The Friendship Centers, a nonprofit organization serving older adults in Southwest Florida for more than 40 years, has received a $10,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation and a $1,000 grant from the Michael Saunders & Company Foundation (MSC Foundation) to again offer the Aging Mastery Program. The Friendship Centers was one of three organizations in the state selected to offer the series of classes as a pilot program in 2015. With support from The Patterson Foundation, it is part of a collaborative group of organizations in the region offering the Aging Mastery Program, an initiative of the National Council on Aging. The program, which consists of 10 two-hour classes, is scheduled to be held in the North Sarasota Library, June 9 through August 11, once a week. The series is being offered in Newtown free of charge, and registered participants are expected to attend all classes in the series to get the most out of the program. If interested in attending, register with Library Assistant Manager Erin Clay.

Friendship Centers