Doris Hudson Gives A Performance We Will Remember

doris hudsonIn 2015, trumpeter, Dr. Jesse McGuire, began a new tradition for the Senior Awards Luncheon, i.e., playing of the National Anthem.  His rendition was heartfelt and was especially poignant given the presence of the Archer-Ragsdale Arizona Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.  We wanted the 2016 National Anthem performance to be just as special.  A friend asked us to consider Doris Hudson to sing the Anthem.  I thought it would be difficult for a non-musician to follow Dr. McGuire’s 2015 performance.  However, I found myself once again stepping out on faith and not by sight and Doris Hudson was added to the program to perform the singing of the National Anthem.  I am so thankful we did this.  The moment Doris began to sing, a metamorphosis came over the room.  It was as if we were transformed in time and place that gave rise to a feeling I had never experienced before.  This was a special moment in the history of our event not unlike Whitney Houston’s performance in 1991 during Super Bowl XXV.  Apparently, Doris Hudson is a classically trained singer and currently sings with the Praise and Worship Team at her local church.  Thank you, Doris Hudson, for a great performance, we will always remember.  Doris Hudson is the Service Coordinator at Sunnyslope Manor.

Launch of New Program to Improve Grandparent’s Health

Launch of New Program to Improve Grandparent’s Health

Gregory’s Fresh Market is excited to be selected along with Future Stars and Life Paradigms to receive a grant from the African American Women’s Giving and Empowerment Circle, a fund of the Arizona Community Foundation. The grant will enable Gregory’s Fresh Market to launch a new program called Grandparents Healthy Champions (GHC). The program empowers African American women by increasing their knowledge of chronic disease self-management and resources available to make healthy lifestyle choices. 

Many grandparents are susceptible to becoming ill because they are so focused on caring for their grandchildren 24/7 that they neglect their own health. This  can have a devastating effect on the children and the family.  In grandparent-led households, 38% report that their health declined since taking care of their grandchildren. Gregory’s Fresh Market, a division of Diana Gregory Outreach Services has created an interactive 12-week program facilitated by a mobile farmers market, mobile health screening and preventative health education workshops for the grandparents at Grandfamilies Place of Phoenix. Each participant receives a weekly bag of produce and easy to prepare recipes.

The center for Disease and Control has issued several epidemics regarding health issues. The health consequences of obesity and lack of access to healthy choices include coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cancers, high cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides, liver and gallbladder disease, sleep apnea, and respiratory problems. Through the mobile health program, information will be provided to address health issues.

 

The Senior Awards Getting Better With Time

The Senior Awards Getting Better With Time

alfredo-awardThe Diana Gregory 2016 Senior Awards Luncheon was held on September 30th at the Camby Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. This was the fifth year for our awards ceremony and just when I thought we reached our peak last year, many were left saying we continue to get better year after year. For 2016, we made a few changes to keep our program fresh and to keep our attendees guessing a little. We added new award categories in the areas of Living Legacy, Health, Corporate Philanthropy, and Athlete of the Year. This allowed us to recognize 6 extraordinary seniors who transformed their communities by standing in service to the needs of others.

Mrs. White received the Living Legacy Award for her vision and hard work in creating Mrs. White’s Golden Rule Café, a staple in Arizona for over 50 years. During her acceptance speech, she talked about the overriding factor that motivated her to succeed in a tough competitive business – her children. Through her hard work and vision, Mrs. White was able to not only serve our community with great delicacies but to also educate her children to become successful in the world of academia and business. Due to her legacy, three restaurants have been opened and are owned by her grandson under the name of Lolo’s Chicken and Waffles and there are many franchises.

Dr. Leland Fairbanks received our award for his pioneering work to ban smoking in public places. Though it is very difficult for us to envision today, smoking was once prevalent in of all places, hospitals. This is where Dr. Fairbanks focused his initial efforts. Once he convinced the Native American Hospital System to ban smoking in its hospitals, other hospitals around the country took note and began to follow suit. “The key to change,” he said, “is to get someone to start an initiative. Once that happens, others will take note and follow suit,” he noted. Dr. Fairbanks also commented on the importance of diversity among medical professionals in minority communities.

Sue Glawe received the Corporate Philanthropy award. She is a stellar model for seniors serving in corporate America and each day, she emulates the culture at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, which focuses on improving quality of life.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was being presented to Alfredo Gutierrez. He is an author, immigration activist, former state senator and president of the Governing Board of Maricopa Community College.

The Honorable Cecil Patterson, a retired judge from the Arizona Court of Appeals, has shared his time, talents, and mentoring skill with countless community organizations, boards, and committees. He received the Dick Gregory Humanitarian award.

Our attendees were captivated by the story of 86-year-old nun, Sister Madonna Buder, who is the feature of a Nike commercial titled Unlimited Youth which aired during the luncheon. The commercial chronicled Sister Buder’s participation in more than 45 triathlons and countless marathons and races. When Susan Casper asked what makes you do what you do during her Sonoran Living segment earlier in the day, Sister Buder replied, “I don’t know, I just do it,” as if wired into a Nike commercial. Nothing could be further from the truth, however, as Sister Buder is more committed to the work with the prisons and others as part of her religious order in Spokane, Washington.Upon receiving our “Athlete of the Year” award, Sister Buder quipped “the only thing I have truly succeeded in doing, is growing old.”

We added a fashion show moderated by Kay Oliver and produced by A Joyous Event Planning & Management. The models for the show were seniors, some of whom had been honored at previous awards luncheons. Vickie Moe, at age 103 strutted across the stage with an ease that those a century her junior would envy. Dr. Gladys McGarey,  Dr. Josephine Pete, Barbara Atkins, L. Elaine Neal, and Wilma Osborne were also featured and were recognized with an award for their outstanding work in the community. The contemporary clothing for the fashion show was provided by Worth New York which wowed the audience almost as much as the special models.

This event is a reminder to the seniors participating that you are never too old to go beyond their natural age. This event is most impactful and meaningful for many seniors sitting in luncheon who share in the pride that they have contributed so much over the years and continue doing, as if to say “so, see us, value us and love us.”

Sponsors for the luncheon include: ONECare by Care1st Health Plan Arizona, Inc.; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Southwest Airlines; Cox Communications Inc., Henkel, Phoenix IDA, Arizona Foundation for Women; AARP, Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona Public Service, Carstens Family Funds, Arizonans Concerned About Smoking, Arizona Informant, and Majerle’s Sports Grill.

 

Elaine Ryan, AARP’s Vice-President of State Advocacy and Strategy Integration

Elaine Ryan, AARP’s Vice-President of State Advocacy and Strategy Integration

The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) is fast becoming a key part of our annual awards luncheon. Last year’s Community Collaboration Award recipient was the AARP’s Lester Strong.  He is followed this year by Elaine Ryan, AARP’s Vice-President of State Advocacy and Strategy Integration (SASI) in its Government Affairs group.  Elaine’s record of accomplishment has been stellar.  She has been involved in the enactment and implementation of such important laws as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, the Medicare Modernization Act, the Ticket to Work Act for persons with disabilities, the McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth and the creation of the first federal office of Women’s Health Research.  In addition, Elaine was instrumental in pushing through the AARP’s Caregiver Advise, Record, Enable (CARE) Act.  Under this law, before a hospital can release a patient, it must first  identify a family caregiver and educate them of the medical tasks necessary to properly care for the patient at home. At least thirty-three states already have approved a CARE Act, including California, Delaware, New York, and New Jersey.

ERyan and DGDuring the luncheon, Elaine Ryan spoke about her own experiences as an unofficial caregiver for her ailing parents. She described how she had to travel every other weekend from Washington to upstate NY to prepare meals and dispense medicine.  During her speech, she also reminded us of the indefatigable human spirit when she told us the time her father first became a homeowner – at age 83.  He lived in that house for 9 years until he died.  She also talked about before the advent of the mechanical lift and how her father once jerry-rigged a device to lift his wife from her wheelchair to the bed.

At AARP, Elaine focuses on a 50-state effort to pass legislation and regulations to help family caregivers (the majority of whom are unpaid) fill the big gaps found in the U.S. long-term health care system.  One study shows that 90 percent of long-term care in the United States is provided by family caregivers.

To  help bridge that gap, Ryan’s group works on a broad range of legislation that includes bills that will give nurses more authority to provide care, including writing prescriptions.  This bill will save time and money spent on unnecessary doctor visits.  Other bills would broaden access to respite care, sick leave, and job protection for workers who are forced to take time off from work to care for a loved one.

Once again we salute Elaine Ryan for her lifetime of service and achievement in health advocacy.  It is with great pleasure and honor that we recognize Elaine Ryan as our 2016 recipient of the Diana Gregory Outreach Services Community Collaboration Award.

Sister Madonna Buder will receive the Athlete of the Year Award at the 5th Annual Senior Awards

Sister Madonna Buder will receive the Athlete of the Year Award at the 5th Annual Senior Awards

“Keep Trying, Your Effort in itself is a Success”

I am inspired by Sister Madonna Buder’s commitment and dedication to physical fitness, health, and nutrition. She is a champion for seniors and she “walks the talk”.

What she has been able to accomplish in her extraordinary life has been exceptional. Sister Madonna Buder has been selected to receive the Athlete of the Year Award at the 5th Annual Senior Awards Luncheon.  She will share her journey and speak on healthy aging.  She is an inspiration for seniors to keep moving.

 

What People Should Know About Sister Madonna Buder

 

  • She began running on April 1st, 1978 (at age 47) for exercise and spiritual freedom.
  • Her first race was the 1978 Bloomsday, a mere 5 weeks after she started running.
  • She ran her first triathlon at age 52 and her first Ironman triathlon at age 55.
  • She has run seven marathons including the Boston Marathon 5 times.
  • She has competed in over 370 + triathlon races around the world.
  • She has competed in 45 full “Ironman” triathlons (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle, and 26.2-mile run).
  • She is an Ironman World Champion and World Record holder several times over.
  • She is affectionately known as the “Iron Nun”.
  • She is enshrined in several halls-of-fame.
  • She has helped raise thousands of dollars for charity.
  • She holds two Master’s degrees.
  • She has published her autobiography.
  • She is a Spokane Camera Club Lifetime member.
  • She has continued to run races all over the world…and still runs!

For more information, click on the link below.

http://5thdgosfawards.eventbrite.com

Sister Madonna Buder

Sister Madonna Buder

 

“I’ve learned other life lessons along the way, but the ones that I’d look back and tell my twenty-something self now are: It’s not what you say, it’s what you do; don’t pay attention to how old you are, only focus on how old you feel; and be patient — one of my worst enemies is patience, I’m still trying to fine-tune it so that I’m able to stop and smell the roses.”