Great Age Movement….Inaugural Fundraiser Raises over $50,000 For Senior Playgrounds

The folks that made this inaugural launch of the Great Age Movement such a fun and upbeat luncheon event included, GAM founder, Fritz McDonald, Honoree, Welcome Wilson Sr., Luncheon Co-chair Carolyn Farb, Karen Deguerin, MC Ernie Manouse and Co-chair NY jeweler, Peter Martino. Also co-chairing (not pictured) was Tony Award winning actress, Liliane Montevecchi.

Sorry to be late with this but many family issues have gotten in the way, however, my tardiness in telling you about this in no way reflects my enthusiasm for this project!  What an exciting day a few weeks back when we all gathered on a Sunday (I rarely go to Sunday events but this one had my curiosity spiked!). It was a Jazz Brunch, and from the time the doors opened to Bubba Duo singing “Stand By Me”, I was taken by the energy in the room and became committed to this cause.  For two reasons…..it’s a subject matter that we are all going to get to at some point, that Golden Age, hopefully. Some of us closer than others so it reached home and secondly I was wildly inspired by Fritz McDonald who I had no idea has committed 20 years of his life to serving as a geriatric rehabilitation therapist. The insight that he has gained from his own experiences recovering from a catastrophic event is what lead to this moment!

The Great Age Movement is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2016 with the goal to build senior playgrounds throughout the City of Houston in public parks and provide volunteer programs that through keeping seniors active, promotes health, learning, and socialization. Once established, other outdoor activities including yoga, dance, stretching, and educational classes focused on mental and spiritual wellness will be added to the repertoire at the senior playground sites. (I must say I had visions in my head of that latest Nancy Meyers film, The Intern, where we saw scenes of the Intern, played by Robert DeNiro performing these activities with other seniors in a Brooklyn, NY park.) I understand other cities have been doing this and Houston needs to get on the case and start making this happen for our seniors…..as we live longer, we want to ensure that we live healthier as well!

Inspirational speeches were given by all involved….with the lead coming from Fritz McDonald who I quote as saying “Sadly, senior community programs are few and far between in our society. We as a society must remedy this.”

There were many inspirational speeches through the Jazz Brunch…..Dr. Carolyn Farb quipped, “And to quote George Bernard Shaw: we don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing.”

Fritz McDonald, Welcome Wilson Sr., Lori Freese and Peter Remington.  Welcome Wilson, Sr., received the first G.A.M. Award which honors a senior in our community who exemplifies both personal and civic achievements for the betterment of our society.

 

Jessica Rossman, Gordon Bethune, Carolyn Farb…..Bethune presented Mayor Sylvester Turner’s proclamation to GAM founder, Fritz McDonald, proclaiming, Sunday June 4, 2017, Great Age Movement Day in Houston. Bethune also commented, “Until I met Fritz McDonald, I had no idea what a senior playground was….and now I plan to become a big advocate.”

Great Age Movement Group Photo of Fritz McDonald and all of the friends that made this event happen

Jo Furr, Jim Furr, Karen Degeurin

Fritz McDonald and Joanne King Herring

One of the key spokesperson’s for this movement, the amazingly beautiful fashion model, Carmen Dell’Orefice, scheduled to be in from NY to speak, unfortunately took a horrible fall before the luncheon but still took a moment to express her support of the Great Age Movement through a live telephone interview with event M.C. Ernie Manouse from Houston Public Media. “I am so excited to be part of a movement that can effect a change for the better for the older generation,” said Dell’Orefice. 

This first fundraiser of what will no doubt be many more, enjoyed the support of some of Houston’s brightest stars, including Gordon Bethune and Jessica Rossman, Welcome Wilson Sr., Dr. Carolyn Farb, Joanne King Herring, Arthur and Philomena Baird, artist Graydon Parrish, McKay Otto, George Lancaster and many more. Silent auction was spectacular and helped tremendously towards the success of the event…..Jewelry from Peter Martino, some fab custom art from Patty Lennon-Potter, just to name a few!

photos courtesy of G.A.M.