“The Helen Andrus Benedict Foundation (HABF) was established in 1997 to provide financial support to non profit organizations that benefit the elderly, primarily in the Westchester New York area.”

Creative Aging Focus:

HABF began funding creative aging in the early 2000s in Westchester County, NY. Through the United Way, they funded the Westchester Center for Creative Aging — a volunteer committee. Lifetime Arts co-founders Maura O’Malley and Ed Friedman were instrumental in helping the group establish an annual county-wide “senior” art show and the first regrant program to support direct programming for older adults. With the demise of the Westchester group, O’Mally and Friedman were approached by HABF to continue the work. This led to the establishment of Lifetime Arts in 2008.