FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation – THANK YOU!
Traverse City, MI – January 25, 2016 – Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation Trustee Evelyn Richardson and dance coach Richard Dodge danced their way into the record books. The duo’s efforts raised a record-breaking $155,472 in the 2015 Traverse Bay Region SwingShift and the Stars Dance-Off for Charity. Richardson was paired with professional coach Dodge, who began teaching dance in 1988. The pair danced to raise money for PACE, Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly.
The story is about an entire community coming out to embrace and support Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation in their drive to bring PACE to our region. This total includes support from the whole community including: volunteers, donors, corporate sponsors, Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation Board, and Grand Traverse County Department of Health & Human Services Board.
PACE provides comprehensive care for nursing home eligible older adults so they can remain living safely with a high quality of life in their own homes – for life. The Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation is leading this charge through the “Power of PACE” capital campaign.
The “Power of PACE” is the campaign to raise $1.5 million needed to create the PACE Day Health Center. Because of the remarkable generosity and commitment of this community the Foundation has raised $1.1 million - and the momentum is rising.
“Even before SwingShift, Evelyn did an amazing job promoting the potential a PACE program has for improving the lives of our frail seniors and their family of caregivers in this community,” said Korvyn Hansen, Administrator/CEO Grand Traverse Pavilions. “She really stepped out of her comfort zone and into the spotlight all to bring awareness and raise money for a cause she believes passionately in. We are extremely grateful to her and to Richard for their immense dedication and hard work.”
“The PACE program will be a gift to our region providing a safe environment for our frail seniors to remain living in their own homes, as well as provide needed support for caregivers,” Richardson says. “Too many times individuals waste away due to the isolation without social interaction or the ability to obtain adequate health care. The opportunity to have medical care, therapies, nutritious meals, social interaction and a purpose in life will re-energize the individual and ideally improve their health – both mentally and physically.”
Richardson has served on the board of the Grand Traverse Pavilions Foundation since 1999, and is a past Treasurer, Vice President, and President of the board. Her long commitment to serving the elderly population stems from a long career in nursing. She holds RN and BSN degrees and is an adult and geriatric RN Patient Advocate. She has served in the Nurse Corps for the U.S. Navy, the District Health Department, Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Michigan, Michigan Public Health Institute and as President of Health Care Coordinates. She currently serves Priority Health as a Case Manager. Richardson’s nursing passion has been assisting older adults in maintaining their health and achieving their quality of life in their preferred setting, which is most often in their home.
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