About Us

Mission

The mission of FiftyForward is to help adults 50 and older maintain their independence and active involvement in the community through comprehensive services, advocacy and community education.

Profile

Founded in September 1956 as an activity and services-distribution center for retired individuals in the Nashville area, FiftyForward (then Senior Citizens, Inc.) has grown to a multi-faceted organization that annually touches the lives of more than 20,000 older adults, children and families in Davidson and Williamson counties.

Through our life enrichment programs we help people 50 years and older live fuller, more productive lives with a sense of dignity and self worth. At our seven centers, members participate in hundreds of educational and wellness programs. We also provide needed assistance to those wanting to keep living independently in their homes through our Living At Home program. Our Foster Grandparents and RSVP programs offer exceptional volunteer opportunities for those interested in giving back to the community.

For a description of each of FiftyForward’s programs and services, see our Profile. In addition, our Continuum of Services chart shows the progression of programs we provide – from services for the most active individuals to those that support the needs of frail, homebound individuals.

Our organization also operates the Senior Center for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) performing arts theater located in the Donelson Station Center. Through the Nashville Dinner Theatre, the SCA presents plays and musicals – primarily in a dinner theater format – throughout the year for the community. The SCA also hosts a summer theater camp for students, culminating in a musical production in which the students/campers have acting roles.

The FiftyForward Travel program of SCA organizes regional, national and international trips designed especially for older adults.

The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee maintains a Web site, GivingMatters.com, for individuals and corporations wishing to review profiles of nonprofit organizations deserving of financial support. To see the FiftyForward profile, click here.  

Fairness in Operations

FiftyForward is committed to fair and equitable treatment of all employees, volunteers and beneficiaries of our services.

Partnerships

FiftyForward also has a proud tradition of working in partnership with public and private organizations to provide programs that benefit those we serve. Some partnerships provide guidelines and payment for services that we deliver to clients. Others furnish sponsorship support or in-kind contributions for special events or classes. Each partnership is designed to fulfill the objectives of all parties concerned. FiftyForward, our centers and programs owe much of our success to our hundreds of community partners.

In the area of operations, our major partnership is with the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. The Bellevue Family YMCA that houses the FiftyForward J. L. Turner Center represents the first-of-its-kind collaboration in the nation between a Y and an organization serving older adults. The Bellevue Y members who are 55 and older hold dual membership: the Y and the Turner Center. The Y provides a variety of exercise programs and classes (water aerobics, yoga, t'ai chi and more). The Turner Center, in turn, offers a full array of programs and classes that include computers, writing, cultural, fine arts, travel, and academic-based topics and experiences.