It is truly an honor to be the 31st President of Ralston Center, and to have the opportunity to extend the impact of an organization with roots in an early 19th-century charity for elderly widowed and poor women. From those beginnings, nearly 200 years ago, Ralston Center has continued its deep commitment to innovative services and support for older adults in Philadelphia.

We do this from a beautiful historic building, Ralston House, located at 3615 Chestnut Street, one of the loveliest green spaces in West Philadelphia. At this site, as well as at locations throughout the city, we sponsor a wide range of wellness programs fostering independence and function. Additionally, we focus on development and implementation of new projects designed to meet our mission to foster services, programs, education and research that address the health and quality of life of older adults. Our latest such project, “My Way,” serving the Germantown and Mt. Airy neighborhoods, provides trustworthy services (such as home maintenance, transportation, and daily assistance) at an affordable price.

As a retired Professor of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, and Founding Director of the Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, it gives me great pleasure to continue to dedicate my energy and enthusiasm on behalf of the health and well-being of older adults in Philadelphia. As the United States faces an unprecedented surge in the over-60 population, our mission is as vital as ever.

Neville E. Strumpf, PhD, RN, FAAN
President, Ralston Center Board of Managers