Dorothy Garske and the Center she founded
Dorothy Garske Center is a private, non-profit (501-c-3) corporation located in Phoenix, Arizona founded by Dorothy Garske before her death in 1984. We primarily serve adults interested in making the best of the second half of life.
Dorothy Garske’s interest in the quality of the second
half of life initially developed through her work as an activity director in a Mesa
Arizona retirement community. Dorothy Garske was "people person." She never lost
her love for people from all walks of life as she went on to become a successful developer
and manager of Arizona winter-visitor resorts.
Cancer ended Dorothy Garske’s life in 1983 just as she was beginning to realize some of her most important goals. Before her death, she endowed the Dorothy Garske Center to continue the contributions to the people that she could no longer personally serve.
The Directors of the Center have pursued a mission that reflects Dorothy Garske’s concerns and values.
Mission of Dorothy Garske Center
Dorothy Garske died before she was able to clearly form her ideas for her foundation. Dorothy Garske knew that she wanted her foundation to directly serve the community rather than fund the work of other organizations. Therefore, she created an operating rather than a grant-making foundation.
The members of the founding board directors knew Dorothy Garske well. This knowledge helped them shape the mission and articulate the operating principles that guide the Dorothy Garske Center.
Dorothy Garske was an innovator. A retirement community that she helped to design shortly before her death was one of the first to provide its members with access to computers and computer education.
Dorothy Garske emphasized health education and health promotion in the communities she built for retirees who winter in Arizona. Her communities included lap pools rather than just freeform, lounging pools. At that time, few professionals considered health promotion for seniors a worthwhile investment. Many older adults also accepted this unfortunate misconception.
The first program theme for Dorothy Garske Center was health promotion. This was a logical and timely beginning point for Dorothy Garske Center. A program of general health education classes evolved to become Walk Arizona!, through which tools to promote regular physical activity are designed and disseminated. According to Dr. John W. Rowe and Dr. Robert L. Kahn, authors of their highly acclaimed book "Successful Aging (Pantheon), "Physical activity is at the crux of successful aging, regardless of other factors,"
With the emphasis placed on senior fitness today, it is hard to believe that when Dorothy Garske Center began its health promotion program in the mid-eighties many people believed that engaging in regular, moderate to vigorous physical activity as we age was either not beneficial or even dangerous.
Our work on advance directives for health care (including living wills and health care powers of attorney) began in 1987 with a unique, "points of light" project created by the late Ralph Raymond. Mr. Raymond lived in one of Dorothy Garske’s communities when he and his wife first moved to Arizona. You can learn more about our work on advance directives in that area of our web site.
Board of Directors
Thomas Hackett of Scottsdale, Secretary
Dean Young of Scottsdale, President
Jeff Schneidman of Phoenix
Staff
Many people have contributed over the years to the development of Dorothy Garske Center programs and, thus, to the content of this site. However, the persons directly responsible for Center programs and the content of this web site are Michael Baker, Ph.D. Katie Stone, B.Sc., C.H.E.S., and Jennifer DeWitt, B.Sc. Michael is the Executive Director, manages the web site, and directs Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona. Katie is Director of Walk Arizona!, our senior's fitness division. Jennifer is a fitness professional and works primarily with the Walk Arizona! program. She also assists with Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona.
Here is how to reach us:
Dorothy Garske Center
2140 E Fifth Street, Suite 8,
Tempe, AZ 85281
Voice: 480.966.2674
Fax: 480.894.4081
Email (replace "at" with @):
michael.baker"at"voaz.org - for web site and general comments and for inquiries about advance directives
kt"at"dgcenter.org - for Katie and the Get Fit--Stay Fit Challenge
jen"at"dgcenter.org - for Jennifer
voa"at"dgcenter.org - for inquiries about Volunteers for Outdoor Arizona