Project Description

The purpose for Geriatric for Life is to assist senior citizens in need of advocates. Seniors have several needs as they continue to age and they need ready and available advocates to assist them with resolving some of their issues. We work together with all social services; community resource groups, hospitals, community service boards and other agencies that can help us reach our goal for the seniors who use our services. Senior living shouldn't have to be "hard living" and we will work towards helping these seniors live without shame and disappointment.

Project Description

During the last two years, I have volunteered for, and continue to work with seniors at Senior Housing Options, a low income senior housing program with several locations around Denver and statewide. I regularly visited the residents, keeping them company and doing errands with them, etc. A few months ago one of the residents gave me an idea to start giving art lessons to the seniors residing there. I latched onto this opportunity and successfully started having classes once a week. Because one of my main passions in life is art, this was an amazing way to include two of my most enjoyed activities to the schedule - creating art and teaching others the same. The seniors’ enthusiastic response, participation and sincere interest encouraged me want to return whenever I had time in my schedule. I developed an art curriculum, organized a schedule, and enlisted some other students from my school to join me so we could reach other senior residents through art activities, and hopefully bring a little joy and companionship into their lives.
This class is hosted for the residents of Park Hill Housing. During lessons the seniors are led in drawing either a still life or a subject to evolve their creativity. Through this experience the elderly are able to express their thoughts either about their memories or their present life on paper. The object of this class is to be able to transfer the image that the participant is thinking of clearly on paper, and thus expand their talents and enrich their skills. Currently there are five constant participants, and a few drop-ins each lesson-which are led every Thursday. Many of the participants are disabled in some way, and it is a struggle to lead them past their fears of making mistakes.
I consider this an important and valuable activity, and I want to continue to provide this service to these older and sometimes lonely and isolated residents to enhance the quality of their lives. I also recognize that I am learning thorough my association with these people and am grateful for the experiences of knowing them, and learning from them as well.
It is my goal to make the participants feel more self-confident, and give them the desire to do more with art. I believe that everyone could learn from the elders' wisdom of living through many decades, and hope to get more volunteering to join me with this project. By expanding this program to other Senior Housing Option properties I hope to impact many other seniors. Currently this project has little funding, so the art activities are kept with basic materials.

Project Description

My Student Service Project – Canine Therapy

Whether we are sick, in mourning, in trial, or frustrated, there is something that can always put a smile upon our face. It never complains, is never unhappy, rarely afraid, and is always there when we need it. Wagging a friendly tail, dogs make our face break into a grin and give us hope for the future. When the going gets rough, they lick away all our tears. Studies show that simply stroking a dog lowers the human heart rate and reduces blood pressure. Encouraging us through their kind eyes and warm hearts, dogs make us feel wanted and give us strength during the most difficult times in our lives.

Hi, my name is Emily Brown, and my dog Holly and I want to bring this canine therapy to Kingman, Arizona’s, local hospitals, nursing homes, and schools. I want to see the smiles on those patient’s faces when my dog Holly gives them a high five after their long hard recovery. I want to hear the laughter of depressed people when Holly steals things out of my pocket. And I want to see the children whose parents have tossed them aside throwing their arms around Holly’s neck and refusing to let go.

A year ago Holly and I passed the first step towards casting sunshine upon these people’s lives. We passed the AKC (American Kennel Club) Canine Good Citizen test. Holly and I then began Kingman Therapaws’ training program that prepares handlers and their dogs for Delta Society’s (the organization which insures therapy dogs) aptitude and skills test. Discovering the costs of taking aptitude and skills test, being insured with Delta, buying the uniform required for our team, and having Holly checked by a veterinarian would top $300, I reluctantly set my dream aside.

While I knew the chances were slight that Holly and I would ever really become a therapy team, I have never stopped hoping. All year while I pressed on in my school work, Holly and I have kept practicing. Taking Holly many different places, I improved her stability and attitude by exposing her to various situations that we might encounter in our therapy work. I have also taught Holly many fun tricks to share. Currently Holly can bow, rear up and paw like Trigger, shake, untie my shoes, jump through a hoop, and play lame. Tricks like these I know will bring a sure smile to even the most depressed patient’s face giving them hope for the future.

With your financial assistance Kingman’s residents can enjoy Holly’s doggy therapy, and I can do what I love. In January of 2008, Kingman Therapaws Inc. is again beginning their preparatory training for the aptitude and skills test. Holly and I will go, learn the tasks required, and pass the test with flying colors. Then, with your help Holly can have her veterinary check; we can buy the uniform, and we can become liability insured with Delta Society for two years.

By the spring of 2008 I want to be setting off with Kingman Therapaws as they make their rounds to Kingman’s school district. I can hardly wait to see the wonder in the children’s eyes when we arrive to brighten their day. Holly will be wiggling gleefully as the children swarm around petting her soft coat. She will look into their eyes and ease their cares and concerns. The children will love reading to us and our canine partners. Math skills of these youngsters will improve once Holly pulls out her times tables and shows them how she can count. Perhaps more than anything though the children will benefit from the simple love and respect these four legged friends teach so well. Whether it is their first year in school and they are struggling with being away from home or just having a rough time in their life, Holly’s quiet security will reassure all the children and let them know they are loved.

I also plan to visit Kingman Regional Medical Center and our local nursing homes. Holly will perform all her tricks for the residents, and I hope that every time we visit the patients Holly will have a brand new trick prepared for them. We will get the residents involved and soon they’ll be back on their feet. Holly can sense someone in pain, and I can only imagine the comfort she will give as she lays her black velvet muzzle upon the bed of a patient who is unable to even reach out and caress her. A glimmer of hope will illumine that patient’s face and for a moment he will forget the situation he is in and focus on the friendly visitor that brought sunshine into his room.

Holly and I want to join our local Kingman Therapaws group and help bring this canine therapy to our city. We want to make the children and adults know that people do love and care about them. With your help in the financial department, we should be ready for two years of entertaining and bringing hope to our community. We will snuggle up to the little girl who is scared of being away from her parents for the first time, and Holly will make the nursing homes walls ring with laughter when she takes a bow without even a cue, for Holly and I will be partners in bringing smiles to Kingman, Arizona.

Project Description

Summary: Everybody Dance Now! offers FREE, on-site, year-round classes for Santa Barbara's underprivileged youth. Functioning under Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's 501c3 nonprofit status, Everybody Dance Now! (EDN!) has taught dance at 16 sites to over 500 children and teens who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Mission: We strive to instill self-esteem and confidence in children through dance, while encouraging them to work toward goals in a supportive and creative learning environment. We give them a healthy outlet to express themselves, and to enable them to build friendships, find role models and mentors in their instructors, and develop a sense of belonging and self-resepct. Not to mention, it's fun and brings students joy! One unique aspect of the program is that not only do students perform for their peers; they also dance for the elderly, the terminally ill, and people with brain injuries or disabilities, so that they, too, can feel the joy of giving back. These community performances give our students a further sense of self-value. Teachers: Most of our instructors are high school and college students, because we believe that the closeness in age to our students creates a strong sense of understanding, as well as a fun atmosphere. We began with 3 teachers and have had over 25 instructors involved, with 10 currently teaching. My Inspiration: When I was twelve, I performed a hip-hop dance for eighty teens with disabilities through an organization called Santa Barbara Dance Alliance. You can imagine how nervous I was. But as soon my music came on and the audience started bouncing, I could see that they enjoyed the dance moves and loud music. One boy had to have two men hold him down because he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. Then, halfway into my dance, the music stopped unexpectedly. The audience began shouting, "Do it again!"—so I started over, until my song cut a second time. I didn't know what to do until the silence was broken by a girl who yelled, "We want to dance!" I figured there was no harm in going along with her idea and was able to talk my horrified program director into it. We invited groups onstage to let loose and dance freely. That day, I realized that dance is more than an after-school activity; it is a powerful creative force that can bring people together and give them joy and self-esteem. Four years later, I haven’t forgotten the way it felt to see those teenagers full of self-confidence and adrenaline from dancing. World & Cultural Dance: In May and June, 2007, Derrick Curtis and Trudie Olsen taught Latin Dance at Cesar Chavez, Franklin, Adams and Cleveland, exposing the children to the dances of their culture and opening their eyes to styles of dance beyond hip-hop! In July, 2007, Tanya Keenan taught two swing dance classes with our Girls Inc group as a special treat. Throughout 2007-2008, EDN! will expand its guest teacher world dance program to offer classes in styles including Afro-Brazilian, Middle Eastern & Oriential, Latin, Flamenco and Swing. What better hands-on, fun way to teach our young leaders about diversity than through dance? Additional Events: -In April, EDN! invited teens with the Santa Barbara Dance Alliance's "ON THE VERGE: Teen Choreographer's Showcase" to dance at our Cleveland and Franklin Elementary School classes. EDN! students were also given free tickets to the showcase in May, 2007. This was an incredible source of motivation and inspiration for them! -In November, 2007, 40 of our students will go to a dance studio and take a special master dance class with Buck World One, a "krumping" group from Northern California. -In the spring, 2008, Tommy the Hip-Hop Clown, the legendary pioneer of krump dance, featured in David Chapelle's movie "Rize," and his troupe, will teach two giant master classes for Everybody Dance Now! and the community!

Project Description

Every year the Ottumwa Teen Center brings physical comedian Kirk Marsh back to our town for a benefit fundraiser.  Last year the proceeds we received from Kirk's Show gave us operating funds for almost 9 months!  This is huge for a 501(c)3 that just opened it's doors a year ago.  

What makes us unique in Ottumwa is we’re not just a place to hang out after school.  We do everything from providing after-school academic help, to hosting clubs, offering workshops and assisting youth in their aspirations. We serve students ranging from 12-21 years old in a Title 1 qualifying district. 59.25 % of our community schools are title schools, with 5 of our 8 elementary schools (at 48.9% of these students) being qualified.  17.5 % of our students are low-income with 44.4% of the total approved for reduced or free school lunches (more are eligible but have not completed the paperwork to qualify).

In our year of service we have started environmental, photography and Manga (drawing and anime appreciation) clubs.  Gaming nights, $1 guitar lessons and our lock-ins have also been quite popular.  Our various workshops were building a cob wall in our backyard, hip hop show and dance workshop and creating an art car with a performance at the Iowa State Fair.  Several youth have also come to us for help in realizing projects with which they needed assistance. For example, we have assisted in a DJ venture giving local youth a place to both learn and ply their talent.  In August, we also took a dozen youth to a world-class convention in Indianapolis.  They attended events and many volunteered there in exchange for their 4-day passes.  Not only did our youth place 3rd in a major gaming event, the staff of the convention also requested we bring more volunteers next year of the same caliber!   Finally, we presented physical comedian and Ottumwa native Kirk Marsh to showcase successful locals for our youth and families.

Kirk has been described as Charlie Chaplin, Jerry Lewis and Dick Van Dyke rolled into one.  He brings vaudeville's rich traditions of magic, juggling, eccentric dane and oddball audience participation to the stage.  Ottumwa is a community where we would like to share Kirk's high-class performance with people that would not normally be able to afford such a gift.  Last year we received a $300 grant from United Way to give free and reduced tickets out to area low-income families.  Some of the tickets given were to Big Brother Big Sisters, foster families, and the women's crises center.  This year we would like to extend this service to senior citizens living in low-income housing units in town. The $500 you would give us would serve 100 seniors. In turn we would match your funds with 100 more reduced price tickets available only to our low-income elders.

We will be elated to serve our senior citizens!  Please help us share the joy, laughter and fun of Kirk Marsh with our whole community! 

Project Description

 Every year the Ottumwa Teen Center brings physical comedian Kirk Marsh back to our town for a benefit fundraiser.  Last year the proceeds we received from Kirk's Show gave us operating funds for almost 9 months!  This is huge for a 501(c)3 that just opened it's doors a year ago.  What makes us unique in Ottumwa is we’re not just a place to hang out after school.  We do everything from providing after-school academic help, to hosting clubs, offering workshops and assisting youth in their aspirations. We serve students ranging from 12-21 years old in a Title 1 qualifying district. 59.25 % of our community schools are title schools, with 5 of our 8 elementary schools (at 48.9% of these students) being qualified.  17.5 % of our students are low-income with 44.4% of the total approved for reduced or free school lunches (more are eligible but have not completed the paperwork to qualify).In our year of service we have started environmental, photography and Manga (drawing and anime appreciation) clubs.  Gaming nights, $1 guitar lessons and our lock-ins have also been quite popular.  Our various workshops were building a cob wall in our backyard, hip hop show and dance workshop and creating an art car with a performance at the Iowa State Fair.  Several youth have also come to us for help in realizing projects with which they needed assistance. For example, we have assisted in a DJ venture giving local youth a place to both learn and ply their talent.  In August, we also took a dozen youth to a world-class convention in Indianapolis.  They attended events and many volunteered there in exchange for their 4-day passes.  Not only did our youth place 3rd in a major gaming event, the staff of the convention also requested we bring more volunteers next year of the same caliber!   Finally, we presented physical comedian and Ottumwa native Kirk Marsh to showcase successful locals for our youth and families.Kirk has been described as Charlie Chaplin, Jerry Lewis and Dick Van Dyke rolled into one.  He brings vaudeville's rich traditions of magic, juggling, eccentric dane and oddball audience participation to the stage.  Ottumwa is a community where we would like to share Kirk's high-class performance with people that would not normally be able to afford such a gift.  Last year we received a $300 grant from United Way to give free and reduced tickets out to area low-income families.  Some of the tickets given were to Big Brother Big Sisters, foster families, and the women's crises center.  This year we would like to extend this service to senior citizens living in low-income housing units in town.  The $500 you would give us would serve 100 seniors.  In turn we would match your funds with 100 more reduced price tickets available only to our low-income elders.We will be elated to serve our senior citizens!  Please help us share the joy, laughter and fun of Kirk Marsh with our whole community! 

Project Description

We live in a very small town in central Oklahoma. Our town has less than 500 people. We don't have any health clubs or boys and girls clubs for the people to use. We do have a very large, and beautiful park with some playground equipment and two baseball fields. What we are working on is building a fitness trail that everyone in our community can use.

The fitness trail will be a one mile long by 4 foot wide lighted path around the outside of the park. One quarter mile of the path will go through the woods. The city park, named Tiger Park, is located at the cener of town. The fitness trail will be asphalt because many of the people who are going to use the trail are senior citizens. We want the trail to have a smooth surface so no one will trip and fall. We want the trail to have lights so there is a safe place to exercise in the winter in the evening time.

We are naming the trail after some very good people who died in a plane crash. They used to do a lot of things to help the people in our community. The lady who died had very pretty flower gardens. Her family gave us some of her plants and when the trail is finished we will plant them along the edge of the trail. We will also be researching all the native plants along the trail and marking them so that as people walk they can get to learn about the plants.

Project Description

In my area there are many elders at the senior citizen centers that have family that hardly ever visit. For the past summer all they said that they wanted to do is just get supplies and bead and quilt and just make crafts and regalia to keep our culture alive. I am from the Rosebud Reservation and I would like to give the senior citizens beading, quilting and other supplies and whatever they make we can sell and try and keep it (the project) up. This will hopefully make regalia easier to find and let it be possible for the youth to get their outfits and start dancing. I am hoping that this will make the senior citizens happy and in turn keep our culture alive and keep the youth out of the streets and in the pow wows dancing and representing. Right nw we can't get the project off the ground without the proper funding and support and hopefully a grant will help.

Project Description

MAP (Medical Assistance Program) provides financial assistance through grants to eligible recipients. It includes assistance with:

Prescription Cost (Service includes prescription purchases during Medicare Part D time gaps )
In-home personal care (Service includes Home Health Assistant for the caregiver)
Utility Payments (Assistance includes lights, water, and natural gas)
Transportation (Assistance includes round-trip fees/fares to doctor and dental appointments, etc.)

I make no claim nor embrace the belief that I can change all factors affecting independent-living seniors. However, working with one senior, one community, one county, one city, or one town at a time, I feel everyone can Make the Difference in the lives and lifestyles of the senior population.