Media . . .

October 27, 2010

Pleasanton Willie Mays fan rooting for Giants to win Game 1 today

Parkview resident had 'thrill of a lifetime' as special guest at recent game
Everyone has Giants fever now but Vivian Fuller, a resident at Parkview Assisted Living in Pleasanton, has been a fan forever. Vivian's dream came true through Parkview's Thrill of a Lifetime initiative . . . >> Read More

September 7, 2010

Lifelong Baseball Fan Throws in First Pitch

Doris Dobbs, 89, threw the first pitch at the River Cats game. . .>> Read More

July 2010

CENTENARIAN REALIZES GIRL SCOUT DREAM

Proving that dreams can come true at any age, Harriet Antonides, a resident at Roseville, California-based Eskaton Village, recently realized her lifetime wish. . . >> Read More

April 10, 2010

Eskaton Village Roseville resident, Harriet Antonides who just turned 100 years old and fulfilled her "Thrill of a Lifetime" to become a Girl Scout. The Girl Scouts Heart of Central California put on a vintage Girl Scout fashion show and investiture ceremony. This is news footage shown on Sacramento's local KXTV (ABC affiliate) News 10 TV station.

NEWS ADVISORY

ESKATON CENTENARIAN THRILLED TO BECOME GIRL SCOUT

By Karen Everett Watson

Roseville, CA. – Harriet Antonides grew up in rural Michigan – too far from town to join a Girl Scout Troop. “I heard about all the great times they had,” said Antonides, a resident of Eskaton Village Roseville. “And I just loved going camping. It made me so jealous!” Lisa McCurdy, Eskaton Roseville’s director of resident services got wind of Antonides’ desire and nominated her for “Thrill of a Lifetime.” On April 10, just five days after her 100th birthday, Antonides was invested as a Girl Scout by members of the Girl Scouts Heart of Central California Council.

Antonides had a stage view of the vintage fashion show, showing 100 years of Girl Scout uniforms, and investiture ceremony presented by the Scouts that included two of her great-granddaughters. “My daughter was a Brownie,” she said. “I think that Scouts teach the girls independence and give them a feeling of self worth.” A crowd of 75 people, including numerous news crews and journalists watched as Sarah Rodriguez, 11, and Rebecca Rodriguez, 8, presented their great-grandmother with her sash and pin. Her sash was inscribed with Troop #1912, the year the Girl Scouts were founded.

After the ceremony, Antonides was overwhelmed with questions from the media. When 6-year-old Tiya Tapadiya got her chance to approach Antonides, the young Girl Scout gave her a handmade gift of a “SWAPS.” Girl Scout Leader Tammy Hendy explained the gift, “It stands for a ‘Special Whatchamacallit Affectionately Pinned Somewhere’ that the girls make themselves.”

The new centenarian said she didn’t think turning 100 would be such a big deal. “They’ve been celebrating my birthday for the past two weeks,” she said. “Once it was here, it turned out to be very exciting.” Antonides had a large celebration with friends and family. Eskaton hosted another large celebration.

Antonides said she doesn’t know why she’s lived so long but believes her “happy life and good genes” might have something to do with it. Her advice for living a happy life: “Never look back on things that were bad,” she said. “Always look to the future and never give up!”

NEWS ADVISORY

November 24, 2009
Contact:
Suzanne Strassburg, Eskaton, 916-990-6346 (cell)

ESKATON UNITES OLDER ADULTS WITH LIFELINE VOLUNTEERS

SACRAMENTO -- Eskaton launched its "Thrill of a Lifetime" senior wish program by fulfilling the desires of 12 of its TLC Telephone Reassurance program participants. Each of these home-bound older adults shared the same, humble "thrill" -- to meet the volunteers who call them everyday and ensure they remain safe and socialized in their own homes.

"Thrill of a Lifetime By Eskaton" united in person, for the first time, the TLC participants with their volunteer callers. It took place on Friday, November 20 at Eskaton Monroe Lodge.

"It is wonderful for so many of the TLC participants to realize their dreams of meeting their volunteers,” said Lynda Shively, administrator at Eskaton Monroe Lodge. “It’s such a selfless dream that we were honored to help fulfill."

For many older adults, the ability to remain in their own homes as they age is preferred. Eskaton’s TLC Telephone Reassurance program is a free public-service that supports aging-in-place by making over 500 calls each day to isolated older adults. In the case of the “thrilled” participants, some have been receiving calls from the same volunteer for more than 10 years before finally meeting them in person.

"Thrill of a Lifetime By Eskaton demonstrates that whether you're eight or 80, dreams, wishes and thrills are great fun," said Stuart Greenbaum, Eskaton's vice president for public relations. "Anticipation, the adrenaline rush, memories, inspiring others -- all of this results from the thrill experience."

Eskaton provides community living and home-based support to the independence and quality of living for more than 14,000 older adults annually throughout Northern California. Founded in 1968, Eskaton is headquartered in Carmichael, California. Contact Eskaton at 866-ESKATON (866-375-2866) or visit www.eskaton.org for more information.