A student-led initiative serving Northern Virginia
Empathy
for the Elderly

Student-led initiative

Care for those who once cared for us.

We raise awareness and funds for older adults facing financial hardship and loneliness, so they can live with comfort, dignity, and care.

20%

of adults ages 50 and older have no retirement savings (2024).


61%

are worried they will not have enough money to support them in retirement.

Our mission

Aging should not mean facing hardship alone.

Empathy for the Elderly is a student-led nonprofit initiative based in Northern Virginia, dedicated to raising awareness and funds for elderly people in need. Through compassion, community support, and meaningful action, we support older adults facing challenges such as financial hardship and loneliness, helping them live with comfort, dignity, and care.

What we do

Four ways we show up for older adults

Our partnerships

Backing the organizations already doing the work

Partnership means supporting trusted local organizations by raising awareness, promoting their programs, and contributing through fundraising and community outreach.

Volunteer Prince William

We support their Untrim-A-Tree Senior Baskets Program, which provides donated items to seniors in need during the holidays, and their VETS Program, which helps veterans, spouses, and widows reach medical appointments while offering connection and support.

ServiceSource, CARE Mobile

CARE Mobile works to reduce social isolation and strengthen community ties among older adults. Together we are recruiting student volunteers, organizing musical performances at senior living communities, promoting CARE Mobile, and exploring future donation drives.

Growing the network

We are reaching out to more organizations that serve older adults, elderly veterans, and vulnerable seniors, so our impact can grow beyond this first partnership.

Where donations go

We are not currently a registered 501(c)(3). We operate as a student-led initiative that directs donations and proceeds to trusted organizations serving older adults and elderly veterans, and we are committed to being transparent about how funds are used.

Questions, or want to get involved?

Write to us or follow along on Instagram to learn more, volunteer, or bring a fundraiser to your community.

About us

Aging should not mean facing hardship alone.

In 2024, 20% of adults ages 50+ have no retirement savings, and more than half (61%) are worried they will not have enough money to support them in retirement. For many older adults, challenges such as financial insecurity, loneliness, and limited access to support can make aging feel even more difficult.

Who we are

Empathy for the Elderly is a student-led nonprofit initiative founded by Giana Culberson and Coco Izumi, two high schoolers based in Northern Virginia. This initiative was created to raise awareness and funds for elderly people in need through fundraising events, outreach, donation drives, and community support.

Empathy for the Elderly is not currently a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Instead, we operate as a student-led initiative that directs donations and proceeds to trusted organizations serving older adults and elderly veterans. As we grow, we are committed to being transparent about where donations go and how they are used.

Why we started

Empathy for the Elderly began with a simple belief: older adults deserve to feel seen, supported, and valued. Many elderly individuals have spent their lives caring for families, serving their communities, or overcoming challenges of their own. Yet later in life, some face loneliness, financial hardship, health struggles, or a lack of dependable support.

As students, we wanted to turn empathy into action. Through this project, we hope to use our voices, our community, and our fundraising efforts to support organizations already working to help elderly people in need.

Our stories

Why each of us is here

This project is not just about fundraising. It is about recognizing the sacrifices and needs of older adults in our community.

Leadership

Meet our team

Get involved

We would love to hear from you. Contact us by email or follow us on Instagram to ask questions and stay updated.

empathy.elderly@gmail.com