To the Editor:
On behalf of the Center for Modern Aging Princeton (CMAP), we want to share an update with the community regarding the recent flooding at the Nancy S. Klath Center on Poor Farm Road. As some now know, a burst pipe caused significant water damage to portions of our facility. While the incident was unexpected and disruptive, it has also revealed something far more powerful than any setback: the extraordinary resilience of this organization and the strength of the community that surrounds it.
We are particularly grateful for the community response from our participants, donors, sponsors, fellow nonprofits, and the municipality. The commitment to community well-being exemplifies what makes Princeton such a remarkable place. We extend special thanks to the Municipality of Princeton for providing temporary office space in Monument Hall as well as additional classroom space on the municipal complex. We also extend gratitude to Educational Testing Services (ETS) for helping us with additional program space for our Evergreen Forum as well as furniture for our temporary offices.
Most importantly, CMAP remains strong. All programs, support groups, social services, and classes are continuing without interruption. Our dedicated staff has worked tirelessly to ensure that older adults and families who rely on us continue to receive the connection, resources, and support they deserve. In moments like these, our mission becomes even clearer: we are not just a building. We are a community.
And we are looking forward.
The necessary renovations from the water damage will allow us not only to restore our current space, but to develop it alongside our planned renovation of the other side of our building. With additional classrooms, a large gathering space and commercial kitchen, a stunning new atrium, and beautiful outdoor spaces, the new Norman & Nancy Klath Center for Lifelong Learning will serve as a welcoming hub for connection, lifelong learning, health and wellness, and intergenerational engagement.
When we fully reopen, CMAP will sta nd as a beautiful flagship community center for older adults in the State of New Jersey; a true model of what modern aging can look like: vibrant, inclusive, innovative, and community-centered.
Challenges test institutions, but they also clarify purpose. This moment has reinforced our commitment to serving older adults with dignity, creativity, and excellence for decades to come. We are grateful. We are resilient. And our best days are ahead.