MESSAGE FROM THE CEO
Dear Friends,
In thinking about the message I wanted to deliver for the month of August, I decided to check out special days that are recognized this month and, low and behold, I learned something new....August 21st is National Senior Citizens Day. While I have never seen a greeting card that was intended for any of us to send to an elder (or, in my case, a card I should be receiving!), it bears noting that recognizing the contributions and lives of seniors is something that should be embraced in our actions on a daily basis. In his Presidential Proclamation (August 19, 1988), then President Ronald Reagan said, "For all they have achieved throughout life and for all they continue to accomplish, we owe older citizens our thanks and heartfelt salute. We can best demonstrate our gratitude and esteem by making sure that our communities are good places in which to mature and grow older."
I feel certain that we here at the Home do exactly as President Reagan suggested. As we actualize our mission of service to low and modest income elders of our community, we strive to enrich lives and recognize the strengths in each and every individual we serve. In communion with you -- our families, friends, and supporters -- we will continue to celebrate our elder community and work to secure the Home for future generations of seniors.
Ward
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Spotlight on Resident Gloria Thornburgh
Toni Jones, dancer and author, came to the Home to pay a special tribute to Gloria Thornburgh. Toni, who is in town doing research for a book on dancer and choreographer, Alvin Ailey, discovered that Gloria was a resident of the Home. As it turns out, Toni's cousin had a relative who resided at the Home and told her about Gloria, who had been a dancer years ago with the Katherine Dunham Company. Toni arranged to come to the Home and perform a dance number choreographed by Katherine Dunham as a tribute to Gloria. In her remarks, Toni, thanked Gloria for "her contribution not only to her life as a dancer, but to that of the dance world."
Gloria attended Dunbar High School in Washington, DC, and joined the Katherine Dunham Company as a young woman of 21. She traveled around the world with the Company and performed in the movie "Casbah." Her roommate at one time was Eartha Kitt, whom they called "Kitty" and Gloria was once asked out on a date by television variety show icon, Ed Sullivan (whom she turned down). She describes her dance costumes "as close to being naked as you can get and still be legal." She recalled how disappointing it felt to be a black performer during the years of segregation, saying, "You dance your heart out for the white audience and then you can't even go to the bar for a drink." Subsequently, Gloria married and had two children. She became a real estate agent and eventually moved into the Home several years ago where she enjoys listening to music and painting in art class.
Toni Jones performs a number choreographed by Katherine Dunham
Gloria Thornburgh, center with Toni Jones, right
National Immunization Awareness Month
National Immunization Month is in August. Not only is this a good time for children to be immunized before going back to school, but it is a reminder that immunization is a very important preventative health measure everyone should take seriously. Vaccines are necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Some diseases that many had thought were eradicated have reappeared, such as polio and measles. It's important that as many people get immunized as possible; by neglecting to do so, you are undercutting the effectiveness of protecting your own family and the community at large.
The Home was recently recognized by DC Health and Qlarant, and DC Quality Improvement Organization for its participation in the "Adult Immunizations Pilot Project Nursing Home Reporting and Use of the District of Columbia Immunization Information System" (DOCllS). The Home supplied the resident immunization records data (via hard copy) to the DC Adult Immunization Coordinator in June 2019 which was then recorded manually into the Immunization Registry. The new immunization registry is designed to help nursing homes obtain adult immunization histories and meet compliance reporting through electronic transmission of immunization records. The Home was one of four of the top immunization performing nursing homes recruited to participate in the project by both the DC Health and Qlarant.
Residents Enjoy Uplifting Musical Choir
The residents of the Home clapped and sang along to a wonderful performance by the Bridgeway Inspirational Choir, directed by Darrion Gates (center). The choir, founded in 2017, is made up of individuals with intellectual disabilities and is part of the Bridgeway Community Services, a provider with the DC Department of Disability Services. Mr. Gates has been working in musical therapy for 20 years and says that "Our music represents anything that will inspire you, from gospel to Michael Jackson. It makes you feel good. It has taken a lot of practice and repetition to create this unbelievable ensemble. We are all really pleased." The choir meets twice a week for rehearsal and performs in venues throughout the city.
Shirley Simon celebrates her 100th birthday at the Home
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THANK YOU TO OUR 80TH ANNIVERSARY
CELEBRATION SPONSORS
Platinum
The John Dickson Home
The Henry and Annie Hurt Home for the Blind
The Elizabeth R. Shoemaker Home
Gold
Hamilton Insurance Agency
The Louise Home
Matthew and Joanne Tobriner
Silver
Allied Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.
Bank of America
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Hertzbach & Company, P.A.
Hysong Funeral Home
LINK Strategic Partners
Medline Industries, Inc.
Somerset Development Company, LLC.
Bronze
Bollinger Energy Corporation
Brightstar Communications, Inc.
Cooper & Crickman, PLLC
Douglas Development Corporation
Enginuiti, Inc.
The Family Council of the LLDH Home
Matthew and Lena Frumin
KeyBank
Jeremy and Suzanne Landsman/Avenue Real Estate
Carole B. Lewis,
DPT, GCS, GTC, MPA, PhD, PSOAE, FAPTA,
Joel and Carolyn Nazdin
New Community Partners
OnePoint Partners
L. Ward Orem
David and Connie Povich
The Resident Council of the LLDH Home
Marta Anne Schneider, MD
Friend
Aquagy/Watersolv Inc.
Bay City Pest Management, Inc.
Blauch and Associates, LLC
EuroMotorcars
EYA, LLC
Scott and Sue Hargreaves
Jackson & Campbell, P.C.
HPSI Purchasing Services, LLC
Jackson & Campbell
Thorn and Sharis Pozen
Radiation Physics, Inc.
Regional Construction Company, Inc.
The Charitable Foundation of the Washington (DC) Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
FY 2019/2020 GRANTS
Ada and Albert Wibel Foundation
Aid Association for the Blind of the District of Columbia
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3E
DC Commission on the Arts
and Humanities
S. Kann Sons Company Foundation
The Elizabeth R. Shoemaker Home
The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation
WORKPLACE
GIVING
CAMPAIGNS
I
f your workplace has a giving program, please consider supporting the Home.
Your pre-tax deduction will make a huge difference to the residents.
LLDHH designation numbers are:
United Way #8007
CFC #2502
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