The 55+ Club of Amarillo (aka formerly the Amarillo Senior Citizens Association) has announced the receipt of two major challenge grants totaling $350,000 toward its “Thrive after 55 on Route 66” Capital Campaign.
The capital project is planned to renovate the building they own at 2404 SW 6th Ave. into a thriving new Senior Activities Center.
High Plains Christian Ministries Foundation and Amarillo Area Foundation have approved challenge grants of $100,000 and $250,000, respectively, toward the $1.3 million goal for Phase One of the campaign, according to Amy Juba, CFRE and project coordinator for the organization.
These grants, along with generous grants from the Kimble Foundation Trust, Dr. Kent T. Roberts & Ilene Roberts Balliett Foundation, the Josephine Anderson Charitable Trust, the C.J and Syble Fowlston Charitable Trust, Ware Foundation, Brumley Foundation, Waite & Genevieve Phillips Foundation, an anonymous foundation, plus other individual and corporate gifts, pushed the total raised to $497,900, or nearly 40% of the Phase 1 goal.
The organization is now seeking gifts from individuals, families, and businesses totaling $350,000 or more to match the challenge grants, according to Juba.
The “Thrive After 55 on Route 66” capital project represents the next chapter in ASCA’s legacy of serving Amarillo’s aging population.
The group has served seniors in Amarillo since 1973. It reorganized with a new board of directors in 2022, debuting a new name in 2025. Now operating as the 55+ Club of Amarillo, the organization has quietly been raising funds to renovate the building it purchased from Potter County in 2021.
One in four Amarillo residents is aged 55 or older, making up 26% of Amarillo’s population (61,000), and the 85+ population is projected to grow by more than 20% in the next decade, according to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2024.
This much-needed Senior Activities Center will provide a vibrant, welcoming environment that fosters physical health, mental well-being, and social connection among seniors across Amarillo. Centrally located along Route 66, an enduring symbol of freedom and mobility, the facility will celebrate both Amarillo’s history and the independence of its older residents. Once complete, the center will provide essential programs in wellness, recreation, arts, lifelong learning, and nutrition, improving the quality of life for thousands of our city’s seniors.
Phase 1 and 2 of senior center renovation project
Phase 1 of the renovation project includes:
Phase 2 of the project is projected to cost $600,000 and includes:
Filling a gap in needed senior services
According to information sent out by the 55+ Club Capital Campaign, Amarillo lags behind peer cities and other Panhandle communities in investing in its growing senior population.
The group said while comparable municipalities across Texas directly own and fund dedicated senior centers that provide education, engagement, and wellness programming, Amarillo offers only limited services within a general-use fitness facility — leaving a significant gap in dedicated support for seniors.
Amarillo benefits from several organizations serving older adults, each addressing specific needs, from activities to nutrition to faith-based outreach. However, the 55+ Club Senior Activities Center will fill a unique, complementary niche serving 600 to 1,000 independent seniors when fully operational, according to the group.
The 55+ Club of Amarillo’s mission is to help senior citizens maintain their independence, enjoy wellness, and preserve their quality of life for as long as possible.
The new Senior Activities Center will help them “thrive after 55 on Route 66”.
How to help the seniors capital campaign
To support the capital campaign, visit the nonprofit’s website at 55plusclub.org.
For more information about giving options and naming opportunities, email campaign@55plusclub.org or call 806-374-5500.
Nell Williams is a staff writer covering trends and other news for the Amarillo Globe-News. Have a story idea? Email her at nwilliams@usatodayco.com .
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: 55+ Club announces major contributions toward new senior center
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News | USA TODAY Network
