Before The Senior Source’s Spirit of Generations Luncheon got underway with its presentation of awards at the Anatole on Wednesday, November 20, Luncheon Chair Caren Kline had a personal admission. Having lost her parents in recent years, she told the crowd in the Chantilly Ballroom that she and her sister did what they thought was the right thing to do as their parents made the final life journey. But in hindsight Caren said that it would have been an easier adjustment had they tapped The Senior Source’s services and offerings.
The program then proceeded to recognize the wealth of services provided by The Senior Source for the elderly in Dallas, as well as the presentation by The Senior Source President/CEO Stacey Malcolmson of the day’s first award — The Molly H. Bogen Service Award — to the organization’s longtime supporter/retired Texas Instruments VP Max Post. It was Max who was instrumental in creating the Texas Instruments Alumni Association to help seniors become “more tech savvy.” Since 2001 TIAA’s annual charity golf tournament has benefited The Senior Source programs as well as providing volunteers who regularly support nonprofit programs through The Senior Source’s RSVP Program.
For the presentation of the Spirit Of Generations Award to Marla and Mike Boone, a mammoth switchboard was unveiled on the right side of the stage with an operator. As the SMU grads took their place on stage escorted by Peruna to the “Pony Battle Cry” tune, they looked a wee bit like embarrassed and tentative about what was to come. After all, certain “friends”(Terry Conner, Dr. R. Gerald Turner, Mike Massad, Harlin Hale, Lynn Hamilton, Jan and Fred Hegi and former President George W. Bush via Jeanne Phillips) and “family” (daughter Maryjane Bonfield and son Michael H. Boone) had been checking their notes during the lunch.
They need not have worried. Even a voice from heaven said, “Good work, you two.” And their longtime pals the Hegis, who had received the award in 2016, went easy on them.
Looking relieved as the switchboard dimmed, Mike told the crowd including The Senior Source Board Chair Beverly Bell Godbey, former Senior Source President/CEO Molly Bogen with Betty Houser, Pete Kline, Rev. Richie Butler, John Scovell, Pete Schenkel, Bob Dedman, Tim Wallace, Ken Malcolmson, Robin Robinson, Amy Hegi, Margo Goodwin, Susan Williams, Connie O’Neill, Pam Perella and Claire Emanuelson, that while they appreciated the award, the day’s spotlight was on The Senior Source to “send two key messages to the public-at-large and our senior citizens.”
- That Dallas values its senior citizens and is committed to looking out for their welfare.
- The event tells The Senior Source team that Dallas has “great confidence in you and the programs through which you serve our senior citizens.
Mike stressed that “The Senior Source has been a definite difference maker for our senior citizens. Dallas simply could not get by without the presence of The Senior Source in our communities.”
In closing Mike said on behalf of the city of Dallas, he and Marla wanted to “thank all the members of The Senior Source team including its volunteers for all you do in making Dallas a better place in which to live through the genuine care that you show our senior citizens.”
To add to the celebration, The Senior Source fundraiser closed the event at 1:08 p.m. reporting that, even without the centerpiece purchases and table donations, more than $1M had been provided.