2023 Luncheon
On June 7th, Sound Generations honored 25 aging adults within the categories of Advocacy & Activism, Community Service, Defining Inspiration, Health & Wellness, Intergenerational Impact, and Lifelong Learning. We had an amazing afternoon celebrating the uniqueness and beauty of aging!
If you couldn’t attend this year, consider donating to support aging adults and the wonderful things they do!
Questions about this event? Want to get involved for 2024? Reach out to Mackensie Lewis, mackensiel@soundgenerations.org.
2023 IPAA Winners
Congratulations to the 18th Annual Inspire Positive Aging Award Winners!
Helen Sawyer
Advocacy & Activism
Miss Helen wholeheartedly believes in the importance of kinship care and support. Miss Helen learned early on how critical the need for support was to the success of raising family and she opened her heart accordingly. She has advocated in front of senators and representatives in Olympia, WA and Washington, D.C. on behalf of kinship caregivers. Her personal experience and connection to the community gave her tireless dedication to making life better for caregivers and the children they raised. She offered her determination and expertise to all willing to listen, learn and provide support for this vital work. Miss Helen is a kinship caregiver herself, caring for her own family members when they need it most. Miss Helen facilitated a kinship support group for three organizations and founded the Second Chance Kinship Support Group. She has helped found the Washington State Kinship Oversight Committee and the Advisory Council of the King County Kinship Committee. Miss Helen has done so much to shine a light on kinship caregivers and continues to be a beacon of hope and support.
Tammy Smith
Community Service
Tammy has many talents and is always eager to share them. She has been a dedicated volunteer at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center since 2003. Tammy was initially the front-desk receptionist, and later on she began volunteering in the kitchen. Tammy has since been part of the Community Dining program. She pays special attention to personal details which has earned her the reputation of being a ‘ray of sunshine’ to all. She helps prepare and serve food to the older adults and knows all the food allergies and preferences of the individuals she serves. Her positive, happy spirit resonates throughout the center on the days she is present. Through her personal activities in the community, she visits several seniors every week in their homes. She brings them meals, gifts, and always gives them her time to chat, laugh and share hugs. Participants and staff deeply love her alike at Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center. When we speak of our staff, she is always included as a critical part of our success story.
Bienvenida “Bene” Credo
Defining Inspiration
Bienvenida (Bene) has been an AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion volunteer with Volunteers of America and then Homage for 15 years. She reliably serves and supports her elder clients, some based at IDIC Filipino Senior and Family Services. She offers them social support through weekly visits and phone calls, helping them participate in programs and enjoy lunches, along with visiting or calling a newer client who now lives in assisted living. As Bene continues to generously give her time through the program, she recalls that it has not always been easy. Many of her original clients have passed away and she has cared for her beloved family members in their times of need. Her desire to serve and stay connected to others is helping her through these difficult transitions. Bene is a wonderful role model for how to help others regardless of age. She is eager to help her clients stay connected, enjoy bingo, attend the foodbank or remain socially connected to others. She doesn’t let her age stop her from helping and supporting others to live their best lives.
Jack MacKinnon
Health & Wellness
Jack has led a full and interesting life! He moved across the country by himself from the East Coast to Seattle after retiring and created a whole new, active life. His hobbies include softball, gardening, drawing and painting. He had two large plots at his community gardening space, and created a program to help supply the local food bank called the J. Mac Charity Garden. One plot is set aside for the food bank, and all those with community gardens commit to a certain amount of time helping in the food bank plot. They donate between 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of fresh food each year to Hopelink. As noted above, the plot has been named after Jack, and will continue to contribute many pounds of fresh food for those with low incomes in our community for years to come! Through his daily actions, he has shown people around him that it is never too late to engage in physical activity, to find a new love or to support your community.
Mike Standard
Intergenerational Impact
Mike is a caregiver, informally and formally, in his community. Within the community of older adults that he lives in, residents turn to him for support with daily tasks. Caregiving is a very difficult job for anyone, but Mike offers a helping hand willingly and enthusiastically. Additionally, Mike has embraced digital change and is excited to engage with new ways of doing things. In an industry where it’s typically the younger taking care of the older, Mike is a mold-breaker as he’s actually taking care of clients who are younger. What an inspiration! Mike also works with students at the Eastside Academy. The students say “Mike Standard is anything BUT standard… he’s Supreme!” They love engaging with Mike and hearing what he has to say. Mike leans in to listen to everyone he meets, especially the youth. Mike inspires those around him to be involved in the lives of others. The students he works with are watching and observing. They see the positive and lasting impact of Mike’s actions.
Patty Zeitlin (In Memoriam)
Lifelong Learning
Patty was a prolific songwriter, singer, storyteller and poet and she delighted all ages with her cleverly composed caring songs about a variety of topics from creatures to social causes. She performed with genuine feeling and movement, captivating the audience and taking us with her to magical places. Her love of sharing her sweet and meaningful messages through song and story was evident and infectious. Patty’s enthusiasm and positive vision for what she dreamed of creating never ceased. Despite her physical setbacks, her spirit was not daunted, and her vision was fixed on the things she still wanted to achieve. She was a long time dedicated practitioner and trainer of nonviolent communication (NVC) and the teachings were deeply integrated into her being. Her multifaceted talents were vast, from the calming influences of her NVC training to possibly being the oldest rap singer! Patty was an ageless troubadour for the times and a treasure, and she gifted others with her many talents and positive spirit. Her friends would like to shine the light on her in appreciation, gratitude and love. Patty passed away on March 17, 2023, St. Patrick’s Day. Her community now refers to the day as “St. Patty’s Day” in honor of their beloved friend.
Past IPAA Recipients and Nominees
Since 2006, the IPAA Luncheon has honored and recognized hundreds of nominees and stellar award recipients, chosen by a panel of board members, staff, and members of the community.
Meet our past Inspire Positive Aging Awards recipients and nominees.