Vivalon represents how one observation can flourish with committed staff and volunteers for a remarkable long-term impact. In the mid-1950s, Manny Charnow, a retired realtor, pondered the problems of growing old in Marin. Manny witnessed many older people visiting stores on Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael and concluded it was because they had no place to go…no place to gather. He began organizing social outings and parties – and soon a club was formed. They originally met in schools or the Red Cross building in San Rafael. In 1954, Wishard Brown, Dr. Charles Aby and Manny Charnow signed the papers of incorporation for The Marin Senior Coordinating Council.
Activities continued and in the late 1950s, Rose Paul rented an old house at the end of Fourth Street (current site of IHOP). Yet, the Council had very limited funds. When rent came due, they’d quickly plan a potluck to raise money. In addition, they had a thrift store in the basement, offered classes and charged membership dues. These efforts kept them afloat for five years. In the early 1960s, the IHOP bought the rented home…and they were back to church halls and school rooms.
In 1963, the County Advisory Committee was developed to coordinate a senior project. The county provided $20,000 for a year-long study of senior needs…which turned into a three-year study. The completed report was called the Master Plan for Older Adults in Marin County and written by Dick Phenix. The timing was serendipitous since the federal government was approving the first Older American Act. Dick wrote a proposal to secure funds and the Marin Senior Coordinating Council became the first senior project funded in the state of California.
Transportation services began in 1969 with one driver and a reliable GMC truck called the “Green Machine”. In 1971, the Council moved into the train depot at 930 Tamalpais Avenue and began using the Whistlestop name. Robert A. Roumiguiere headed a committee to raise money to add a kitchen. Within 36 days, a $36,000 kitchen was ready to go. In 1972, noontime meals began serving 20,000 meals per year; the Meals on Wheels program began in 1974.
Whistlestop celebrated its 25th Anniversary in 1979 serving an aged population of 30,000 in Marin. Vera Schultz proclaimed, “The Primary work of the council has always been to give the elderly the three things they need most: “Someone to care, something to do, and some place to stay.”
Beginning in 1993, a multi-cultural program was added providing support in Spanish, Vietnamese and Farsi languages on vital issues including housing, legal assistance, healthcare, employment, tax preparation and obtaining U.S. citizenship
In 2003, the new logo celebrated its 50-year anniversary with the tagline, “Whistlestop Meals, Wheels and More”. The organization received a $200,000 grant from Jackson’s Hardware for upgrades. At this time, 49 wheelchair accessible vehicles made 121,000 trips annually. By 2014, there were 60 vehicles in partnership with Marin Access.
In 2020, Whistlestop became Vivalon. On January 21, 2022, Vivalon closed escrow on a property exchange with BioMarin. Located at 999 Third Street, the “Vivalon Healthy Aging” campus further fulfills the mission to promote the independence and well-being of Marin senior citizens. Described as “an affordable, vital modern living hub,” it offers 66 affordable studio units, a community center, healthy aging center and medical facility. Vivalon will commemorate their 70th Anniversary on September 22 with a special open house at this new site highlighting caring, connection and a place to call home.