OUR HISTORY

Since the fountain first rose over the newly developed community of Fountain Hills in 1971, residents have stepped up to volunteer their talents, enriching and enhancing the quality of life for all calling the former cattle ranch home.  This strong spirit of volunteerism did not diminish with the town’s incorporation in 1989 as evidenced by two residents whose visions and efforts led to our organization that still serves the senior residents of our community today.

After serving six months as a member of the interim Town Council, Marti Lemieux responded to a community need of citizens needing temporary assistance with meals being provided to their homes.  Her persistent efforts to work with various agencies as well as through the red tape and many challenges resulted in the birth of Home Delivered Meals, an ongoing program currently operating as Meals on Wheels.

Another community visionary that stepped forward following incorporation was John O’Flynn, a successful and retired CEO who had the dream that Fountain Hills should have its own standalone Senior Center to serve our seniors.  After its modest beginning in the Kiwanis Building where a collection of loaner medical equipment began, small activities held and volunteers met, John and a handful of like-minded believers organized as Senior Services Inc. and joined the meal delivery efforts, further advancing the mission to serve seniors.

A significant opportunity arose in 2002 when the Maricopa County Library moved out of Town Hall Building C (currently the Medical Complex on Palisades) to the newly constructed voter approved facility on La Montana.  An actual Senior Service Activity Center was able to move into the remodeled space at Town Hall expanding their programming activities and opportunities, celebrating with a ribbon cutting attended by local dignitaries, Chamber members and enthusiastic volunteers.

As activities, services and participation grew so did the efforts to raise funds for a permanent senior service facility.  But in 2004 as plans were being made to construct a new town hall, vacating the three buildings on Palisades (including the Senior Center), the Senior Service Foundation was formed to invest all the funds that had been raised over the years to support the goals of Senior Services, Inc.

The Town made modifications at the new Community Center to accommodate the Senior Service activities and funds raised for a senior center building were redirected to support existing and new programs and activities to benefit the senior community.  These efforts continue today through Senior Services Inc., recently rebranded as “Encore for More” to demonstrate the organization’s ongoing commitment to fulfill it’s mission to provide community seniors even more opportunities that enhance senior living in Fountain Hills.  Encore recently established an affiliation with the well-established Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association (FHCCA) to assist in growing and expanding their mission.  After a thirty-year history of serving and enhancing the lifestyle of seniors in Fountain Hills this new association with the Foundation will ensure the future of our organization that has become an integral member of our community.

Please accept our invitation to enjoy a more detailed, interactive and entertaining review of the events and people “behind the scenes” that made serving seniors an essential component of Fountain Hills and helped us to evolve into Encore for More!  Just click on the link below to view the video prepared by former President Lynn Strang for the 30th Anniversary Celebration that took place on February 13, 2020.  

Consider joining us to serve, contribute or enjoy all that Encore has to offer.  For more information, please visit our website at www.encoreformore.org.  Your participation will be a rewarding experience that will continue the fifty-year spirit of volunteerism in Fountain Hills and perpetuate our Town logo’s slogan as being “All that is Arizona”!