Make A Senior Smile

Donated TV Makes Seniors Smile
Organization dedicated to improving the lives of seniors visits Fullerton senior facility.
by Alex Norby, Contributing Writer,
Fullerton News, July 12, 2007.

The Los Angeles-based organization Make A Senior Smile made the Evergreen Health and Rehab Center its first stop in its effort to expand operations to Orange County. Art Brice, representing the group, recently donated a color television, DVD/VCR combo player and movable cart to the center. "This is our first time in the Orange County area," Brice said, "[We're] mostly in the San Gabriel Valley."

The delivery was made at the request of the center recreation leader, Martha Padilla, who found out about the organization through students from Mt. San Antonio College, fulfilling their volunteer hours. Padilla filled out a "smile request" and in March, Make a Senior Smile President, Janene House, informed her that her request would be granted. Padilla said that she enjoys venturing out into the community to get things for the seniors.

A Gift of Curtains
Local woman receives window coverings from organization. by Lafayette C Hight, Jr., Staff Writer,
San Gabriel Valley Tribune, May 26, 2005.

A set of rose-colored curtains have replaced the 10-year old ones hanging in the Azusa home of 83-year old Ophelia Garcia. The window coverings are compliments of the Make a Senior Smile Organization, and the group succeeded in its mission.

The gift came when a representative approached her in December and said they would like to make her smile. She wished for curtains. "I was very satisfied with the work that they did," said Garcia. "I was very deeply surprised at all that it involved."

Garcia retired from the garment industry, and an Azusa resident since 1959, lives on a small income, but volunteers her time at the senior center, since 1996, since the death of her husband, Frank Garcia. In 2003, Garcia was chosen by the center as volunteer of the year, and in 2004, she received the older American volunteer award. Attorney, Sara Polinski, one of three women who founded the Make a Senior Smile organization, has worked with senior centers in Azusa, Glendora, Arcadia, and Duarte volunteering her legal services. She describes herself as a social worker at heart. "Our goal is every year to have some fundraisers and accept applications from people 55 and older to make them smile," Polinski said. Recently they have received requests for a piano tuning, as well as teeth implants for a senior who literally wants to smile.

Co-founder, Carol Marchese of Fontana has worked in the healthcare industry for a dozen years, said that it's easy to make seniors smile. "We just want to do good things," she said. "We just want to remember the seniors. They're the ones that paved the roads for all of us."