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JUNE 9, 2019 NEW YORK, NY. — This year’s Spring
Gala for Lifeforce in Later Years, also known as LiLY, a New
York based non-profit that operates a nationally- recognized
model to help seniors age safely in their homes, was another
enjoyable evening with music, performances and for the first
time this year, dancing. For the fourth year, the gala was
held at the stately Columbia University Low Library Rotunda on
May 6, 2019. LiLY achieves it’s mission by coordinating and
directing a network of caring volunteers and community resources
towards the help of elderly seniors who are committed to aging
in the homes they love.
“Lily’s work is an example of how we can leverage
a community’s natural local strength and care to benefit elderly
seniors and this enriches the entire neighborhood. This gala
helps to make possible this kind of help and also honors the
spirit of elderly who are committed to aging healthily in their
homes, says Audrey Wu, Vice President of the LiLy Board.
This year ’s Gala honored three remarkable
individuals:
New York Times decades-long Personal Health
columnist, Jane Brody received the Dr. Herbert Pardes Inspire
Award. Dr Karl Krieger, Vice Chairman of the Department of
Cardiothoracic Surgery at Weill Medical College received the
Lily Leadership Award and Cynthia Zirinsky, healthcare leader
and philanthropist as well as mother of new CBS President, Susan
Zirinskly received Lily’s Lifelong Hero Award.
Broadway talents from The Producers and
the current Tootsie, Angie Schworer and Paula Leggett
Chase launched the evening as as Mistresses of Ceremony. The
evening opened with a soulful performance from jazz and music
legends Benny Golson and David Amram.
Guests were treated to another highlight of the
evening when the cast of Beautiful gathered to sing
LiLY’s theme song, Carol King’s “You’ve Got a Friend”
Proceeds of the gala are used to fund the social
workers of LiLy’s neighborhoods and programs. Lily aims to
expand into more NYC neighborhoods with chapters that they call
“villages”.
Special thanks to New York Presbyterian and Mount
Sinai St Luke’s.
LiLY
was founded in 2009 by Irene Zola, Executive Director,
“We
also need to remember that caring for elderly seniors also helps
families who do not live nearby and gives them a welcome peace
of mind. We receive such expressions of gratitude from families
all the time.” The
organization also produces a visibility campaign each year that
coincides with the International Day of the Old Person,
called
Love an Elder
Week. This
no-fee- for-seniors model has been recognized by many; the
organization and the
Founder, Irene Zola,
have been recipient of numerous awards, including the
CNN Hero
and AARP Inspire Award.
For more info or to donate online, please visit
www.LilyLegacies.org
and
www.L-i-l-y.org
Instagram :@lifeforceinlateryears
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