Irish Senior Connect (ISC), a community outreach program of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers (CIIC), launched today at Chicago Irish Immigrant Support (CIIS). Building on the successful implementation of ISC by the Irish Pastoral Centre, Boston, the expansion of the program in Chicago is the next step in making Irish Senior Connect a nationwide presence.

Aidan Cronin, Consul General of Ireland in Chicago, was present to officially cut the ribbon at the new site. Roseann Finnegan Fevour, Midwest Director at The American Ireland Fund, and Rosetta Sexton, Congressional Aide from Congressman Mike Quigley's Office (5th District of Illinois) were also present to support the expansion.

The Irish Senior Connect program is dedicated to providing seniors with a listening ear and a response that conveys empathy and respect, alleviating feelings of isolation and loneliness within the senior community through telephone contact, well-being calls and community referrals.

"We are thrilled to be implementing Irish Senior Connect here in Chicago," stated Breandán Magee, Executive Director of CIIS. "The program will fit nicely into the array of senior programming that the center currently provides, and we look forward to collaborating with the Coalition and IPC Boston to expand the geographic scope of the program, as well as the number of seniors positively affected."

Celine Kennelly, CIIC Board President, indicated "We are very happy with the positive results that ISC has yielded thus far in Boston and the greater Massachusetts area. We look forward to strengthening the program through this expansion to Chicago, moving another step closer to making ISC a national service for all seniors, especially those of Irish descent."

The creation, management and expansion of Irish Senior Connect was made possible through generous funding by The American Ireland Fund, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade: Emigrant Support Program and TUFTS Health Plan Foundation. The phone number for Irish Senior Connect is 855-249-5146.