20 spaces per line, including punctuation) on 4x8 brick

• $250: features your business/organization's logo or up to 3 lines (20 spaces per line, including punctuation) on 8”x 8” brick

Watch for progress on the Senior Wellness Center initiative and get details about Cobb senior citizen events at www.cobbseniors.org.

Visit www.cobbseniors.org for other Naming Rights opportunities.

Per Internal Revenue Code Section 170(c)(1) Cobb Senior Services is a tax-exempt organization for purposes of tax-deductible charitable contributions.