FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, DEC. 01, 2008
MEDIA CONTACT:
Vincent J. Leinen, (818) 342-9336
SENIORS RECEIVE HOLIDAY CHEER AT
SKILLED NURSING & REHAB CENTER IN 34th ANNUAL CAROLING EVENT
OMAHA, Neb.
-- Entertainers, singers and musicians of all ages and talent levels
are invited to join in the 34th Annual Omaha Holiday
Caroling Festivities Sunday, Dec. 14, to bring holiday entertainment
to residents of the Nebraska Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
in Omaha.
Celebrities, carolers, musicians,
Noah’s Assistance Dogs, and Santa Claus with his big bag of fresh
flowers will once again stroll the home’s halls, rooms and dining
areas to bring holiday cheer to residents.
Joining in this year’s festivities as of press time will be Angels
of Faith Gospel Singers, prominent animator of “The Simpsons”
television series Ben Lane, singer/songwriters Cher & Gene Klosner
and members of the Light the Fire Choir, The Country Kickers, City
of Omaha Council member and Professor at UNO Franklin Thompson,
legendary and former UNO Sports Information Director and Interim
A.D. and Founder/President Omaha Hockey Hall of Fame Gary Anderson,
Irish folk singer Jill Anderson, former Mayor of Omaha and U.S.
Congressman Hal Daub, violinist Jim Hall, vocalist Joe Taylor (“Mr.
Memories”), radio voice of the Omaha airwaves for 22 years Kay Kriss,
KFAB/Channel 6 traffic reporter and KGOR-FM on air noon- five radio
personality Lucy Chapman, accordion
sensations Kathy Graeve, accordion sensations Milo & Mark Karasek
and Kathy Graeve, magician
Walter Graham “the Humorous Trixster”, 2006 Nebraska Public
Librarian of the Year and Elkhorn Woman of the Year Wendy Anderson
and Noah’s Assistance Dogs.
“We want to bring happiness and joy to
the elderly residents and at the same time instill a heightened
awareness in the carolers of what they may be taking for granted in
their lives,” said Vincent J. Leinen,
event co-organizer, choral director and a member of the Knights of
Columbus.
“Many of the people in these homes don’t have their health or
family,” Leinen noted.
“We all need to be reminded that it’s important to feel blessed and
happy with what we already have in life, and less concerned with
what we don’t have. The Holiday Caroling Festivities event is a very
fulfilling opportunity to give and receive joy, happiness and
holiday spirit to and from the elderly residents, care-givers and
participants while enhancing one’s own perspective or appreciation
of life, health and family. Bottom line: Everyone greatly benefits
from the festivities, and together we can make a difference and the
world a better place.”
According to Hal Daub, “Vincent gets
it — laughter and music lift us all, and this is especially true for
the holiday season for those in confined locations who depend upon
the skilled professionals and community volunteers coming together
to truly make a difference. Mary and I are looking forward to this
annual celebration of care giving that captures the idea that it’s
better to give than to receive.”
The carolers will meet at the Nebraksa Skilled
Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 7410 Mercy Road, Omaha
at 2 p.m. for refreshments and to pick up their music books. At 2:30
the carolers will arrive to entertain the residents;
This event is free and open to the public with an
estimated 180 participants expected. Immediately following the
caroling, carolers are invited to socialize and dine at Godfather’s
Pizza, 7515 Pacific Street, Omaha, NE.
Leinen’s tradition of caroling for the elderly began when he was in
high school and sang at rest homes with the St. Mary Catholic Youth
Organization in Dow City, Iowa (pop. 498),
then continued while attending the University of Nebraska at Omaha.
Leinen is now a resident of Los Angeles, and the tradition has since
evolved and expanded into a series of festivities celebrated across
the country, including Kansas City, Ks. (3rd Annual, Dec.
6, 2008); L.A. (27th Annual, Dec.7, 2008); Denison, IA
(Inaugural, Dec. 11, 2008; New York, N.Y. (Inaugural, Dec. 2008);
Omaha, Nebr. (34rd Annual, Dec. 14, 2008); Scottsdale,
Arizona (6th Annual, Dec. 14th, 2008), and
Dunlap, Iowa (4th Annual, Dec. 18, 2008).
For
additional Information Contact Vincent at (818)-342-9336 and/or
BD754@LAFN.org, or
visit
www.ReachForTheStars.com/caroling/.
