CARIE Welcomes Brian Gralnick as its New Executive Director
Dear Friends,
On behalf of CARIE’s Board of Directors and staff, I am extremely pleased to share the great news that Brian Gralnick will be joining CARIE as its new Executive Director.
Brian’s selection is the result of a broad, inclusive and intentional Board-led search process. Brian stood out to both Board and staff for his long-held commitment to addressing the needs of under-served older adults, his extensive work at both the policy and service levels, and his broad experience in organizational leadership.
Brian Gralnick is a social impact leader and person-centered changemaker with experience in philanthropy, state government, politics and community organizing. The Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board wrote he is “an encyclopedia of possible solutions” and the Associated Press called his work in food security “among the vanguard.”
In 1999, he co-founded Students for Sensible Drug Policy, which now has official consultative status at the United Nations, to organize youth against mass incarceration and the war on drugs. He then was featured in Rolling Stone, appeared on Bill Maher’s Politically Incorrect, MSNBC and more.
As president of the Jewish Social Policy Action Network (JSPAN), he oversaw the development of numerous amicus briefs, including one cited by the U.S. Department of Justice in its Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores to the Supreme Court and he testified before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Health & Human Services Committee in support of medical marijuana.
When Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett proposed asset testing SNAP (food stamps), Brian led the statewide coalition of recipients, labor unions, the business community, anti-hunger and older adult advocates along with Pennsylvania’s Congressional delegation, mayors and newspaper columnists. He has also frequently been quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer as an expert on poverty, food insecurity, and aging and was honored by the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging and the NAACP, Cheltenham Area Branch. He also received the Gold Pollie Award, a national award from the American Association of Political Consultants.
Brian has a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from The George Washington University, a Master of Science in social policy from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice and a certificate in executive leadership from the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Institute at the Bryn Mawr College Graduate School of Social Work and Social Practice.
“I’m excited to carry on the legacy of advocacy and impact that CARIE has built for nearly 50 years. As people live longer than ever, baby boomers age and Gen X is facing caregiving responsibilities, now is a critical time to raise our voices on behalf of older adults and their families. Today’s critical policy discussions from Medicaid cuts to public transportation need the voice of older adults and those advocating with them.”
We welcome Brian with confidence in his leadership and excitement for his vision for CARIE’s next chapter. We look forward to all of you getting to know Brian over the coming weeks and months.
Sincerely,
Joan K. Davitt, Chair
CARIE Board of Directors
Advancing the Well-Being, Rights, and Autonomy of Older Adults
Founded in 1977, the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of Elders (CARIE) is a nationally recognized Pennsylvania-based elder advocacy organization.
CARIE assists individual older adults and caregivers throughout Pennsylvania seeking to access essential benefits, services, and supports through complex health, aging, and social services systems. Our staff advocate for residents in long term care settings and promote access to justice for older persons who have been victims of crime or abuse. We offer education programs to professionals and community members on issues of importance for older adults. At the systems level, CARIE is a leading advocate for programs and policies that advance the rights, health, and quality of life of older Pennsylvanians.
Need help? You can reach a CARIE staff person via our toll-free hotline (1-800-356-3606) or by clicking the “Get Help” button at the top of this page. CARIE’s office is located at 1650 Arch Street, Suite 1825, Philadelphia 19103.
We invite you to explore the above navigation tabs and learn more about CARIE and its services.
Education and Outreach
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A CARIE Timeline
Scroll to view CARIE’s extensive history.
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intergenerational Nursing Home Friendly Visitor Program initiated using school students
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Legislative Committee develops position paper and holds forum, “Policy Issues of Older
Pennsylvanians -
Annual Conference, “Living Wills and Advance Directives: Whose Life Is it Anyway?”
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Advance Directives Committee Established to provide education
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Three-year grant from William Penn Foundation to provide advocacy for In-Home LTC Consumers
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Bernice Soffer retires after nearly 16 years of service
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Abuse Prevention Training Program awarded Brookdale Center on Aging and ASA’s “Best Practices in Human Resources Award”
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CARIE changes name to, Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly, reaffirms its mission
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Health Care Fraud Education Project Established with grant from the Administration on Aging
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Honored with Governor’s Silver & Gold Award for “Dignity”
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Advance Directives Committee extends its work to LTC ethics and begins pilot project
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Reached more than 25,000 people through direct advocacy, outreach, public and professional presentations
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Received grant from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for Communities United to promote the well-being of Hispanic Elders
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“Providing Advocacy for Victimized Elders (PAVE) ” funded by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency became part of CARIE
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CARIE was recognized by Citizens Bank and NBC 10 as their “Community Champion” for the Elderly
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CARIE was selected to receive its second Community Health Impact Award presented by Glaxo Smith Kline
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Better Jobs, Better Care/PA piloted its Universal Core Curriculum and also provided education at its Direct Care Workers conference
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CARIE received an award for “Excellence in Senior Advocacy” from the Emergency Fund Coalition for Older Philadelphians
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Terri Ivers, a volunteer with the Pennsylvania Senior Medicare Patrol, was honored bythe Administration on Aging
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CARIE formally collaborated with SeniorLAW Center to serve older women who are victims of domestic violence
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Commissioned by PA Department of Aging to embark on a study evaluating guardianship practices amongst older adults
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ScamWire™, a program to protect elderly from scam callers, was distributed to approximately 32,350 individuals
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Averted a major policy change to the DPW’s MA Para-transportation services and a positive budget for older Pennsylvanians
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CARIE’s policy efforts include averting a SEPTA fare increase and advocating for $50 million additional funding for seniors’ home and community based services
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CARIE received funding to advocate for older adults impacted by Managed Long-Term Care
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CARIE was selected by the Pew Charitable Trusts to participate in an innovative Evaluation Capacity-Building Initiative
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CARIE leads the coalition for elders advocacy during COVID, issuing several reports including “Immediate Actions Pennsylvania Must Take toAddress the COVID-19 Crisis in Long-Term Care Facilities”
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CARIE issues, “Separate and Unconscionable: A Report on Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Pennsylvania’s Nursing Homes with Recommendations for Immediate Action”
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CARIE Celebrates 45 years!
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Diane Menio retires; Whitney Lingle becomes CARIE Executive Director
Making a Difference
Mrs. Walker was not being heard by others. A shy woman, Mrs. Walker often had a hard time speaking up on her own behalf because she needs time to formulate her thoughts. She came to CARIE because she needed help in resolving a number of different problems relating to housing repairs, a billing dispute and most recently, assistance with choosing health insurance.
“I came here first for one problem but because the Advocate made me feel so comfortable, I just kept coming back for more help. The staff at CARIE took the time to explain everything to me so I would understand. They are caring and helpful in ways that other agencies are not. I don’t know what I would have done if I didn’t find CARIE.!”
