ABOUT US
What is Friends?
Friends of Cary Senior Center (FoCSC) is a duly organized non-profit corporation chartered under the laws of the State of North Carolina with a 501(c)(3) status. FoCSC supports the operations of the Cary Senior Center in providing an enjoyable and pleasant place for seniors to get together to enjoy shared interests. We do this through fundraising and community events. Meet the Board of Directors.
Mission
The mission of Friends is to enhance and support the operations of the Cary Senior Center, which is operated by the Town of Cary, and to provide a place for senior adults to come together, to meet with their peers and gain or maintain a sense of self. Friends strives to have the Senior Center be a place where seniors can find meaning, satisfaction and enjoyment in their later years through participation in education, health and wellness programs, and with activities and services that offer a variety of choices.
Objectives
-
To advocate for seniors' interests which may directly or indirectly affect their welfare.
-
To communicate information to seniors about programs and services available to them and about community affairs affecting them.
-
To raise funds through contributions, donations and/or grants, to support the activities or programs on behalf of Cary's senior adults.
-
To serve as an outreach or promote or enhance community awareness of the various resources and services available to seniors.
​
Click here to learn about some of our projects.
Donations to Friends of CSC (FoCSC)
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to Friends of Cary Senior Center, Inc., please use this form for that purpose. Print it out and include it with your donation (address is located on the form). The form includes a phone number if you have any questions.
For more information, please contact the Cary Senior Center at (919) 469-4081.
Meet our BOARD of DIRECTORS
FoCSC officers 2024
President: Toney Chin
Vice President: Ellen Barker
Secretary / Webmaster: Judy Penney
Treasurer: Linda Waite
Toney Chin
President
I was the first person in my family born outside of China, raised on an island in the West Indies. I enjoyed the trappings of local foods and culture. My family migrated to New York in 1974 and I grew up in Flushing, Queens. My wife and I moved to Croton-on-Hudson in Westchester NY before moving to Cary in 2006. We have 2 beautiful Birman cats.
I earned a degree in Marketing and an MBA in Finance from New York University. As past president of NYU’s Marketing Society, I thought I would go onto a career in advertising or market research. However, recessions have a way of changing plans. I began life in banking as a trainee with Chemical Bank / JP Morgan Chase and worked at several signature offices in Manhattan -- Empire State, Penn Station, 55 Water Street and 52 Broadway.
In 2000, I joined Credit Suisse at the World Trade Center location. Luckily, I was outside the building on that fateful day in 2001. In 2005 I was an integral part in deploying key managers to the Raleigh-Durham area, which established a global business center in the Triangle. In my last role with Credit Suisse, I was regional head of business continuity and site COO for the Operations division. I have been involved with various organizations as co-leading the mentoring and diversity and inclusion programs, the Morrisville and Raleigh Chambers, and supporting numerous regional charity events such as the Plane Pull, The First Tee, Tammy Lynn Center, and Dress for Success, to name a few.
I enjoy playing golf, tennis, traveling, cruising, exploring history, good food and automobiles. I am eager to learn new activities and look forward to staying active. A key goal is to re-connect with friends, classmates, and colleagues. I realize time has passed so quickly and it is very rewarding to get back in touch and share memories with those who influenced my life at an early age. I aim to inspire the next generation including my 22 nieces and nephews, to greater success. I look forward to giving back to the Town of Cary community, and what better way to do so as part of the Friends of Cary Senior Center.
Ellen Barker
Vice President
I was born in the Bronx, NY and raised in Yorktown Heights, NY. I spent every summer with my grandparents on a small island in the North Sea from the age of 5 years old to 14. My first language was German. My father owned a German deli where I worked and used my bilingual languages.
​
I was graduated from business school with a degree in 1982. I met my husband the same year and we were married in 1983. My husband transferred from IBM Fishkill, NY, to RTP in 1990 where I started working for IBM as a Secretary, then moved on to Order Entry for IBM retailers, then to Customer Relations. I worked for 11 years and retired to take care of our children, farm and animals.
​
During the last few years, I became involved volunteering at the Cary Senior Center as the President of Granpaparazzi Camera Club, and the CSC Yard Sale. This year I started volunteering at the Flower Shuttle, which provides Senior Care Centers and other facilities through-out Raleigh with bouquets of flower arrangements. I also enjoy working with my horses, dogs and photography.
Judy Penney
Secretary / Webmaster
​
Born and raised in Brooklyn NY, I moved to Cary in 1996 by way of upstate NY (Hyde Park) and Austin TX. I am an ex-IBMer (I've Been Moved) with past careers in teaching, programming, ISO9000, technical writing, web design and development, and marketing communications. I have a B.S. in Computer Science, Communications and Business Technologies from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY. In addition to serving on the BOD of FoCSC, I am past President, Secretary and Social Media Manager of the Triangle Italian American Women's Club (TRIAWC) in Cary where I also served as Chairperson of their Scholarship Committee.
​
My lucky husband Bill and I have been married since 1993. Bill is an IBM retiree. I have two daughters, both living in NY. Bill has two sons and a daughter, also all living out of state, and we have nine grandchildren between us. We have two fur-babies, Stella and Tony, both rescues. When Bill is not either building or fixing something around the house, we like to go sailing on our Catalina 310 on Kerr Lake. I've been on the Friends BOD since 2019 and I'm very much enjoying what I do and all the folks involved with FoCSC and the Senior Center. I'm looking forward to the possibilities.
Linda Waite
Treasurer
​
Although I grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA, my husband and I have called North Carolina home for the past 30 years. We raised our three children in the Raleigh/Cary area. We are lucky to have three ‘in-law’ children and are blessed to enjoy our 6 grandchildren.
I worked in the computer industry for over 25 years and retired in June 2019. I have been enjoying line dancing for the past 7 years as well as a number of other programs and activities that the Cary Senior Center offers.
I am excited to be involved with FoCSC, getting to work with folks I’ve known for years and with new ones as well.
Peace is joy at rest. Joy is peace on its feet.
Linda Atack
Director
I was born on Long Island, NY and enjoyed my early years living close to grandparents, aunts and uncles and many cousins, as well as two younger sisters. My father worked for AT&T and we lived in the Chicago area for three years before transferring back to northern New Jersey – and easy access to NYC again and New England ski slopes (Illinois is very flat!).
I graduated from Hood College in Frederick, MD with a BA in Political Science. The major highlight of undergraduate studies was serving as an exchange student to India the summer between my junior and senior years. A year after graduation, I took off to Europe with two friends for “a year of travel and exploration,” with London as our base camp. Seven years later, I moved back to the U.S. with a British husband and our first child. Our second son was born while we lived in Miami.
Our family relocated to North Carolina after Hurricane Andrew literally blew us out of town. For most of my career, I worked with non-profit organizations including Families Services of Dade County, Habitat for Humanity in Greensboro and Senior Resources of Guilford. My capstone assignment was with Wake County Department of Human Services in Child Welfare. Along the way, I earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Florida International University in Miami and the Joint Masters in Social Work from UNC-Greensboro/NC A&T University in Greensboro.
My joy comes from mentoring children and families and helping them identify and achieve life goals – no matter what their ages, backgrounds, skills levels or obstacles to overcome. I have learned so much from folks I have worked with and walked along side, on both sunny days and dark stormy ones.
Rawleen Cristea
Director
Born and raised in Michigan, I moved to Cary in 2015 after my husband retired. I had attended Central Michigan University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education. I also did graduate work at Oakland University and Marygrove College in Reading and Educational Leadership. I have taught in a variety of positions and grade levels from elementary through High School. After 38 years of teaching and working as advocate for children with special needs, I retired in 2010.
I enjoy volunteering and keeping active. I am currently Treasurer of the Triangle Italian American Women’s Club (TRIAWC). I am new to the Senior Center (2021) and have enjoyed learning, visiting and taking part in the various programs it offers. I look forward to working with Friends of Cary Senior Center.
Susan Stanko
Director
​
Born In Birmingham, AL and raised in Pensacola, FL, I married my high school sweetheart, who was in the USAF. As a military spouse, I had the opportunity to live, work and raise our three children in various locations across the United States as well as in Japan. We moved to Cary in 1995, after my husband retired from the Air Force. It was the best move we ever made, and Cary is truly home!
In 2007, I began taking classes and participating in programs at the Senior Center. These classes not only provided educational opportunities, but the chance to meet wonderful people and form new friendships. I happened to try line dance, and I was hooked. Soon, I became a member of the Caryliners Competition and Performance Team, and had many opportunities to represent the CSC at the Senior Games and the State Fair. After nine years of competitive dancing, the Caryliners switched to performance only and concentrated on volunteering to perform/teach for clubs, retirement communities, nursing homes and Town events. We shared our joy with local communities and put smiles on faces.
Volunteering is a big part of me. It led me to opportunities with Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, Little League baseball, school PTA, my church, and finally the Cary Senior Center. Currently, I volunteer here as a line dance Instructor.
Being a Board member for FoCSC is a new and exciting opportunity. My hope is to help enrich the lives of our Cary senior population.
Phil Crockett
Director Emeritus
I am a retired mechanical engineer. I was graduated from Michigan Technological University in 1960 and worked 30 years at Aeroquip Corporation as Director of U.S. Operations with the Aerospace Division located in Jackson, Michigan. My work experience includes service engineering assignments teaching the installation of hard plumbing systems used in the beginning stages of space travel. The Agena and Apollo space capsule mockups were my first field assignments. I later served as Chief Engineer and Engineering Manager, Aerospace Division. Manufacturing administration became my specialty, with family relocations to North Carolina 1976, Los Angeles 1980, Jackson, Michigan 1983, South Carolina 1987, Georgia 1988 and back to Jackson, Michigan 1990, and finally retirement and moving to Cary in 1994.
I married my college sweetheart, Diana, in 1958. We have two daughters and two grandsons who also live in Cary. North Carolina is home to us now. After retirement, my passions were gardening and golf. Golf didn’t work out too well, but gardening has survived, as has my volunteer work with Friends of CSC, Meals on Wheels and Chapter AARP support.
​
Note: Phil was named Director Emeritus upon his retirement from the BOD at the end of December 2022.