While the mission of Sound Generations is to promote the well-being of older adults, it cannot be ignored that older adults are critical to our ability to carry out our work as volunteers, donors, staff and community leaders. As we near the end of 2017, we wanted to recognize just a few who have inspired us this year:
Charlesetta McDowell, longtime Enhance®Fitness Instructor at the Central Area Senior Center, received the 2017 Washington State Enhance®Fitness Instructor of the Year award!
Enhance®Fitness is a program designed especially for older adults and proven to improve physical and social function, decrease depression, save healthcare dollars, and decrease unplanned hospitalizations. Learn more here.
Shanta and Ramesh Gangolli have volunteered for a combined 34 years with Sound Generations’ Volunteer Transportation program. They have not only given hundreds of seniors rides to medical appointments, but have helped recruit many other volunteers to join them. The Gangollis were honored at our 50th Anniversary Golden Gala with our Stellar Volunteer Award.
The Gangollis are just one example of the dedication shown by our Volunteer Drivers, many of whom stick with the program for years. One driver, 85 year-old “C.E.” only recently left his volunteer role after fourteen years when he developed cancer. his generosity, and the generosity of all of our volunteers, has made a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of our seniors in King County.
Volunteer Transportation provides more than 6,300 older adults each year with safe, reliable rides to medical appointments throughout King County. Learn more here.
Finally, we wanted to give one more “shout out” to the incredible recipients and nominees of our annual Inspire Positive Aging Awards (IPAA).
Folks like Frederick Geraldsen–who is still volunteering as a Meals on Wheels delivery driver at 91 years old–are an inspiration to us all.
Read more about this year’s IPAA recipients here. If you know someone you’d like to nominate 2018, keep an eye out for nominations to open in January.
We are honored to have worked with so many incredible older adults this year, and look forward to another great year in 2018!