1984
Several Westport residents became aware of the need to support the town’s growing population of senior citizens. The Friends of the Westport Council on Aging was founded then as an independent, all-volunteer fund raising group.
1986
The Friends filed its Articles of Organization with the state of Massachusetts. Its purpose was defined as:
“To promote, develop and encourage community interest in the welfare of the aging and to perpetuate the dignity and wellbeing of the senior citizens of Westport, and to accept gifts, raise funds, acquire, hold and disburse property and funds for the foregoing purposes with priority and emphasis being placed on programs of service to senior citizens not otherwise provided by governmental agencies at a municipal, county, state or federal level.”
By September of this year, there were nine board members, and the establishment of a senior center had been defined by the group as a long-term goal.
1987
In June of this year, the Friends organization was recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization and classified as a public charity. There were on-going efforts to define and develop fund raising opportunities. The Friends board members visited the senior centers of many other Massachusetts towns, and also participated in discussions with Westport town departments on possible town properties.(
1989
While preliminary steps were being taken to determine the best characteristics of a senior center for Westport, the Friends were beginning to define ways to raise funds for this goal. Westport residents who were here from 1989 until 2010 will likely remember the Westport Telephone Book. This included a listing of addresses and telephone numbers of Westport residents and businesses and was distributed throughout the town. The book was a combined effort of not only the Friends, but also others in the community and successfully raised funds initially for the future senior center.
1990
The Friends were officially notified that Hazel Tripp, a longtime Westport resident, had passed away and left in her estate $200,000 to be used for a senior center in Westport. The current Senior Center at 75 Reed Road is named the “Hazel Tripp Building” in her honor.
1994
In April of this year, the Westport town meeting voted overwhelmingly to approve the transfer of 5.8 acres of land at 75 Reed Road to the Council on Aging, pending sufficient grant funding.
1994-1996
Renovation of the Head School to serve the needs of Westport’s seniors was in full swing, with the active participation and support of the Friends. On December 7, 1996, there was a Grand Opening Ceremony and the Westport Senior Center was officially established.
1997 – Present
History of the Friends for 1997 to the present will be added to this page soon.