Washington, DC, July 16, 2003 – The SPRY Foundation, (Setting Priorities for Retirement Years), a leader in helping older adults age successfully, today announced its independence from the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, with which it had been associated since 1991.

“This is a strategic move that will allow us to focus solely on applying new communication technologies and adult learning principles to help older adults in our four core areas,” said Dr. Russell E. Morgan, Jr., SPRY Foundation president. “These include physical health and wellness, mental health, financial security, and intellectual pursuits.”

A non-profit research and education organization, SPRY develops innovative approaches to help solve everyday problems. For example, a new intergenerational education program, Putting the Squeeze on High Blood Pressure, has been shown to increase awareness among older adults and middle school-aged children about the causes and ways to prevent high blood pressure. Like many of its programs, SPRY developed Putting the Squeeze on High Blood Pressure in partnership with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at NIH—a prestigious national partner that provided funding; and, the OASIS Institute -- a community-based network of senior centers.

“By partnering with nationally recognized partners from government, private industry, non-profit agencies and academia, we make certain that our programs help as many older adults as possible benefit from the vast amount of science-based information available about how to live successful, dignified, independent and emotionally fulfilling lives,” said Morgan.

Since its founding in 1991, SPRY has developed and distributed innovative, cost-effective programs for older adults with some of the nation’s most prestigious organizations, including the National Institutes of Health; Department of Veterans Affairs; U.S. Administration on Aging; National Science Foundation, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; numerous state Departments of Aging, such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Arkansas and Maryland; major universities, including Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh; many corporations, such as Aventis Pasteur, Pfizer. Inc., Janssen, Intel and IBM; and national non-profit agencies and associations, including the Gerontological Society of America, American Society on Aging, Retirement Research Foundation, Merck Institute on Aging and Health, American Public Health Association, National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, National Hispanic Council on Aging, AARP, SeniorNet, and others. To achieve its mission, SPRY has also collaborated frequently with many U.S. Congressional Offices and Special Committees.