[New York, NY] Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) announced this week that Chicago residents Kelley L. Buchanan and Victoria L. Raymont, and New York City resident Marc Baum, have joined its national Board of Directors. SAGE is the country's oldest and largest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. All three Board Members are accomplished leaders in the Chicago and New York City communities respectively, Buchanan, Raymont and Baum's appointment reflects the geographical diversity of the Board and the organization's commitment to understanding the needs of LGBT elders in communities nationwide.
"It is a great honor that Kelley, Victoria and Marc have joined our national Board," said Rosalyn Richter, Co-Chair of SAGE's Board of Directors. "SAGE stands to benefit immensely from the different perspectives of three influential leaders from the Chicago and New York City communities. Their varied experiences leading private and public organizations to sustainable growth will be an asset to SAGE as we continue to advocate for LGBT elders nationwide."
"SAGE is pleased to welcome Kelley, Victoria and Marc to our Board of Directors," said Michael Adams, Executive Director of SAGE. "SAGE was founded in New York City in 1978, and today in 2013 we have grown into a national organization with 23 affiliates across the nation, a robust public policy advocacy program, and training for aging service providers while continuing to offer local LGBT aging programs and services. As SAGE has grown, so has our Board, with members from diverse communities coast to coast. Our newest members come from Chicago and New York City, two communities that have long played an important role in the movement for fairness and equity for LGBT older people. Kelley, Victoria and Marc are the perfect leaders to ensure that these key communities continue to bring their unique voices to SAGE's work to improve the quality of life for LGBT older people."
Chicago currently offers a number of critically important resources to LGBT elders through the outstanding SAGE affiliate program at Center on Halsted. Center on Halsted's program features a number of innovative activities, including a work readiness program for mature LGBT workers (SAGEWorks). In June of 2011, Center on Halsted announced plans with Heartland Alliance to build the Midwest's first affordable LGBT Senior Housing facility.
New York City has long been home to leaders in the movement for LGBT equality and innovators in addressing issues faced by older New Yorkers. In 2010, Mayor Bloomberg called for an "Age-Friendly" NYC for New York's 1.3 million older adults. In 2011, SAGE was awarded a grant from the Department for the Aging (DFTA) as part of New York City's Innovative Senior Center Initiative. The SAGE Center is a full-time center for LGBT older people age 60+ in New York City—the first of its kind in the country.
In addition, SAGE offers innovative services and programs to LGBT elders nationwide through our national affiliate program, SAGENet. From arts and culture, to health and wellness, and much more, SAGE's innovative services and programs support thousands of LGBT elders in communities around the country. For more information on SAGE's programs and services, please visit sageusa.org .
About Kelley L. Buchanan, Victoria L. Raymont and Marc Baum
Kelley L. Buchanan, CPA, MBA, SAGE Board Member, has 20 years of experience as a senior executive in the insurance industry; Kelley has successfully transformed the operational infrastructure at large corporations, such as Marsh, Inc., Travelers and CNA Insurance, and established a sound framework at start-up and early-stage enterprises. As a result of her leadership, all of the involved companies experienced strong turnarounds, improved revenue momentum and exponential growth. She received her Executive MBA from Baylor University and a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas Christian University. She is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Texas and was conferred the Fellow, Life Management Institute credentials. About joining the Board, Kelley said, "I am pleased to join the Board of SAGE, an organization that plays a vital role to ensure that LGBT elders have access to the programs, services and freedoms they deserve. LGBT people have many struggles with parity that we see played our every day in legal, judicial, social, and other forums. And the plight of LGBT elders goes largely uncommented and often unaddressed. What SAGE is doing is work that matters. When we get it right, lives are improved. That is a future to be excited about."
Victoria L. Raymont, SAGE Board Member, is president of StrategicSolutionsGroup, Inc., a management consulting firm she founded in 1996. Victoria serves as a highly regarded strategist, trusted consultant and coach to senior executives and trustees throughout the country, and works with organizations across industries including healthcare, financial services, manufacturing and consumer products. Prior to founding StrategicSolutionsGroup, Victoria began her career as an engineer for BF Goodrich Chemical Division. Victoria holds Bachelor of Science degrees in chemistry and zoology from Kent State University. Victoria has held Board of Director positions, including Board Chair, for not-for-profits organizations. About participating in SAGE, Victoria said, "Over the past 5 years I have witnessed firsthand through SAGE's affiliate in the Center on Halsted in Chicago the life-changing impact SAGE has on LGBT elders. I am excited to join SAGE's Board of Directors and continue this work nationally. As a Board Member, I plan to help move SAGE's strategic agenda forward. There are new partnership opportunities to capitalize on, such as other national LGBT organizations and mainstream institutions to align and integrate with. Addressing the issues related to LGBT aging requires a collaborative approach."
Marc Baum, JD, SAGE Board Member, is currently the Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of Serengeti Asset Management. Prior to joining Serengeti, Marc was the General Counsel and a Partner of Offit Capital Advisors and a member of the firm's Investment Committee. Marc is an active member of the Managed Funds Association where he served on the steering committees for the Hedge Fund Advisory Committee and the General Counsels' Forum. In addition, Marc is a Director of The NASDAQ Stock Market Educational Foundation, Inc. Marc received his B.A. magna cum laude from Harvard College, his M.Sc. from The London School of Economics and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School. About his appointment to the Board, Baum said, "As a longtime supporter of SAGE, I am very happy to join the Board of Directors. I strongly believe in the mission of SAGE in addressing the issues that LGBT elders face nationwide. In addition, I am looking forward to working alongside SAGE's Executive Director Michael Adams whose work I deeply admire and with the Board to ensure that SAGE continues its commitment to improving the lives of all LGBT older adults."
SAGE (Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders) is the country's largest and oldest organization dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) older adults. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in New York City, SAGE is a national organization that offers supportive services and consumer resources to LGBT older adults and their caregivers, advocates for public policy changes that address the needs of LGBT older people, and provides training for aging providers and LGBT organizations through its National Resource Center on LGBT Aging. With offices in New York City, Washington, DC and Chicago, SAGE coordinates a growing network of 23 local SAGE affiliates in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at sageusa.org, blog.sageusa.org and lgbtagingcenter.org .
