The Velda Murad Wishlist

Small gifts can make a lasting difference. Velda's Wishlist provides essential, everyday items to older adults in our community facing financial hardship. Things like new sheets, a warm coat, a microwave, or a set of dishes for someone starting over. These are items many of us take for granted, but for a client in need, they can mean comfort, dignity, and a little more ease in daily life.

In Memory of Velda Murad

This fund is named in honor of Velda Murad, Carter Burden Network's former Associate Executive Director, who passed away this June after four decades of extraordinary service to our organization and the older adults we serve.

Velda joined Carter Burden Network in 1988 and spent 35 years providing visionary leadership across our social service programs, from case management and caregiver support to elder abuse intervention and homebound services. She was a devoted mentor to generations of social workers and staff, and a passionate advocate for older adults and vulnerable populations throughout her career.

One of Velda's quieter, lasting contributions was this very fund: a simple program she created and championed for years, allowing frontline workers to request small but meaningful items for clients in need. It was a direct expression of her generosity — understated, personal, and deeply impactful.

“I can't say enough about her. She was an amazing person, dedicated... she was very understated, but she gave so much of her time and her energy and her love and her work, always looking for ways to support clients.”

— Rochelle Friedlich, colleague of 12 years

How the Fund Works

Frontline staff submit a brief request explaining how a specific item would improve a client's life, along with an overview of the client's financial circumstances.

Past requests have included new bedding, clothing, a microwave, a full set of dishes for a client whose belongings were lost in a fire, new shoes, and portable air conditioners, small gifts that bring real comfort and happiness to the older adults we serve.

Help Us Carry Velda's Legacy Forward

In Velda's honor, we are renaming the Wishlist Fund to the Velda Murad Wishlist so that her legacy of quiet, personal generosity can continue to touch lives for years to come. Your gift — of any size — goes directly toward meeting a real, immediate need for an older adult in our community.