The Adopt A Senior The Adopt A Senior concept was born in the minds of H.B. Barnum and Glenndell Lewis in 1981. Mr. Lewis was employed by the City of Los Angeles delivering hot meals to Senior and other Citizens unable to afford meals, or others who were unable to go out because of physical and other problems. Mr. Lewis would on occasions have conversations with Mr. Barnum that centered on the fact that in our great city so many people went without hot food, and sometimes without any daily meal at all. Another topic of conversation was that even in the meals that were delivered, depending on the area of the city, a great difference in the quality of the meals existed. Mr. Barnum since 1967, had conducted a once a year "Thanksgiving Feast", where he cooked and invited Seniors Citizens, strangers and friends and homeless to his home for dinner. This was done at his personal expense for a number of years. Starting with a group of nineteen people the first year, the number grew to one hundred and ten by the third year, and the location moved to rented halls and gradually to the Hollywood Recreation Center where it has been since 1991. This tradition became the foundation for what is now the Adopt A Senior concept. Barnum was curious as to how he could help provide more food for the people that Lewis serviced on his daily route. Meetings were help at Los Angeles City Hall with the directors of the Los Angeles Senior Citizen Nutrition program. All agreed that any assistance to supplement the food program would be welcomed, because each year city budgets seemed to alter the programs ability to provide adequate food and other services. Both Barnum and Lewis had recently started playing golf. Both had participated in several golf outings that were charity orientated, so it was a natural. How about a golf tournament and give the money to the Senior Citizen Nutrition Program? Most people are familiar with the name "Meals on Wheels", so were named our program "Adopt A Senior". Every golfer that played in the tournament added quantity and quality to the meals that went out. Since our first tournament, nearly 2200 golfers have played in the tournament. The list of celebrities includes movie, radio and television, sports, political, recording and business personalities. There are special flights for Youth, Protectors of the City that include our Police and Fire Fighters. Hundreds of volunteers have helped to make this tournament a much-anticipated event each year. Contributions have come from local and national sponsors, and private donors. On Thanksgiving Day, the Adopt A Senior Tournament, along with Joy In Jesus Ministry, and Life Choir provide a Thanksgiving Feast for 1400 plus Homeless, seniors, and just plain folk who want to come. (Since 1967) Christmas toys and gifts for needy families are delivered to their homes by surprise, by and I'm not kidding, a real live Santa Claus. Throughout the year we conduct on site visits at senior facilities, where we dine with our Senior Citizens, and provide musical and other forms of entertainment during their lunchtime. Some of the well known artist that have participated in this part of the program are, the late Mr. Lou Rawls and Barry White, Marla Gibbs, Freda Payne, Ernie Andrews, Ernie Fields, Harry Kim and The Phoenix Horn Section, Hal Atkinson, Wendy Barnes, Kiki Sheppard, Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo, Life Choir, The Mountain Climbers Gospel Troupe, The Platters, Clifton Davis, Lou Gossett, Danny Glover, Rosie Grier, and Anthony Gordine (Little Anthony), to name a few. Adopt A Senior volunteers visit senior facilities to assist in reading of mail and books. We assist in shopping for seniors who are shut in or maybe just need a companion to the grocery store. We also service youth programs, doing volunteer teaching and reading sessions, helping at athletic events, and letting the young people have and active part in visiting seniors for advice and council. This year we are going a little further with our program. Basic supplies including aprons, potholders, carpet sweepers, self-serving carts, test thermometers, CMA Chlorine Test Strips, and other much needed items will be provided at facilities. With all of the cutbacks and programs being dropped, these and other supplies are needed almost as much as the life sustaining food. This year we are also changing the structure of how our program operates. Because of the structure city management, it has come to our attention that monies raised with the intention of going for food and other supplies, is being put into a general fund that is often used for other city purposes. Since our goal is primarily to subsidize food and needed supplies, we are forming this non-profit at the request of the Senior Citizen Nutrition administrators. This way we can directly service the needs of our intended recipients, without monies being diverted to other areas. Adopt A Senior will continue to be innovative in ways to interact with our ever increasing senior members. New ways to involve seniors with youth are being sought out. New ways to involve seniors with day to day activity that will make them feel "more loved" are being sought. We have a "Dance Fitness" program that will help them stay young and fit, to be introduced later this year. All in all, as we become seniors, we want to make sure that we are not forgotten.