- News Archive
On July 20th, the Still Hopes community gathered in Keenan Event Center for our annual Still Hopes' Got Talent Show. Sixteen acts spent weeks preparing for their moment in the spotlight, then, Showtime! A large crowd of residents and staff cheered as friends and teammates showcased their talents. It was a wonderful afternoon.
In the show’s early moments, the audience enjoyed a simple, but beautiful act performed by The Rose Gardens Memory Care "Fireflies." In the show’s final moments, they elected the “Fireflies” the crowd favorite and unanimously awarded them the People’s Choice Award.
This is Still Hopes’ President and CEO, Danny Sanford’s reflection on the deeper meaning of that moment, what is says about the deep and abiding community of Still Hopes, and how that spirit of community is the true spirit of Still Hopes.
True Community
by Danny Sanford
Today began as any other, with the exception that my wife Janice and I were to participate in the annual "Still Hopes' got Talent Show". The day progressed as any other day, and along about 2:30 Janice and I made our way to the Keenan Event Center to watch, and later participate in, the Talent Show.
There were 15 acts of a variety, from serious to funny, from brilliant to ordinary, but the second act of the day is the one I call to your attention. It was delivered by the residents of our Memory Care Neighborhood, Rose Gardens. These residents performed, with very large light sticks, to the song "Space Odyssey 2001". It was one of the more toward serious, beautiful for multiple reasons, yet fairly ordinary acts.
Then came the end of the show (after my and Janice's own silly and very ordinary act) and it was announced there was to be a People's Choice Award. The award was to be decided by crowd noise for each act, and this wonderful community of people, unwaveringly and loudly, voted that award to our Rose Gardens resident group.
So, what began as an ordinary, usual day, ended with this heartwarming and very moving event, where TRUE Community shone through and those seen by the world at large as "the least of these" was celebrated and honored by their Community. It was a huge reminder to me, and to us all who are in this caring business, that it is good for folk to have a place of Community, with caring peers and staff members surrounding them and holding them dear, even as life deals the harshest of blows.
It was a day and event that I will NEVER forget, and calls out to me that a place like Still Hopes is the very best last move anyone could hope to make. Janice and I will hopefully age successfully and find the day when Still Hopes can be our home! I love all there is about this community of ours, but as of today I can articulate even better and quite succinctly the whys of that: Family abounds here! TRUE Community will hold you close through the most difficult times of your life! You will be loved and cherished always!