As I reflect on my first year as AgeGuide’s Board Chair, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and pride as I think about the incredible journey we’ve been on—and the joy of celebrating our 50th anniversary this past year. Fifty years! What a powerful testament to the unwavering dedication of this organization to older adults and caregivers in our region.
Since our founding in 1974, AgeGuide has evolved alongside the changing needs of the communities we serve and we’ve grown into something extraordinary. We’ve expanded our reach, adapted to the evolving needs of a growing aging population, and remained rooted in our mission: to be a vital resource and fierce advocate for each of us as we age.
The past half-century has been a testament to the power of community, innovation, and compassion. From expanding services to caregivers to empowering veterans through the Veteran Directed Care program, to ensuring underrepresented groups have access to the resources they deserve, our work is about ensuring no one is left behind.
To every older adult, caregiver, and advocate who has trusted us, collaborated with us, and partnered with us over the last 50 years, I thank you. To the talented, mission-driven staff, Advisory Council, and my fellow Board members—you are the soul of this organization, and your dedication inspires me every day.
The anniversary year is an ideal time to not only celebrate but to look forward to the future. In the next chapter, we will continue to build on our strong foundation, creating even more opportunities for engagement, support, and empowerment for older adults throughout our communities. Together, we will create more inclusiveness, spark more innovation, and continue to build a world for all ages.
I invite you all to join us in shaping the next chapter of AgeGuide’s legacy. Through your participation, advocacy, and support, we’ll continue to make a difference in the lives of so many.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s move forward together.
LouAnn Johnson Chairperson of the Board AgeGuide
LETTER FROM THE CEO
Fifty years ago, a movement began. The reauthorization of the 1973 Older Americans Act gave birth to Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) like AgeGuide. And let me tell you—what a journey it has been! For five decades, we’ve been building a legacy, one that helps older adults, caregivers, and adults with disabilities live fully, vibrantly, and with dignity in their communities.
Think about it- transportation, meals, health insurance counseling, caregiver and kinship family support, social engagement, and advocacy. This isn’t just a list of services, it is a lifeline.
But we’re not stopping there. We’re just getting started!
A Bold Vision for the Future
The pandemic taught us hard lessons and inspired bold actions. With federal relief funds, we saw what could happen when we invest in innovation. We expanded services, rebuilt a stronger network, and met the growing demand for culturally appropriate resources. It proved our power, our resilience, and our potential.
Now, as temporary funding comes to an end, the need hasn’t disappeared. But neither has our resolve. Our vision for the next 50 years is crystal clear: equitable access to the vital, wraparound services that allow older adults and caregivers to stay healthy, connected, and engaged. Here is our promise:
• We’ll advocate fiercely for increased investments.
• We’ll prioritize services for those who need them most.
• We’ll continue to design and deliver programs that empower everyone to thrive in an age-friendly workforce.
• We’ll champion initiatives that foster social connections because no one should feel isolated or left behind.
The Road Ahead
We know we can’t do this alone. Thank you to our incredible partners, board members, and colleagues at the Administration on Community Living and the Illinois Department on Aging. Your guidance and support fuel our work. Together, we’re creating a future where aging is celebrated and embraced—a future where every person’s journey is valued.
So, here’s to the next 50 years of hope, innovation, and impact. Let’s continue to build something extraordinary together!
Marla Fronczak Chief Executive Officer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ralph Feese
DuPage
Jack Kreger
DuPage
Rev. Andrew Love
DuPage
Constance Sherman
DuPage
Warren Kronberger Grundy
Gregory Lind Kane
Kenneth Maurice Kane
Bruce Conway Kankakee
Dr. Debra
Mayconich Baron Kankakee
Gary Ford Lake
Kathryn Monahan Brooks Lake
Michael Steiner Lake
Gregory Thompson Lake
Earl Ball
McHenry
Gregory Barry McHenry
Bette
Lawrence-Water Will
Monica
Guilhot-Chartrand Will
Lou Ann Johnson Will
Kristin Murphy Will
OFFICERS
Lou Ann Johnson Chairperson
Ralph Feese Vice Chairperson
Kenneth Maurice 2nd Vice Chairperson
Dr. Debra Mayconich Baron Secretary
Bruce Conway Treasurer
Jack Kreger Assistant Treasurer
ADVISORY COUNCIL
OFFICERS
Jennifer Agne Chairperson
Renee Kroplewski Vice Chairperson
1 Completed term during FY24
2 Resigned during FY24
3 Appointed during FY24
Amania Drane3 DuPage
Mary Kay Furiasse2 DuPage
Jennifer Agne DuPage
Holly Blastic2 DuPage
Dr. Tania Schwer
Lore Baker Kane
Myra Valera1 Kane
Dr. Stephen Hermes3 Kankakee
Ireatha Jones Kankakee
Jennifer Brasfield
RaeAnn VanGundy
Suzanne Kinsey3
Christina Kujak2
Lake Glenn Earich3 Lake
Laura Hoyne3 Lake
Stephanie Tintner1 Lake
Mary McCann McHenry
Andrew Stuckey2 McHenry
Juliana Morawski3 McHenry
Sharon McNeil Will
Beverly Burge Will
Renee Kroplewski Will
OUR TEAM
Marla Fronczak Chief Executive Officer
Operations, Finance, & Human Resources
Jeri Colucy Director of Operations, Finance, & Human Resources
Megan Lowenstrom Fiscal & Payroll Specialist
Jen Hill Operations Specialist
Kaitie Mayberry Hauser Operations Specialist
Deisi Silva Finance Assistant
Judi Wunderlich HR Assistant
Planning, Grants, & Program Development
Leslie Edstrom Director of Planning, Grants, & Program Development
Grants Administration
Brianne Moser Manager of Grants Administration
Desiree Horton Grants Specialist
Lourdes Chew Nutrition Specialist
Kara Corsiglia Nutrition Innovation Specialist
Christina Borjas Nutrition Coordinator
Access Services & Community Programs
Lucinda Hurt Manager of Access Services & Community Programs
Glenda Love
Aging & Disability Rights Supervisor
Megan Wileman
Aging & Disability Resource Network Supervisor
Val Guzman
Benefit Access Specialist
Alaine Kvedaras
Health Promotion Specialist
Caitlyn Tolentino
Caregiver & Dementia Specialist
Samaria Epps
Aging & Disability Rights Coordinator
Kathleen Moore Outreach Coordinator
Ian Sheppard Outreach Coordinator
Planning, Advocacy, & Program Development
Gretchen Knowlton Manager of Planning, Advocacy, & Program Development
Melissa Brackmann Communications Specialist
Delaney Patrick Advocacy & Planning Coordinator
Nick Tantillo Advocacy & Special Projects Coordinator
Natalya Defreyn Communications Intern
Development & Strategic Partnerships
Angela Bentsen Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships
Joy Sobczak Veterans Specialist
Emily Ferenc Veterans Specialist
Elier Roman Veterans Specialist
BECOME A SUPPORTER
Support AgeGuide’s Mission
AgeGuide and its funded partners create meaningful change through the dedication of supporters who give their resources, time, and talents to support older adults in our communities. These community partners are the heart of our mission, fostering connections, providing supportive services, and creating a better quality of life for older adults.
Become a Donor:
• Visit AgeGuide.org and click “Donate Now”.
• Become a sponsor of an AgeGuide event.
Become an Advocate:
• Visit AgeGuide.org/Advocacy to learn more about our initiatives, advocacy work, and to contact your Federal or State Representative.
• Subscribe to AgeGuide’s emails to get policy updates and resources.
• Follow AgeGuide on Facebook, X, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
• Listen to The AgeGuide Podcast on any platform to hear different perspectives on the aging journey.
Become a Volunteer:
• Join the AgeGuide Board of Directors or Advisory Council.
• Volunteer with Home Delivered Meals, Senior Medicare Patrol, Long-Term Care Ombudsman, or the Senior Health Insurance Program.
If you want to contribute your time, resources, talents, and passion to transforming the lives of older adults, visit AgeGuide.org for more information.
FY24 FUNDED PARTNERS
American Association of Retired Asians (AARA)
Association for Individual Development (AID)
Aurora African American Health Coalition
Barrington Area Council on Aging (BACOA)
Catholic Charities, of the Archdiocese of Chicago
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet
City of Aurora
City of Wheaton
Council on Jewish Elderly - CJE SeniorLife
Coalition of Limited English-Speaking Elderly (CLESE)
Community Nutrition Network and Senior Services
Association
County of Will
DuPage County Department of Community Services
DuPage Senior Citizens Council
Ela Township
ElderCARE of Lake County
Grundy County Health Department
Harvard Community Senior Center
Hicks-Wright Organization
Independence Health & Therapy
Kane Senior Council
Kankakee County State’s Attorney’s Office
Kendall County Health Department
Kendall County Sheriff’s Office
Kendall County TRIAD
Legal Aid Chicago
Lockport Township Government
Metropolitan Asian Family Services
Metropolitan Family Services
Morris Area Public Library
Morris Police Department
Oswegoland Senior and Community Center
Patty Turner Senior Center
Prairie State Legal Services
Riverwalk Adult Day Services
Senior Services Associates, Inc.
Senior Services of Will County
SHOW BUS Public Transportation
Southeast Kane County TRIAD
United Chinese Americans
Village of Glendale Heights
Waukegan Township, Patricia A. Jones Center
White Crane Wellness Center
Xilin Association
EXPANDING SUPPORT FOR KINSHIP FAMILIES
AgeGuide’s Outreach and Impact in FY2024
Each year, AgeGuide receives a small grant from the Illinois De partment on Aging (IDOA) to support kinship families, assisting grandparents or other re latives under the age of 55, who are raising children with urgent needs, such as clothin g, activities, day care, rent, and more. In FY2024, an additional $60,000 from the Illinois De partment on Aging allowed AgeGuide to expand these efforts with an extensive outreach init iative.
Two new staff members conducted grassroots outreach to schools, family service organizations, medical clinics, park districts, and other commu nity groups, with the goal of connecting staff and families to services from the aging netw ork and local resources. They engaged 563 organizations and provided 500 outreach bags c ontaining flyers, resource listings in both English and Spanish, school supplies, recommended reading lists, and a book called Grandfamily Guidebook: Wisdom and Support for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
AgeGuide also ran digital marketing campaigns on YouTube and th rough Alpha Media, reaching over 732,000 viewers and driving significant traffic to A geGuide’s Kinship Family webpage.
Life Changing Resources
When 57-year-old Betty gained guardianship of her grandson Jim two years ago, it wasn’t easy. Jim arrived wearing only his sister’s clothes and Betty s imply couldn’t afford new ones for him. She was referred to Catholic Charities, Diocese o f Joliet (CCDOJ) by Jim’s high school psychologist.
Since connecting with CCDOJ, Betty has joined their Grandparent s Raising Grandchildren support group, received regular food boxes through a partnershi p with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, received assistance to shop for new clothes for Jim, and sought legal counsel to secure Jim’s future care. These resources have been life-changing for their family.
Jim, now 15, recently thanked his school psychologist: “Thanks for setting me up with that program where I get to go get clothes and shoes with my grandma .” Jim is thriving, and Betty feels less alone knowing she has the support she needs to give him a stable future.
Highlights:
• AgeGuide received additional funding from IDOA in FY2024, expanding support for kinship families, especially grandparents or relatives under 55 raising children with urgent needs.
• New staff members conducted grassroots outreach to 563 organizations, distributing 500 resource bags with flyers, school supplies, and caregiver resources to support families in need.
• Digital marketing campaigns reached over 732,000 viewers, driving significant traffic to AgeGuide’s Kinship Family webpage with over 4,400 clicks.
ADVANCING ECONOMIC RESILIENCE ACROSS THE LIFESPAN
We’re all getting older – and increasingly living longer. This year’s Aging Summit provided an important platform for aging advocates, community leaders, heal thcare professionals, and others to explore how we can build financial security and sustainabilit y as we live longer lives. The conversation was inspired by the 2023 World Economic Forum’s re port, which highlighted three essential principles of longevity literacy designed to support individuals in managing the financial and social aspects of a longer life.
Embracing these principles can significantly improve our financia l and social outcomes. The tenets are simple:
• Prioritize a healthy lifestyle
• Diversify your savings
• Engage in lifelong learning and community outreach
These principles form the foundation of longevity literacy, a c oncept that aims to help individuals navigate the complexities of aging in a financially secure and s ustainable way. However, this requires a significant shift in how we live, work, and save.
The Aging Summit provided a critical space to delve into these shifts, with conversations focused on reimagining policies like Social Security, addressing medica l debt, protecting against financial scams, and supporting caregivers—particularly women, who face u nique financial challenges. These discussions underscored the importance of intentional dec ision-making to secure financial futures and foster vibrant, inclusive, and supportive communiti es for all generations.
As we live longer lives, the insights shared at the Summit offer a roadmap for creating a future where aging is not only sustainable but also financially secure for everyone.
Highlights:
• Longevity Literacy Principles: Prioritize a healthy lifestyle, diversify savings, and engage in lifelong learning and community outreach.
• Policy and Advocacy Priorities: Social Security, medical debt, financial scams, and support for caregivers, particularly women.
• Building Sustainable Communities: Intentional decisions today can secure financial futures.
The podcast episodes were intentionally curated to complement o ur initiatives and showcase the diverse ways we promote connection. From a behind- the-scenes look at a Home Delivered Meals volunteer’s day to discussions on adv ocating for kinship families and providing resources to caregivers, each episode sp otlighted stories of resilience, empathy, and innovation. Interviews with guests such as legislators, caregivers, and community leaders provided a rich tapestry of p erspectives on social connection.
The Great Reconnection underlined the impact of social connecti on services, not only for individual well-being but also for community resilience. By creating this space for dialogue and storytelling, The Age Guide highlighted available resources and amplified the voices of those who are reimagining what it means to build connections in today’s world. As we look toward the future, we remain committed to cre ating a world where every older adult and caregiver feels valued, connected, and su pported.
Highlights:
• In 2024, AgeGuide’s podcast highlighted the importance of socia l connection for older adults, especially post-pandemic, in building stronger, healthier commu nities.
• AgeGuide fostered social connection through initiatives support ing grandparents, expanding tech access, and offering community dining and health programs f or older adults.
• The podcast featured inspiring stories and interviews with gues ts, including legislators and caregivers, highlighting resilience, innovation, and the value of connection for older adults.
Community Dining Growth in PSA02
The restaurant dining program boosted participation in all community dining programs by offering nutritious meals, flexible options, and social opportunities.
Age of Community Dining Participants
60-64 (8.43%)
65-74 (38.78%)
75-84 (37.61%)
Over 84 (11.8%)
Under 60 (2.2%)
Unreported (1.17%)
Reaching Our Target Populations
Gender of Participants increased participation in other programs.
Number of participants 11,302
67% live alone.
43% are low income.
47%
Improved Overall Health
30% of respondents said their health improved because of the restaurant dining program
Growth Due to Restaurant Program
72% increase in community dining participation from FY23 to FY24
130% increase in program income from FY23 to FY24
60% reported more social interations.
Y E A R I N R E V I E W 2024
Addressed Food Insecurity
1,469,000 meals provided to 20,188 older adults 43% of Community Dining participants live at or below the poverty level 53% of Home Delivered Meal participants live at or below the poverty level
Expanded Social Connections
24,000 older adults served
22% increase over last year
Supported Family Caregivers
7,150 family caregivers served
25% of caregivers served were people of color
Increased Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
4,800 people are limited English speaking 26% of participants are racially diverse 36% of participants live at or below the federal poverty level
Advocacy Reach
25,000 media outreach touchpoints
2,400 attendees at 28 presentations, meetings & events with legislators action alert letters sent from 272 advocates
