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ELDER REFERRAL

ALLEVIATING LONELINESS FOR OUR FORGOTTEN ELDERLY

​Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly. We offer to people of good will the opportunity to join the elderly in friendship and celebration of life

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We Change Your Life & World

We Provide social support for the elderly

Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly serves lonely and isolated elderly in the United States.

For many, isolation comes with growing older. Children move away, a car wears out and is not replaced, or a driver's license is surrendered. This isolation is compounded by poverty.

By visiting, socializing, and offering programs that promote independent living, we strive to meet the emotional and physical needs of our elderly friends. Our programs combat loneliness and help our elderly friends know they are valued and loved.

Our History

Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly (LBFE) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly. We offer to people of good will the opportunity to join the elderly in friendship and celebration of life.

Our history dates back to the mid 1900s with Armand Marquiset of France. Our mission in Greater Cincinnati began in 1996. Each year, LBFE serves hundreds of Tri–state elderly through outreach programs, all designed to relieve isolation and loneliness among the elderly and to assist them in living quality lives.

​Headquartered near Mt. Airy Forest, the Cincinnati chapter serves elderly in over 90 communities across Hamilton and Clermont counties. We currently have more than 450 elderly in our network who we assist in some manner.

Help The Cause

Thank You to Our Incredible 2024 Sponsors!

Your support has been instrumental in moving our mission forward, making a lasting impact through our programs, services, and advocacy. Whether it’s empowering older adults, fostering community connections, or addressing social isolation, your partnership helps us create meaningful change every day. 

Thank you for standing with us to brighten lives and strengthen our community! 

Looking Ahead: If you’d like to support our mission in 2025, please reach out to us at cincinnati@littlebrothers.org or visit our Sponsorship Page. 

Together, we can continue making a difference!

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITES

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Join us in our mission to bring friendship and joy to the lives of the elderly in Greater Cincinnati!

No one should have to experience the pain of loneliness and isolation, especially in their golden years.
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Meet Our Staff

Ja’Lah Willingham

Executive Director

Ja’Lah Willingham joins Little Brothers Friends of The Elderly as Executive Director. She comes to the position with 10+ years’ of nonprofit experience from a number of organizations including – Public Allies Cincinnati, Public Allies National, The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, and most recently, Meals on Wheels of Southwest OH & Northern KY. Ja’Lah brings a wealth of knowledge in volunteer management, fundraising, team building, senior advocacy, and organizational and program development.

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Outside of the nonprofit sector Ja’Lah is also a proud Xavier Musketeer, Association of Fundraising Professionals Committee Member, Vistage Emerging Leader, and mother of two girls, Jayne and Joy. Ja’Lah enjoys trying new local restaurants and entertainment, fishing, spending time with family,  and dreaming of opportunities for improvement.

Zaire Sims

Elderly Services Program Coordinator

Zaire Sims is a Licensed Master Social Worker. She has several years of experience in the social work field ranging from outpatient and inpatient mental health and service to older adults. She is dedicated to serving older adults with a goal of improving their overall quality of life by utilizing a cultural humility lens considering the intersectionality of the person.  Zaire enjoys the small meaningful conversations and connections and impacts you have with working with older adults. Zaire has learned the importance of helping others through personal experiences of facing adversity. Her commitment to combating social isolation and loneliness is exemplified in her last position as she was able to successfully implement social, health, and educational programs into an independent living apartment complex for older adults following social isolation during the pandemic. She thoroughly enjoys meeting and talking to people and hearing stories from older adults. Building connections and community with people are at the core of her work. Zaire is excited to work with LBFE and to continue our mission.

She brings as positive attitude and creative ideas to the social work field. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 2020 with a Master’s degree in Social Work and from The Ohio State University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Sciences in Social Work. While in college, she was awarded the inaugural Young Scholar Program’s Outstanding Senior Award, which is named after her, for her academic performance and commitment to service to the Young Scholars Program. In addition, she was awarded the Association for Professionals in Aging Scholarship in 2019. Zaire has received a number of recognitions from the Council of Aging, including the Service Excellence Award. In 2023, Zaire received a letter of reignition from the City of Cincinnati Mayor Aftab, for her commitment to service to older adults in the Cincinnati area.  Zaire is an inaugural graduate of the American Society on Aging Rise Fellow Program, which is a program that trains future leaders in the field of aging through a diversity, equity, inclusion lens. Zaire also currently serves on the board of the Association for Professional on Aging.

During her free time, you can catch her at a Bengals game, in the gym, and during the summer hiking or kayaking.  Zaire has 3 pets, 2 cats, Fari and Zoe, a fish, Al. Zaire enjoys trying new restaurants throughout the Tri-State area.

Dawn Carlson

Assistant Director

Dawn joined the Little Brothers – friends of the elderly community in the summer of 23 as a volunteer with her two children.  Dawn brings a passion for volunteerism as well as skills as a Creative Leader and Solution Seeker. She likes to recognize and cultivate the potential in others and brings a wealth of Design and communication experience with her.  

Volunteer experience: Meals on Wheels, Keep Cincinnati Beautiful, Cincinnati Animal Care, Hoxworth Blood drives and Big Brother, Big Sisters.

Board of Directors

Jack Henn

Board Member

BILL HERRING

Board Member

BOB BRACKEN

Board Member

Carrie E. Russell

Board Member

mia sears

Board Member

International Federation

(513) 542-7555

cincinnati@littlebrothers.org

5530 Colerain Ave.

Cincinnati, OH 45239

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