"For no other reason than we will all be old."
Those are the words engraved on the monument dedicated Wednesday to serve as both a memorial to victims of elder abuse and a call to action for those that see it. The Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance purchased the memorial to commemorate its 10th anniversary.
"Elder abuse is everyone's problem, if for no other reason than we will all be old one day ourselves," Georgene Fedoriska, SEAPA co-chairwoman and executive administrator for the county office of senior services, said. "The seeds we sow today will make a better future for our seniors."
The nonprofit organization has pursued the same objectives over the last 10 years: promote awareness of elder abuse in Schuylkill County; provide education and training to various groups on how to identify, prevent and report elder abuse; and prosecute perpetrators of crimes against the elderly.
"It was an idea that came about when a local attorney, Eric Mika, noticed that seniors were being exploited financially," Fedoriska said.
She said Mika contacted then-Commissioner Mantura M. Gallagher, who explored the idea of such an organization with then-director of the county office of senior services Marie Beauchamp.
It was then that the steering committee known as the Schuylkill County Elder Abuse Task Force was established. When the organization was incorporated as a nonprofit in 2007, the name changed to SEAPA. It now consists of 30 members that includes representatives from the banking industry, clergy, long-term care, law enforcement, funeral directors, health care and education.
"We wanted to embrace and empower seniors to stand up for themselves and if they couldn't stand up for themselves, that there would be entities that would help them stand up," Fedoriska said. "For the last 10 years, we hope that showed in the programs we provided,"
State Department of Aging Secretary Brian Duke was there Wednesday to congratulate the organization on 10 years.
"It is good to be here with so many today that share this mission of enhancing the quality of life for older Pennsylvanians," Duke said.
Duke said no one is immune to abuse, neglect, abandonment or exploitation and said organizations like SEAPA are indeed making a difference and encouraged others to join the cause.
"For no other than we will all be old - that quote affirms you as SEAPA and issues a call of action to all those involved here today," Duke said.
Commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier has been in office since the organization was formed.
"It takes a lot of cooperation and collaboration to begin an initiative of this magnitude," Staudenmeier said. "That happened then 10 years ago, and I am very proud to have played a small part in that initiative. It is one thing to establish an initiative and another thing to keep it going for 10 years."
The commissioners issued a proclamation declaring Wednesday as Schuylkill Elder Abuse Prevention Alliance Day in Schuylkill County.
State Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, also issued a state citation with state Reps. Neal Goodman, D-123, and Mike Tobash, R-125.
"The family is still the first line of support in Schuylkill County and that's something we should all be proud of, but with increased transportation, increased educational opportunities, we still don't all live a few blocks away from mom and dad, grandma and grandpa," Argall said. "So, we need a safety net. That's why we need organizations like this."
The monument was designed by The Baut Studios, Swoyersville.
Following the ceremony, SEAPA hosted its third annual Hornbrook Memorial Awards luncheon at The Greystone Restaurant.
The awards are named in honor of John J. Hornbrook, Pottsville, who donated a third of his estate in perpetual charitable trust to SEAPA. The donation also made the purchase of the memorial possible.
The annual awards are given to an individual and a group who have helped the agency or the elder community.
"John embodied the ideals and principles that SEAPA stands for and that is to embrace and empower our seniors to continue to be respected, contributing members to society," Mika, a co-founder, said.
This year the awards were given to representatives from the state Department of Aging Institute of Protective Services at Temple University, which helped establish SEAPA 10 years ago.
Ronald W. Costen, a professor and director of the institute at Temple University, received the individual award, while Linda Mill, investigations manager, and Allison Benkert, financial crimes investigator, received the group awards.