2025 was a year of community engagement, empowerment, and structured growth for The MARJEA Foundation. Under the leadership of Mark and Jeanette Wheeler, and the MARJEA Team, the Foundation began to build bridges between seniors and youth, blending advocacy, education, and creativity to promote better living for all generations.

Throughout the year, we hosted free workshops and events that were in line with our vision and mission of mobilizing assistance, utilizing our resources, promoting justice, and empowering seniors and youth through education and advocacy.

Senior Advocacy & Empowerment

• Hosted Advance Life Planning Workshops, helping seniors prepare wills, trusts, and estate plans while understanding their rights and resources.

• Led Scam Awareness and Prevention Events, including informative sessions and community giveaways, equipping seniors to protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.

• Strengthened Helping Hands Senior Support, providing personal assistance, education, and companionship to vulnerable elders in the community.

Youth Engagement & Workforce Development

• Expanded the RAP (Resource & Apprenticeship Program), employing local youth for small community jobs and introducing evaluation sheets, time logs, and compensation tracking.

• Launched Money Matters financial literacy classes, teaching budgeting, saving, and investing skills for teens and young adults.

• Developed jobs for youth, evaluation forms, fillable templates, and a structured reporting system to help youth gain early job experience and accountability skills.

Organizational Growth & Structure

• Refined board development, including advisory roles and sub-committees for major projects like Scam Prevention, Youth Employment, and other upcoming events, to help those we serve in our community.

• Created fillable forms, evaluation sheets, PowerPoint presentations, and Excel templates to streamline operations.

• Continued brand alignment through consistent use of the MARJEA logo, tagline, and mission-focused messaging: Mobilizing Assistance, Resources for Justice, Empowerment, and Advocacy.

Local Partnerships

• Strengthened collaboration with local partners in Federal Way and surrounding areas, supporting intergenerational programs, financial education, and advocacy efforts.

2025 was a defining year for MARJEA—solidifying a transition from a global mission base to a community-centered empowerment foundation. The work of bridging generations, faith, and opportunity continues to grow, anchored in the vision of helping seniors live with dignity and youth rise with purpose.