TUMWATER, WA--(Marketwired - January 06, 2014) - The Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) will honor the "Greatest Generation" with the launch of Silver Spotlight, a program that recognizes the remarkable achievements from individuals whom now reside in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities throughout the state of Washington.
"We have benefitted greatly from the effort and leadership that the aging population has provided our country," said Robin Dale, president and CEO of the Washington Health Care Association. "While many individual contributions have been nationally recognized for their impact to our nation's great history, there are countless others whose role has gone without being properly acknowledged. We have scores of residents at facilities in our care that have inspired others and made an immeasurable difference. WHCA is creating this program to profile their achievements."
The WHCA, whose members include more than 400 assisted living and skilled nursing facilities in the state, will begin accepting nominations in January based on the individuals' influential service to their community and country. Submissions are first made and vetted within the facility that the nominee resides before advancing to the WHCA selection committee. Each month two winners will receive the Silver Spotlight award, one from an assisted living facility and one from a skilled nursing facility, as well as being featured with a photo and story in WHCA's 2015 Silver Spotlight calendar.
The Silver Spotlight program officially launches with the recognition of January's winner, Dorothy Roth of Grandview Village, an assisted living community in Marysville, Wash., for her outstanding contributions as an athlete and educator. Mrs. Roth will be honored on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 11:30 a.m. by Governor Jay Inslee in Olympia.
Roth, 86, played one season (1945) of professional baseball in The National Girls Baseball League (NGBL) for the Parichy Bloomer Girls in Forest Park, Ill. The NGBL, a competitor to the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, played a surrogate role for the country's love of baseball during and after World War II. It was not until the movie A League of Their Own was made in 1992 that the women were truly recognized for their great contributions to the game of baseball and to society as a whole.
Roth went on to use the money she earned playing baseball to fund her college education and eventually became an educator, herself, teaching 30 years before retiring in Marysville, Wash. to be closer to her daughter.
About Washington Health Care Association (WHCA):
The Washington Health Care Association (WHCA) is a statewide non-profit organization representing over 400 assisted living and skilled nursing facilities. WHCA is the largest Long Term Care Trade Association in Washington representing a diverse well rounded membership base including not-for-profit and proprietary members. WHCA's mission is to promote quality long-term health care and services, while serving as an advocate for providers, staff, and the patients and residents they care for. Association members provide health and personal care, social support and housing to 25,000 frail, elderly and disabled Washingtonians each day. About 25,000 employees work for member facilities.
Contact:
Robin Dale
President and CEO
Washington Health Care Association
303 Cleveland Avenue SE, Suite 206
Tumwater, WA 98501
robindale@whca.org
253 | 576-6069 (cell)
Media Contact:
Lorne Richmond
CEO
Richmond Public Relations
lorne@richmondpr.com
206 | 682-6979 (office)
206 | 910-0531 (cell)
