Park Springs Invites Stone Mountain Neighbors To Alzheimer’s Fundraising Events

It’s said that charity begins at home. For one group of Stone Mountain adults age 62-plus, home is Park Springs, a country club-inspired continuing care retirement community. Some of Park Springs’ members have Alzheimer’s, and in the past few years the community’s employees and members have raised $10,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association.

For the first time this summer Park Springs is organizing several fundraising events that are open to neighbors in Stone Mountain and surrounding areas.

“Our community knows first-hand how important the [research] work is that is being done by the Alzheimer’s Association,” said Kara Johnson, the Social Services Coordinator for Cobblestone at Park Springs. “Alzheimer’s touches so many lives. By helping us to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association, you can celebrate a loved one and honor the work of the caregivers who take care of people with this disease.”

Upcoming events include a casino night from 7 to 10 p.m. on July 23, $25 per person; a bazaar (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and bake sale (11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.) on July 29, no admission fee; movies and music at 7 p.m. on Aug. 5 and Sept. 2, $1 per person; and a gala luau from 4 to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24, $25 per person.

The idea to raise money for Alzheimer’s research, as well as the impetus for developing Park Springs, were born from the developer’s personal family experience. In the mid-1990s, Andy Isakson, son of Ed Isakson - who grew Northside Realty into a residential powerhouse -and brother of U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia, watched as his parents made several moves from living independently to assisted living communities and finally nursing home care as their health conditions worsened. Andy’s mother, Julia, suffered from Alzheimer’s. He developed Park Springs for healthy, active seniors who could transition if necessary to on-site assisted living or skilled nursing care.

Park Springs’ Alzheimer’s fundraising activities moved to the Stone Mountain community after several years of participation in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s that has been held at various metro Atlanta locations.

“It made it more personal,” said Lisa Kiely, Director of Leisure Services, who encourages members to get involved in planning and executing the events. She facilitates monthly meetings where members brainstorm fundraising ideas. “When members are involved in planning from start to finish, they have ownership,” said Kiely. “They look at ways to make things better.”

From a well-being perspective, said Kiely, “People who participate create connections with others. They lead happier, healthier and longer lives.”

Mame Hooper and her husband, Charlie, have lived at Park Springs for five years. An active volunteer in her former East Cobb County neighborhood, Hooper quickly became involved in a variety of activities at Park Springs. She formed Stone Mountain Mamas, a chapter of the Red Hat Society, a global organization that supports and encourages women in their pursuit of fun, friendship, freedom, fulfillment and fitness. A few years ago, Kiely asked Hooper to host a bake sale fundraiser and Hooper mobilized her Red Hat Mamas. Each year the bake sale has increased its donation to the Alzheimer’s fund.

“We’re a strong group of ladies who get together not just to have fun but to help with Alzheimer’s,” said Hooper. “When you’re interfacing with people you find out about the wonderfulness of people. You keep young.”

Kiely notes that Alzheimer’s is “the only cause [for which] we will ask our members for money.”

Park Springs is located at 500 Springhouse Circle, Stone Mountain, Ga, 30087. For additional information about the community and the Alzheimer’s fundraising activities, visit www.parkspringscommunities.com or call (678) 684-3800.