CALGARY JFS RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS GOODMAN AWARD

Bev Sheckter, Executive Director of JFS Calgary (left) with Val Bracey, Director of Seniors' Services

At the recent Annual Conference of the Association of Jewish Family and Children Agencies (AJFCA of North America) our own Calgary Jewish Family Service received a very prestigious award  for its program "Second Wind Dreams". 

The award was created in memory of AJFCA Honorary president Henry Goodman of Toronto and was endowed by the family of Henry and Jenne Goodman.

The Goodman Award recognizes programmatic creativity and meaning; demonstrated success; Jewish content and replicability by other JFS agencies.

"Second Wind Dreams" fulfills the dreams of those living in long-term care facilities, thereby enhancing their quality of life and improving the perception of aging.  The goal of the program is to bring the seniors to the forefront of our society, to make them feel that they are special, and enhance the quality of life for residence of long-term care facilities.

The Calgary Jewish community is about 8,000.  Conceptual and practical support for the program was negotiated with leaders in the Jewish community.  Collaboration with grief and loss programs within the larger Calgary community took place as well as consultation with all the Rabbis and synagogues. 

Here are a few examples of the program activities:

• At 90 years of age, what would you wish for this very special occasion?  What about a meal like mom used to make - chops, sauerkraut, mashed potatoes.  Through the generosity of one of Calgary's top chefs and his family, your birthday celebration with your family and friends has all the trappings of a Five Star restaurant!
   

• An 89 year old Jewish woman, in increasingly frail health and limited income, had a new great-grandchild in Philadelphia.  She knew that she would never be able to get there and the family could not afford to travel to Calgary.  With the assistance of Shell Canada, a teleconference was arranged and this woman was able to see and hear the new addition to the family, as well as her other grandchildren.
   

• You grew up with horses as part of your daily life and dreamt of spending the day with them again.  What better place than Spruce Meadows, a world-class equestrian facility.  This senior was outfitted by Lammle's Western Wear, from the top of her cowboy hat to the tips of her cowboy boots, driven to the Nation's Cup event by private Lincoln Town Car, and housed in the glassed-in enclosure with the VIP attendees and wined and dined all day.

The Judges for the 2005 Goodman Award had a difficult time selecting the winning program from the 21 submissions.  However "Second Wind Dreams" surpassed all the others in its creativity and sensitivity.

Kol HaKovod to our colleagues at the Jewish Family Service Calgary