As a graduate of Harvard Business School, Stacey Malcolmson might have had her pick of Fortune 500 firms for which to work. But she is quite happy, thank you very much, working as the President & CEO of The Senior Source, a non-profit that improves the lives of older adults in Dallas. 

And what led this vivacious, fourth-generation Texan to this position? “I grew up in Houston, and we used to visit my grandmother in Beaumont,” said Stacey. “She would always take us with her to nursing homes, bringing Hershey bars and bananas to residents. They loved my grandmother! And as a result of that experience, I have always had an affection for older adults.”

Her grandmother also instilled in her a desire to serve and give back. After working first for Frito Lay in marketing, she started “giving back” by beginning her fundraising career at SMU. After six years, she went to the United Way as Chief Development Officer.

“It was there that I learned about The Senior Source, and it stuck with me,” she said. When a recruiter approached her a few years later about being CEO for The Senior Source, she said, “The mission spoke to me!”

Regarding their vision, the website says The Senior Source is “Making Older Better.”  It does that in so many ways, according to Stacey. “Older adults can be overlooked, but they have so much to offer. We help to give them respect, dignity, financial security, and improve their emotional and mental health.” 

She says they generally get two types of calls—a senior who needs financial support, or an adult child or spouse who is overwhelmed caring for a loved one and needs help.

Regarding the former, The Senior Source helps to maximize the revenue and decrease the expenses of older adults. They can even provide help with utilities. “The Senior Source partners with Atmos and TXU,” said Stacey. “We can pay a utility bill once a year, and we were also able to help with winter storm expenses through the generosity of private foundations.”  

Often, The Senior Source helps with job placement. “Not long ago I heard from a gentleman who said ‘I’m 76 and have moved to Rockwall. I know no one.’ This kind of call is what makes it worth going to work every day,” she says. “We set him up with a class on computers and are helping him get a job. In the process, he has met people and has become more socialized—which is so critically important for older adults.”  

Socialization also comes into play with one of the most important offerings of the non-profit—placing seniors in volunteer programs. “Our volunteers are so eager to get back to work after Covid,” she says. “They are coming in again for training, they are getting out of the house, and that benefits their socialization as well as their emotional and physical health.”  The agency places senior volunteers in more than 50 community organizations in Dallas.

The Senior Source also offers advocacy regarding fraud. “Seniors can be targets of fraud. We will work with the District Attorney, Adult Protective Services and the Probate Courts. We become the person caring for seniors, and we work to bring these criminals to court.” There is an element of steel in her voice as she said that. It said, “Don’t mess with Stacey!”  Or, with The Senior Source.

Stacey Malcolmson is clearly not one of those lofty CEOs who is disconnected with the people she serves. “We’re just starting to have seniors in the office again,” she said. “In pre-COVID times, we’d host up to 800 older adults a month. I miss seeing them!” 

2021 is a big year in another way—it’s the 60th Anniversary for The Senior Source. “One of our campaign goals for the 60th Anniversary is to raise money to increase our visibility. So many people don’t know about us!” says Stacey. In June, the organization held a Diamond dance-off fundraiser, which displayed some very cool moves by several senior contestants. And check out their future fundraiser, the Spirit of Generations Luncheon on January 13, 2022.

In the meantime, Stacey Malcolmson will continue helping older adults, such as placing senior volunteers in the Foster Grandparents program, where they can interact with children who have special needs. And who knows, maybe some senior will inspire an extraordinary boy or girl to one day become the CEO of—The Senior Source.

Linda Faulkner Johnston—The Tradition

For more information, see www.theseniorsource.org.