OAM 2026: Meet Sourcewise Advisory Council Member, Tom Picraux
As we continue to celebrate Older Americans Month (OAM) this May, we’re recognizing older adults and highlighting their impact in our community. With 2026’s theme as “Champion Your Health”, we will be spotlighting some of the older adults volunteering with our organization who are committed to aging well, healthily, and on their own terms. Some of the most visible older adults volunteering their time with us are the members of the Sourcewise Advisory Council.
The Sourcewise Advisory Council serves Santa Clara County by advising Sourcewise and its Board of Directors on the needs of older adults and people with disabilities, through advocating for our most vulnerable residents and raising awareness about available resources. Members represent the county’s diverse communities, sharing local needs and bringing back critical information to improve access and equity. Through engagement with community groups, public officials, and other advocacy organizations, the Council strengthens programs and policies that enhance quality of life for older adults across Santa Clara County.
Each Advisory Council member has their own reason for joining Sourcewise. For Tom Picraux, joining Sourcewise was a deeply personal decision rooted in his childhood. He was raised on a small farm in Missouri, where they lived off the land and were part of a close-knit community. Just down the road from his home, and a core member of the community, was his grandmother – the matriarch of the family. From his grandmother and others, it was instilled in Tom from an early age to appreciate the value of the stories and lived experience of older adults. After a career as a research scientist and executive at a national laboratory, when it came time for him to retire and consider how he wanted to use the next chapter of his life, he knew he wanted to give back to the older adult community.
Advocating for older adults and healthy aging is deeply important and personal to Tom.
“From growing up in a rural community, I saw the tremendous importance of people reaching out to help older adults and the positive impact this had on the functioning of the entire community.”
First, he joined the Los Gatos Community and the Senior Services Commission and was tasked with finding membership opportunities to help support the Commission. Following some research, he found Sourcewise. Once he joined the Advisory Council, this is what he shared about his observations on how Sourcewise makes an impact in the lives of older adults in the community:
“So many lives are changed for the better by the things that Sourcewise does. In our dual suburban and urban environment of Santa Clara County, people don’t always know who to turn or how to get help. Through contacting Sourcewise, they can learn about important services we support such as home-delivered and congregate meals, community center operations, day care centers, information on available resources, etc. Sourcewise provides critical help for people to age in place and is of vital importance.”
As a member of the Sourcewise Advisory Council, Tom has become fluent in existing resources for older adults and helps shape new resources to address institutional gaps and unmet needs. Council members spread the word about existing support services and organizations dedicated to older adults in Santa Clara County, and it is a role that brings a strong personal sense of contribution and greater sense of belonging to the community.
As many of the Sourcewise Advisory Council members are older adults, there is no one better to advocate for the needs of the aging population in Santa Clara County than them. We are thankful for all their knowledge, lived experience, and heart for the community. The passion and work of members like Tom enable Sourcewise to continually improve our services and coordination with other community-based organizations, to ensure that everyone in Santa Clara County can be a champion of their own health.