Senior Issues are Front and Center at Oakland County Meeting

Pontiac, MI – On Monday, May 3, the annual Oakland County Senior Advisory Council Meeting in collaboration with the Senior Planning Coalition for Oakland County will examine an array of issues pertaining to older adults in Oakland County. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with the one hour program starting at 9 a.m. in the Executive Office, Building 41, in Conference Rooms A & B, located at 2100 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford, MI.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson will welcome participants at this free public meeting. The program will focus on Issues of Concern for 2010, an Oakland County Community Health Profile and special recognition will be given to volunteers along with a volunteer recruitment effort for Oak 65.

Also, the final report of the Oakland County Senior Planning Coalition, the “Silver Tsunami” report will be released to the public. This release kicks of the next phase of the “Silver Tsunami” strategic plan implementation called the Second Wave of Oak 65 – which will focus on the county’s growing senior citizen population.

The focus is on the county’s ongoing commitment to create an “Elder Friendly” environment. This report will look at the social, economic, and quality of life impact that this wave of older adults will present. It is estimated that there will be more senior citizens in Oakland County than school age children in the next few years.

For more information, contact Mary Strobe at 248-858-0213 and Oakland County Commissioner and Coalition Chair Helaine Zack at 248-546-7392.

Wish Child Toy Drive

Rochester, MI – The Rainbow Connection invites the community to share in the magic of making holiday wishes come true for Michigan children with life threatening illnesses. 

On Dec. 3 from 8 am to 8 pm The Rainbow Connection is hosting a Toy Drive at its home office at 621 West University in Rochester. Stop by with your new unwrapped gifts and giftcards to enjoy refreshments and meet the staff and volunteers of The Rainbow Connection.  

Toys collected during the Wish Child Toy Drive will be used for the Wish Children and their families at The Rainbow Connection holiday party as well as throughout the year.  Those unable to attend are welcome to drop off toys and/or monetary donations any weekday from 8-4pm.  For gift ideas go to www.rainbowconnection.org 

”When a child is diagnosed with a catastrophic illness it has an immediate impact on every member of the family” explains Mary Grace McCarter, Executive Director at The Rainbow Connection. “We are so very careful to include the brothers and sisters of our wish child in our holiday celebration.  Each and every child in the family will receive a gift selected just for them and of course Santa will remember Mom and Dad too!” 

The Rainbow Connection offers more than just a wish.  It provides support during this most difficult time and, with the help of the community, these Michigan families know they are not alone.  Founded in 1985 by L. Brooks Patterson, The Rainbow Connection is a Rochester, MI, nonprofit organization dedicated to granting wishes to Michigan children. To date, The Rainbow Connection has granted more than 2,000 wishes to children suffering from life-threatening or terminal illnesses. From a special bedtime story by Mickey Mouse at Disney World to volcanoes in Hawaii and haunted castles in Europe to meeting the President of the United States, The Rainbow Connection anticipates making dreams come true for more than 150 children in 2009.

The Rainbow Connection also provides support services, information and referral, special holiday get-togethers and picnics, and college scholarships.  The Rainbow Connection receives no federal funding and depends exclusively on each supporter.  Eighty-seven cents of every dollar donated goes directly to granting wishes.

For more information about The Rainbow Connection or to schedule an interview, call (248) 601-9474 or visit www.rainbowconnection.org.