The hub of our home, the Social Hall is host to more than 1,000 programs a year, from the outstanding Sunday concerts that draw residents, family and friends, to the daily lectures, study groups, and holiday celebrations. More than 5,000 people every year gather in the Social Hall, and everyone agreed that it was time to rethink this essential space and give it new life and functionality to better meet the needs of our community.
That’s exactly what we’re doing!
A lead gift from the family of Selfhelp founder Gerry Franks, which includes Debbie Lipsett and Dan and David Franks, has made this possible. In 2019, Selfhelp commissioned AE Designs to create an entirely new modern look, from wall-to-wall and floor to ceiling. Improvements will be completed in 2020.
The improvements are not just cosmetic: Gifts from Jonathan and Jeremy Strauss (in memory of Helmut and Irma Strauss), The Werner and Phoebe Frank Family Foundation and the Abt Family Foundation jumpstarted our campaign to outfit the space with state-of-the-art technology, including listening devices that will aid and enhance the communal experience for the hearing-impaired.
The Social Hall (today)