A recent grant from the Dr. Abram I. and Sylvia S. Chasens Endowment Fund via Inland Empire Community Foundation has given The Joslyn Center an opportunity to move forward with even greater ease. 

The longtime and revered nonprofit, which has been actively enhancing the well-being of 50+ adults in the area through its pioneering services and programs, will use the grant funding to cover operating expenses. 

It has given Greg Murphy, Director of Development and Marketing at The Joslyn Center, an opportunity to take stock of several key growth areas that emerged over the last year. One of them found the center winding down its Meals on Wheels program. 

“It was somewhat redundant to the county program,” Murphy said. “We looked at the overhead and the number of people served, and we believed that the clients were better off with the county program. The food is prepared fresh and is a better benefit to the clients in the program.”  

In addition, the board took note of member feedback and invested in three outdoor pickleball courts, two of which were underwritten by donors, and the third from the board. 

“That’s been in play, pun intended, since October,” Murphy said of the courts. “We’ve been having a really good spring, and people are still out there playing in the sun, when it’s not too hot yet.” 

Further back, in March 2025, Penny’s Pantry, which sprang to life in 2011, providing fresh produce and non-perishable food to thousands of low-income seniors each year, merged with the center’s farmer’s market to become the Joslyn Community Food Bank. 

These re-aligned efforts better provide food to those who have challenges purchasing enough of it to avoid hunger. The food bank is open Fridays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. 

Another thing the nonprofit has leaned into over the past couple of years was to install solar panels on its roofs. 

“It you think about a 27,000 square foot facility here, we have 15 functioning HPAC units, and it takes a lot of expense to keep those things operating during summertime,” Murphy said. “The solar panels have helped us out a lot.” 

Meanwhile, fresh off a recent volunteer’s luncheon in early April, Murphy says volunteer opportunities abound and directs those interested in getting involved with the organization to visit its website and submit their information. 

Looking ahead, mark your calendars. The Center will host both a Mother’s and Father’s Day luncheon, as well as a Fourth of July barbecue. 

“We just had a big fundraising event in early April,” Murphy noted of the gathering—another fundraising event takes place at the beginning of the season. “These events are important and we’re always looking to attract new volunteers, new members, and new donors.” 

Those big events also shine the light on the center’s various programs—from adult bereavement, the Better Brain Balance class, book clubs, and caregiver support groups to table tennis, bingo, American Mah Jong, guitar lessons, and even meditation classes.  

The Joslyn Wellness Center is yet another standout. It has been praised for its holistic approach and the variety of modalities it offers. The center focuses on aging, memory, and mobility, and uses thought, memory, exercise programs, and the strength of community to help improve life experiences. 

Now a nationally recognized entity, the Wellness Center’s unique approach to wellness among older adults is valued. It is also the first of its kind to offer free bilingual counseling services to adults in need.

This story originally appeared in the Desert Sun, 2026.

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The Cove Communities of Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage, and Indian Wells are home to a growing senior population with diverse needs. Serving as a bridge to vital community services, the Joslyn Center has positioned itself as a core hub of activity, offering 80-90 programs a week, including meals, exercise, education, recreation, and counseling. On any given weekday – and now on Saturdays, too – the Joslyn Center is a thriving scene of connection for older adults and a testament to the leadership of Jack Newby, the soon-to-be-retired Executive Director of the center.

As the U.S. population of those over 65 is expected to double by 2040, Jack anticipates a significant increase in the demand for services and funding.

Socialization is the key

Newby’s seven-year tenure at the Joslyn Center has been marked by a future-forward focus on innovation and inclusivity, all centered on the idea that socialization is the key to longer, healthier lives. “Research has shown that loneliness and social isolation can have the same adverse health impacts as smoking about a pack of cigarettes a day,” Jack tells us. “If you’re sitting at home watching Judge Judy, you’re going to not only be going crazy, you’ll be losing muscle mass.”

Members participate in exercise classes at the Joslyn Center

He cites evidence-based research from the National Council on Aging, indicating that exercise improves physical and mental well-being. The Joslyn Center is tackling both through a varied menu of offerings. “You want to learn to tap dance? We’ve got a class for that,” Jack says. “Pickleball, yoga, ukulele, painting…we have so many things going on. We have folks join our exercise classes using walkers and canes, and a few months later they don’t need them. I have two friends who took up painting and are now selling their artwork.” Talk about life-changing.

Innovative programming to meet new needs

Perhaps these are the types of classes you’d expect to see at a senior center, but Jack, with an eye on the future, has integrated some additional thoughtful and innovative new programming to meet the needs of the senior community. Men’s groups, a rarity in senior centers, were introduced to create opportunities for connection. A Parkinson’s exercise class begins this month in collaboration with Eisenhower Health, and the Braille Institute offers education for those learning to use white cane navigation. “These programs provide a space for support, social interaction and shared interests,” Newby explains, “which is vital for combating isolation.”

Jack tells us that brain function and mental acuity are ongoing topics of interest to seniors. “We’re the only senior center in the Coachella Valley doing Brain Boot Camp, developed by the UCLA Longevity Center,” he shared. “And we have an Aging Mastery program developed by the National Council on Aging.”

Counselors on board for mental health services

The Joslyn Center also recently began offering individual counseling using evidence-based Problem Solving Therapy. “Our therapists are master’s level clinical social workers or Associate Marriage and Family Counselors under the supervision of a licensed therapist.” Their work with the Joslyn Center allows each therapist to gain 3,000 hours of experience, receive their license, and go into the community to provide much-needed mental health services. It’s a win for both the counselors and Joslyn clients.

Importantly, the center delivers these services to the eastern Coachella Valley, where a stigma about seeking help remains and mental health programs are few, particularly for Spanish-speaking individuals. “We meet them where they are—churches, senior centers, we work with Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine,” Jack explains. “We have three Spanish-speaking therapists who are truly bilingual. They can communicate seamlessly with native Spanish speakers, with an important understanding of the nuances of the language.”

Support for seniors with autism

Jack is especially proud of another program to be launched in 2024. In a notable accomplishment, the Joslyn Center is the first senior center in the nation to receive certification as an autism center. It will serve local clients as well as clients from Inland Regional Center.

“Autism was only established as a diagnosis in the eighties,” Jack says. “We understand that many seniors with autism have experienced a lifetime of isolation. We’ll offer social and recreational activities, a quiet room, and noise-canceling headphones. Caregivers are welcome to accompany their clients, and we’ve received education on how to recognize people who might need additional support.”

Behind-the-scenes work to keep the wheels turning

As with any nonprofit, finances are always a top concern. Joslyn members pay only a nominal fee of $30 per year to participate in most classes, so this extensive slate of programming comes at a significant expense to the center.

Many of their members are stretched thin financially. “They may have purchased a condo in the 80s, but now they’re faced with $1,000 association fees and exorbitant electricity bills,” says

Joslyn Center received funding to support their food bank in 2020 through the S.L. Gimbel Fund at IECF.

Jack. Food insecurity is a looming issue for some, so a food pantry and farmer’s market are essential. For those who are homebound, the Meals on Wheels program is a lifeline; they count on the food as much as they count on what may be their only human connection.

A recent switch to solar will save the center $30,000 – critical dollars to be funneled back into programming. Grants, including several over the years from IECF, pave the way to introduce new programs, support Meals on Wheels, and make capital improvements like the recent addition of the Wellness Center and $300,000 ADA-compliant restroom upgrades. Construction costs have skyrocketed. “You could build a house for that,” muses Jack, “but the restrooms were about 40 years old, and we have to meet the needs of our aging population.”

Although they’re expensive to produce and offer diminishing returns, event fundraisers contribute to the bottom line as well. The Joslyn Center hosts an annual Wine and All That Jazz event, and its recent Joslyn in Bloom fashion show was sold out.

Here’s how you can help

While cost-cutting measures, grants, fundraising, and the gift of volunteerism are all a part of the necessary mix to keep the doors open, Jack invites those with charitable giving goals to consider donating directly to The Joslyn Center. “If our services align with your values, a direct donation means more of your dollars go to the organization you support.” Newby aims to raise another $100,000-200,000 before he retires. “I want to leave the center in better shape than I found it,” he says.

As Jack prepares to retire, the Joslyn Center’s success demonstrates the power of engaged leadership and strategic partnerships. Newby may be stepping down, but the legacy he leaves behind – a center that embraces inclusivity and caters to the evolving needs of its patrons – promises to endure.

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