Our Story
Encore Community Services launched in 1977 as the Encore Senior Center on West 49th St. The center's opening realized a vision that began nearly a decade earlier, brought to life by Father George Moore, then the Pastor of St. Malachy's Roman Catholic Church. Led by Sisters Elizabeth Hasselt and Lillian McNamara, the senior center quickly became a community cornerstone for older adults in Hell's Kitchen and the Theater District.
Encore launches its volunteer Friendly Visiting program, which will become one of its longest-running programs.
Encore is incorporated as a 501c(3).
Encore 49 Residence opens, providing supportive housing to formerly homeless older adults, many of whom have histories of mental illness.
Crossroads at St. Luke’s merges centers with Encore, and Encore partners with Citymeals on Wheels for a weekend meal program.
Encore West Residence opens.
Jeremy Kaplan joins Encore as Executive Director.
Encore launches “Encore for Life,” a long-term plan focused on access to healthy food choices and providing older adults the opportunity to thrive in their community.
Mission Statement
Encore’s mission is to improve the quality of life for older adults.
Our Vision
A city where all residents can age with dignity, living as independently and fulfillingly as possible.
Our Values
We believe all older adults deserve an Encore For Life and our plan is to ensure they can thrive at home by being well nourished and connected to community
Our Founding Vision
The mission of Encore Community Services is to provide care and service to the elderly of the Clinton/Times Square/Midtown communities, and to any elderly person who comes to us; to assist those who are vulnerable and frail, poor and homeless, homebound and lonely, frequently desperate, most often ignored; to help them with their daily needs that they might live as independently as possible, with dignity and decency, in a non-institutional manner, in a safe and caring environment. We believe we are all part of the human family and have an obligation to love one another. By nurturing, respecting and enabling, Encore hopes to improve the quality of an older person’s life, in an approach that emanates from the core of Encore’s commitment: we believe that what we do comes from the heart, and the heart is the center of all.
– Founder, Sister Lillian McNamara