Bring Smiles to Seniors, Inc.
About Us
Established in March of 2016, Bring Smiles to Seniors, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves senior communities across the country. Our staff consists of volunteers who are dedicated to supporting seniors in nursing homes and assisted & independent living communities, as well as those that are homebound or participating in elderly nutrition programs.
Bring Smiles to Seniors also runs an extension of the program in Michigan. We are a completely unpaid volunteer-run organization that is currently staffed by six passionate individuals.
Mission Statement
We strive to connect the circle of life by working with schools, civic organizations, employers and individuals to decorate handmade cards for seniors in nursing homes, assisted & independent living communities, and those that are homebound or participating in elderly nutrition programs. Our team hopes to help younger generations understand the importance of remembering those who paved the way for us, while reminding seniors that they are cared for and loved.
About Our Founder
Ron Tyson, our Founder, established this program in honor of his grandmother, Lola Mae, who suffered from dementia. She stayed in a nursing home until she passed away in Okeechobee, Florida in August of 2016. When he visited her, he noticed that many elderly residents did not have any visitors. Also, many did not receive gifts or cards from anyone. Because of this, Ron decided that he wanted to make a difference in the lives of seniors. He founded Bring Smiles to Seniors in March 2016.
Card Angel Donor Recognition
We call our card donors Card Angels because of the many smiles they bring to seniors across the country. We have five levels of recognition for individuals who have repeatedly donated their talent and cards to support our mission. While each and every card angel is important to the work that we do, these individuals have made extraordinary contributions to our program. Our designation of Star Angel Decorator are for those individuals who have decorated >3,000 cards for our program. These are our current card angel honorees:
Sharon's Diamonds (>46,000)
Linda Hanzely
Sharon Massey
Blue Diamond Card Angel (>20,000)
Lillian Abrams
Rita Bezdicek
Joy Brewer
Linda Biese
Alice Pompilio
Michelle Ruelle
Jana
Pink Star Diamond Card Angel (>10,000)
Paula Anderson
Beth Arnold
Alma Billmayer
Janet Birdsall
Mary Cavalier
Jan DeJianne
Tess DePalma
Dawn Duplak
Marcia Homa
Dana Jenkins
Maura Johnson
Joan Kinzig
Nancy M.
Brenda Oathout
Denise Sabonaitis
Sandra Snipes
Lon Tomokiyo
Thsering Wangno
Diamond Card Angel (>5,000 cards)
Joyce Benedict
Deb Birkholm
Jill Boteler
Vicki Brickner
Cards for Kidz
Cheryl Cameron
Donna D'Alessandro
Margaret Dahms
Vickie Deffries
Virginia DeLapp
Joyce DiFalco
Dawn Dorman
Jencina Elliott
Lucia Ernenwein
Pamela Ferguson
Genia Geddings
Angela Greenfield
Terrie Hammonds
Michelle Jeanfreau
Debbie Jensen
Tracey Kalz
Joan Kramer
Debbie LaCavera
Cindy Leis
Sheila Logan
Diana Lukins
Janet Magdziarz
Jill Maxwell
Cathy McDaniel
Lynn Miller
Charlotte Pasket
Carol Ralser
Jennifer Reece
Carol Sheehan
Kelly Kramer Sikes
Maria Steck
Pamela Tetreault
Gail Thompson
Lora Underwood
Lori Palano
Laurie
Joan Stramaglia
Barbara Suits
Debra Westermann
Christine Wheeler
Amanda Wollner
Star Angel Decorator
Kim Allen
Liz Beuhn
Kristine Cimmy
Diana Darnell
Shelby Delk
Patty Diane
Genia Geddings
Linda Haber
Danny Hill
Sam Hill
Ginger Howard
Katie Hudson
Leslie Jacoby
Leslie Jenson
Cheryl Laida
Janice Spitko
Molly Spitzer
Morgan Spitzer
Kate Squires
Jennifer Sutliff
Joyce Tietz
Cherryl Vargas
Donna Vedral
Bernice Wead
Gold Card Angel (>2,500 cards)
Ally Financial
Mark Batacan
Böhringer Ingelheim Mid West Team
Lea Beard
Jeanette Beisel
Been Bendickson
Jean Black
Jo Blackford
Kindyll Blazer
Martha Bricker
Sharon Broussard
Ann Brydon
Diana Carr
Yvonne Collins
Carol Coneeny
Raelynn Corbett
Kate Deignan
Linda Denninghoff
Cindy Depp-Hutchinson
Maureen Devos
Ann Donaghy
Donna Edwards Patterson
Lori Erickson
Nancy Ethredge
Tina Galloway
Tammi Gibbons
Amy Goossen
Jocelyn Glas
Trudi Green
Gaylene Gray
Mary Jane Grutzmacher
Susan H.
Linda Harlan
Lisa Harris
Carol Hemmelgarn
Ernie Hendrix
Sam Herman
Linda Hersey
Marilyn Hill
Robin Hoff
Ali Huggard
Heather Jacobson
Ora Jacobson
Ruth Johnson
Virginia Jorstadt
Debbie Kelly
Bonnie Klasell
Mary Kunzmann
Jennifer LaChance
Marie Lachle-Martin
Sue Ladd
Joanne Law
Sara Lawson
MaryRuth Lee Jamison
Cindy Lewis Jaqua
Kandy Litchfield
Sue Lutz
Laurie Mandeville Walsh
Maria McKiel
Debbie Mastroto-Bell
Jean Merrelli
Diana Darnell Mitch
Amber Messenger
Ann Myers
Karren Olaveson
Sue Pegan
Anne Pfluger
Shari Phillips
Kim Prescott-Coffin
Mike Priscilla Brinson
Becky Prohaska
Beth Richardson
Patsy Rodriguez
Daphne Rogers
Kerri Roup
Sandy Rose
Missy Saucerman
Karen Schaal
Debbie Schofield
Cynthia Sexton
SF Correspondence Coop (Gina Visione)
Barb Slager
Anjean Smits
Mary Storvik
Jennifer Sutliff
Tracy Strodl
Barbara Tether
Theresa Truax
Betty Trude
Diane Wallace
Kristine Warnke
MaryLynn Weller
Michelle Y
Susan Yeingst
Silver Card Angel (>1,000 cards)
Miriam Acevedo
Leslie Anderson
Diane Andrade
Judy Arbuckle
Kathy Baker
Katie Baron
Tina Bartolo
Karen Beaupre
Giving Bees
Mary Billings
Lynda Bloom
Judy Bogdan
Cindy Bradley
Mary Brooks
Jodi Bouza
susan Bower
Caroline Budz
Anne Carpenter
Sonya Casteel
Diana Cheek
Trish Clement
Karen Conneely
Sue Collins
Bonnie Coogan
Susie Cramer
Robin Crawford
Patti Curtis
Sandra Dayhoff
Danielle Dion-Korell
Catherine Donaldson
Lunda Lulu Dow
Cheryl Doyle
Laurie Duncan
J. Eberhardt
Teresa Eby
Rose Edson
Anne Einecker
PI Fallin
Michele Ferguson
Debby Fox
Jackie Galencamp
Molly Gallman
Linda Gardner
Shirley Gardner
Kathy Gatz
Kelleen Gibson
Roxie Glaza
Claudine Granick
Sheryl Grandt
Melissa Gray
Tracy Hawes
Margaret Hayslip
Amy Heard
Lauren Hildebrand
Darlene Hillenbrand
Colleen Herrera
Denise Holmes
Heidy Hooker
Susan Hott
Katie Hudson
Randy Hughes
Sherry Hussong
Cindy Inman
Theresa Kanitra
Brennan Keane
Kerri-Ellen Kerry
Kathy Kinsey
Evelynne Klein
Cathy Knapp
Eileen Koffroth
Brenda Lee
Danielle LeFave
Monica Lessard
Leslyn
Anita Lingenfelter
Ann Marie Loose
Sue Lyle
Susan Miller
Karin Macabeo
Carol Mallory
Tabitha Marie
Luanne Martell
Sandra Martin
Jean Maxwell
Carol McAnally
Timmie McErlean
Elaine McCullough
Celina McGrail
Wanda Michael
Brenda Miller (Jersey Stampers)
Kathlene Miller
Lori Ann Misurda
Dena Moore
Beki Morris
Connie Taylor Murdy
Tammy Murphy
Cindee Naugle
Jane Nordberg
Mary Ellen Norton
Kathy Nottingham
Colleen O'Brien
Bonnie Ouelette
Laura Ott
Tamara Ove
Yvette Pabon
Christine Patterson
Laurie Peabody
Erica Pierce
Cheryl Pietz
Elizabeth Pinnel
Katherine Pooner
Rita Purcell
Jodi Reed
Mary Reitan
Amy Reser
Nancy Rhodes
Angie Rigelwood
Sharon King Robbins (Marti Baxter)
Carol Roede
Carol Scalia
Nancy Graff Schultz
Sharon Schweitzer
Pamela Seeley
Carol Ann Selkis
Mary Senn
Linda Shoemake
Anne Slattery
Diane Smith
Doreen Smith
Carolyn Stallings
Marie Steck
Ann Marie Bernardo Stern
Danielle Stockford
Jennifer Taylor
Ruby Taylor
Cynthia Teysko
Lynn Triplett
Kim Tyler
Katie Tuimaualuga
Cathy Varner
Jan Walker
Tasha Webb
Connie Wilfahrt
Sandra Wunsch
Cheryl Yamashita
Dixie Zeder
The Benefits of Volunteering
Getting Involved: Make This Year Your Family’s Year!
Amanda Henderson, safechildren.info
Did you know that volunteering is good for you? What’s more, engaging with a charitable organization offers benefits to the whole family. Here is how to make this a year that builds your family members as individuals and knits your family closer together as a unit.
Image courtesy of Pixabay
Health benefits. Being involved with a charity and reaching out to help others provides benefits to your own well-being. In fact, according to some studies, there is increasing evidence volunteering is a boon to your health and improves our society on many levels. Those who engage as volunteers experience a reduced mortality rate, improved mental and physical functionality, and lowered risk for depression. Working with a charity decreases your stress levels and enhances your satisfaction with life, adding a sense of purpose to your days. Those who volunteer report increased happiness, improved self-esteem, and a bigger sense of control over life circumstances. It even appears the more time you spend volunteering, the greater your benefit.
Kids, too! Adults aren’t the only ones whose lives improve by doing things outside of themselves. Focus on the Family cites research that found children who volunteer enjoy better self-esteem, enhanced desire to learn, higher levels of motivation, and an improved moral compass. When the experience as a volunteer is positive, children learn that while the work may be challenging, it’s worthwhile and satisfying.
Ties that bind. Connecting with charities as a family offers special benefits. Since volunteering requires communication and teamwork, family members bond. Parents can also enjoy teachable moments that can be hard to come by in other circumstances, and actively demonstrate the value of compassion and generosity.
Responsibility. Children learn basic responsibility from following through on their commitment to a charity. They learn to show up when they say they will, honor their obligation to the best of their ability, and to be pleased with the results of their efforts.
Experience. Volunteering offers opportunities for your children to learn a good work ethic. Also, some experts point out children gain work experience, leadership skills, and networking opportunities. Children can even learn specific job skills which might benefit their future careers.
The power of “one.” Another important message children can gain from volunteering is the impact of one person’s efforts. KidsHealth explains that children see their efforts creating an impact and gain the empowering message that they can make a difference in the world.
Sacrifice and giving. Another great lesson children learn is the principle of sacrifice. They can see the giving of time and effort making a difference, and they can see the benefit when giving items as well. With that in mind, one suggestion is to declutter your home, gleaning gently used items to donate to a charity. Not only does this help a worthy cause, but reduces the amount of “stuff” in your home and helps you stay organized. Consider asking your children to select a special toy or two to give to a less fortunate child. It’s an opportunity for your youngster to learn the value of generosity when you have more than others have. Be sure to lead by example and donate something special of your own.
Community benefits. Engaging with a charitable organization strengthens communities. Agencies and services that use volunteers generally run on little or no income, and rely heavily on support from the efforts of individuals and groups committed to improving the local community.
Volunteering is a terrific way to enhance the well-being of you and your family members while serving your community. Making a charitable effort is not only good for your mental and physical health, it improves your family bond and teaches your children invaluable lessons. Make this your family’s year and spend time giving of yourselves!