MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 30, 2015) - Today, Wish of a Lifetime Canada (WOLC) announced its entrance into the Canadian charitable landscape. The organization aims to shift the way society views and values our oldest generations by fulfilling seniors' dreams and sharing their stories to inspire those of all ages. Wish of a Lifetime Canada's mission has its origins in the US-based charity Wish of a Lifetime, which was founded in 2008 by U.S. Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom. WOLC is an independent organization incorporated in Canada, and is built on the belief that seniors should be respected, honoured, and aided in our society. The charity lives its mission by granting life-enriching wishes to deserving senior citizens.
Wishes range in scope from small, community-based events to large international trips, and are as diverse as the seniors they honour. The wishes reconnect seniors with loved ones, help older adults renew and celebrate their passions, fulfill their lifelong dreams, and commemorate their service to country and community. These experiences, which in the past have included reunions of long-lost loved ones and remembrance trips to Normandy for veterans who fought on D-Day, will now for the first time be available to seniors across Canada. Seniors who have experienced a wish report that they feel happier, more involved in the world, and even healthier after their wish experience. "Too often, seniors are forgotten, neglected, or pushed aside," said Jillaina Wachendorf, CEO of Wish of a Lifetime Canada. "Isolation is a growing problem among seniors, and can lead to serious health risks. By fulfilling seniors' deeply meaningful wishes and sharing their stories, we inspire seniors and all those around them to see and experience aging from a new, healthier perspective."
Wish of a Lifetime Canada is proud to announce its partnership with founding sponsor Chartwell Retirement Residences which includes an initial $75,000 donation in 2015 and a commitment, with the support of its staff and residents, to a dedicated charitable support sponsorship over a four-year period. Chartwell, Canada's largest owner and operator of seniors housing, was instrumental in bringing the charity's mission to life in Canada. "Our vision at Chartwell is Making People's Lives Better," said Brent Binions, Chartwell's President & Chief Executive Officer. "We believe that seniors are fully deserving of having their wishes fulfilled and that the power of realizing a long held dream is truly ageless."
The charity will kick-off its Canadian launch in early November by granting four veterans' Wishes in partnership with Chartwell in time for Remembrance Day. Wish applications, open to all Canadian seniors, can be found on Wish of a Lifetime Canada's website at www.seniorwish.org/canada.
Wish of a Lifetime Canada's Board of Directors includes Jeremy Bloom, Founder of Wish of a Lifetime U.S. & C.E.O. of Integrate, Mikaël Kingsbury, Professional Skier & Olympic silver medalist, Jason Smith, Founder & Head Coach of Evolution Ski Academy, Paul Courtemanche, VP of Operations at Nationwide Biweekly Administration, Inc., Rafael Courtemanche, Account Manager at Trane Canada ULC., and Vlad Volodarski, CFO & CIO of Chartwell Retirement Residences.
To learn more about Chartwell and Wish of a Lifetime Canada, visit www.chartwell.com and www.wishofalifetime.org/canada
About Wish of a Lifetime Canada:
Wish of a Lifetime Canada's mission is to shift the way society views and values our oldest generations by fulfilling seniors' dreams and sharing their stories to inspire those of all ages. The U.S. charity Wish of a Lifetime was founded in 2008 by two-time Olympic skier, World Cup gold medalist, entrepreneur, and former NFL football player Jeremy Bloom in living honor of his grandmother, and Wish of a Lifetime Canada launched as an independent organization in Canada in September of 2015. The organization envisions a world in which society embraces aging and the inherent wisdom that accompanies it, where seniors are celebrated for their accomplishments and sacrifices, and where intergenerational connections are part of our daily lives. After experiencing a wish, 93 percent of U.S. Wish recipients stated they felt their quality of life improved and 76 percent said they felt their overall health improved, and the organization expects to see similar benefits in their Canadian recipients. To learn more about the organization or to help fulfill a senior's Wish, visit www.wishofalifetime.org/canada.
Contact Information:
435-210-0291
sally@seniorwish.org