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03-17-2016, 01:49 PM
Sports have always played an integral role in my life. At only three years old, my grandfather would toss candy bars down the mountain as an incentive to learn how to ski. After he taught me the basics my dad took over as my coach and before I knew it, I had gone from bunny hill to black diamond and eventually became the youngest male to ever make the US Ski Team. Spending quality time with my grandfather were some of the fondest memories I have growing up and something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. Having that connection with my grandfather means so much to me and is a reminder that sports truly does bring people together across generations.
Eight years ago, I started Wish of a Lifetime (WOL) (http://wishofalifetime.org/), a non-profit that grants lifelong wishes to seniors across the country. As a result, and with the support of our founding sponsor Brookdale Senior Living, we have granted over 1,000 individual wishes in all 50 states. Through WOL, I have had the opportunity to meet countless men and women who have given back to our country throughout their lives. What a pleasure it is to be able to grant them a wish. Many of the wishes we receive are from seniors reaching out in hopes of attending a game with their son or daughter, connecting with a sports hero that has inspired them or even to attend their first sporting event. Hearing from all of these men and women is truly an ode to sports as a timeless and unifying pastime.
As we come up on March Madness, a time of year cherished by many sports fans, I wanted to share some of our most recent sports wishes that have been granted through our organization:
John Bucari, a 93-year-old resident of North Carolina's Brookdale Reynolda Road, is a Duke basketball fanatic. For more than 50 years, John had cheered on his favorite team while watching Coach Krzyzewski lead legendary players to multiple championship victories. Even with Duke only an hour and a half away, John had never seen a game in person. On December 28, 2015, we granted John's wish to attend a Duke basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time. John cheered on the Blue Devils alongside the infamous Cameron Crazies as the team took down Elon 105-66 just months after winning their fifth NCAA Championship. To make the night even more historic, former Duke basketball star Shelden Williams was also in the crowd.
Phyllis Kronmiller, an 84-year-old resident of Brookdale Salina Fairdale in Kansas, wasn't always a Kansas Jayhawks fan until she married her husband many years ago. While Phyllis didn't initially embrace the team, now you can't even get her away from the TV when the Jayhawks are playing. Even though she is an avid fan, Phyllis has not been to a Jayhawks game in more than 20 years. To fulfill her wish to see them play in person once more, we sent Phyllis to cheer on the Jayhawks in a December 19, 2015 victory against the Montana Grizzlies at Allen Fieldhouse. Although Phyllis wanted to attend the game with her husband before he passed, she said, "I had enough fun for the two of us!" Phyllis rooted for the Jayhawks from floor seats and even met her favorite player, Perry Ellis, after the game. Phyllis also received 11 other player autographs and enjoyed a special tour of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics.
Many of these heroes lives are also shaped by professional basketball. Lifelong basketball fan Larry Perleman, an 84-year-old resident of Brookdale North Boynton Beach, quickly became a Miami Heat fan when he moved to Florida a little more than ten years ago. Despite his admiration for LeBron James, Larry has only attended one Heat game. While watching the team play on TV recently, Larry expressed how much he would love to attend another. On March 1, 2016, Larry's wish was granted when he cheered on the Heat against the Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Arena in Miami with his son.
Professional football is also beloved by Americans of all ages. 83-year-old Carolyn Merrill, of Brookdale Willow Lake, has been a diehard Colts fan since the team moved to Indianapolis more than 30 years ago. Carolyn and her husband always watched the games together on TV, but never had a chance to attend a live game. Her wish to see the Colts play was fulfilled on December 20, 2015 when she attended a game at Lucas Oil Stadium and met a few of the players, including her favorite player, Andrew Luck.
One of America's favorite pastimes, baseball, is loved at every age. Although Doris Sage, 98, was born and raised in Oklahoma, she has rooted for the Texas Rangers for more than 20 years. While she used to enjoy playing semi-pro softball, her current health condition no longer allows her to participate in physically challenging activities. Doris, who has lived in Brookdale Oklahoma City West longer than any other resident, professed that she would love to see a Rangers game live in person if she were in better health. Since this would not be feasible, she had wished to somehow be recognized by the team. On December 31, 2015, the Rangers sent Doris an autographed baseball from her favorite player, Michael Young, along with a Michael Young baseball card, and a personalized letter thanking Doris for her lifelong support. Doris was presented with these items at a baseball-themed party at her community.
These seniors' favorite sports teams have inspired them for most of their lives. By giving them the opportunity to connect with their favorite teams on a personal level, we fulfilled their wishes of a lifetime. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=terms.html/) It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
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Eight years ago, I started Wish of a Lifetime (WOL) (http://wishofalifetime.org/), a non-profit that grants lifelong wishes to seniors across the country. As a result, and with the support of our founding sponsor Brookdale Senior Living, we have granted over 1,000 individual wishes in all 50 states. Through WOL, I have had the opportunity to meet countless men and women who have given back to our country throughout their lives. What a pleasure it is to be able to grant them a wish. Many of the wishes we receive are from seniors reaching out in hopes of attending a game with their son or daughter, connecting with a sports hero that has inspired them or even to attend their first sporting event. Hearing from all of these men and women is truly an ode to sports as a timeless and unifying pastime.
As we come up on March Madness, a time of year cherished by many sports fans, I wanted to share some of our most recent sports wishes that have been granted through our organization:
John Bucari, a 93-year-old resident of North Carolina's Brookdale Reynolda Road, is a Duke basketball fanatic. For more than 50 years, John had cheered on his favorite team while watching Coach Krzyzewski lead legendary players to multiple championship victories. Even with Duke only an hour and a half away, John had never seen a game in person. On December 28, 2015, we granted John's wish to attend a Duke basketball game at Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time. John cheered on the Blue Devils alongside the infamous Cameron Crazies as the team took down Elon 105-66 just months after winning their fifth NCAA Championship. To make the night even more historic, former Duke basketball star Shelden Williams was also in the crowd.
Phyllis Kronmiller, an 84-year-old resident of Brookdale Salina Fairdale in Kansas, wasn't always a Kansas Jayhawks fan until she married her husband many years ago. While Phyllis didn't initially embrace the team, now you can't even get her away from the TV when the Jayhawks are playing. Even though she is an avid fan, Phyllis has not been to a Jayhawks game in more than 20 years. To fulfill her wish to see them play in person once more, we sent Phyllis to cheer on the Jayhawks in a December 19, 2015 victory against the Montana Grizzlies at Allen Fieldhouse. Although Phyllis wanted to attend the game with her husband before he passed, she said, "I had enough fun for the two of us!" Phyllis rooted for the Jayhawks from floor seats and even met her favorite player, Perry Ellis, after the game. Phyllis also received 11 other player autographs and enjoyed a special tour of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics.
Many of these heroes lives are also shaped by professional basketball. Lifelong basketball fan Larry Perleman, an 84-year-old resident of Brookdale North Boynton Beach, quickly became a Miami Heat fan when he moved to Florida a little more than ten years ago. Despite his admiration for LeBron James, Larry has only attended one Heat game. While watching the team play on TV recently, Larry expressed how much he would love to attend another. On March 1, 2016, Larry's wish was granted when he cheered on the Heat against the Chicago Bulls at the American Airlines Arena in Miami with his son.
Professional football is also beloved by Americans of all ages. 83-year-old Carolyn Merrill, of Brookdale Willow Lake, has been a diehard Colts fan since the team moved to Indianapolis more than 30 years ago. Carolyn and her husband always watched the games together on TV, but never had a chance to attend a live game. Her wish to see the Colts play was fulfilled on December 20, 2015 when she attended a game at Lucas Oil Stadium and met a few of the players, including her favorite player, Andrew Luck.
One of America's favorite pastimes, baseball, is loved at every age. Although Doris Sage, 98, was born and raised in Oklahoma, she has rooted for the Texas Rangers for more than 20 years. While she used to enjoy playing semi-pro softball, her current health condition no longer allows her to participate in physically challenging activities. Doris, who has lived in Brookdale Oklahoma City West longer than any other resident, professed that she would love to see a Rangers game live in person if she were in better health. Since this would not be feasible, she had wished to somehow be recognized by the team. On December 31, 2015, the Rangers sent Doris an autographed baseball from her favorite player, Michael Young, along with a Michael Young baseball card, and a personalized letter thanking Doris for her lifelong support. Doris was presented with these items at a baseball-themed party at her community.
These seniors' favorite sports teams have inspired them for most of their lives. By giving them the opportunity to connect with their favorite teams on a personal level, we fulfilled their wishes of a lifetime. -- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. (http://start.westnet.ca/newstempch.php?article=terms.html/) It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247394996319/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/4e548bc8/sc/13/rc/1/rc.img (http://rc.feedsportal.com/r/247394996319/u/0/f/677045/c/35496/s/4e548bc8/sc/13/rc/1/rc.htm)
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