Renaissance / Falls-Lenox “Bulldog Buddies” Honored by LeadingAge Ohio with Excellence in Volunteer Service Award
(Cleveland, Ohio) – The “Bulldog Buddies” mentoring program, a collaboration between the Renaissance
Retirement Campus (an Eliza Jennings community in Olmsted Township) and Falls-Lenox Primary School
(Olmsted Falls City Schools), was recognized this week with the Excellence in Volunteer Service award
from LeadingAge Ohio. The award honors a LeadingAge Ohio member volunteer or volunteer
program that makes a positive, lasting impact on their organization or community.
Retirement Campus (an Eliza Jennings community in Olmsted Township) and Falls-Lenox Primary School
(Olmsted Falls City Schools), was recognized this week with the Excellence in Volunteer Service award
from LeadingAge Ohio. The award honors a LeadingAge Ohio member volunteer or volunteer
program that makes a positive, lasting impact on their organization or community.
“Bulldog Buddies” pairs residents of the Renaissance Retirement Campus with first-through third-grade
students, who have special needs or circumstances, in a mentoring relationship focused on increasing the
students’ academic success. Named after the school district’s mascot, the program pairs a “Big Buddy” with
students, who have special needs or circumstances, in a mentoring relationship focused on increasing the
students’ academic success. Named after the school district’s mascot, the program pairs a “Big Buddy” with
a “Little Buddy” who meet weekly during the entire school year.
“Big Buddies are positive, stable role models who demonstrate kindness, trustworthiness, and integrity,” said
School Counselor Angela Butto. “The Bulldog Buddies program creates positive memories and experiences
that influence the students far beyond the classroom.” “The culture and mission of Eliza Jennings, and each of our communities, promotes giving back and serving others,” said Eliza Jennings President and CEO Richard M. Boyson Jr. “This resident-driven program aligns
beautifully with that mission. It is gratifying to be recognized by LeadingAge Ohio for this innovative community
outreach program.”
School Counselor Angela Butto. “The Bulldog Buddies program creates positive memories and experiences
that influence the students far beyond the classroom.” “The culture and mission of Eliza Jennings, and each of our communities, promotes giving back and serving others,” said Eliza Jennings President and CEO Richard M. Boyson Jr. “This resident-driven program aligns
beautifully with that mission. It is gratifying to be recognized by LeadingAge Ohio for this innovative community
outreach program.”
“This program is a great example of the innovation fostered when organizations with different needs connect,”
said Kathryn Brod, President and CEO of LeadingAge Ohio. “Schools have a need, senior service providers
have a need, and this is a win-win for all parties.” The award was presented during the LeadingAge Ohio Resident Celebration Luncheon on September 14 as
part of the LeadingAge Ohio 2017 Annual Conference and Trade Show. Founded in 1937, LeadingAge Ohio is a member driven organization that represents approximately 400 longterm care facilities located in more than 150 Ohio towns and cities, as well as those providing housing services
and ancillary health care across a continuum of settings. Through a recent merger with Midwest Care Alliance,
LeadingAge Ohio’s members represent home care and hospice services to an even greater degree than ever
before. Member organizations are estimated to serve more than 400,000 elderly Ohioans and employ more
than 35,000 persons statewide. Members are sponsored by religious, fraternal, private and government
organizations committed to providing quality services for their residents and for older persons in the community
at large.
said Kathryn Brod, President and CEO of LeadingAge Ohio. “Schools have a need, senior service providers
have a need, and this is a win-win for all parties.” The award was presented during the LeadingAge Ohio Resident Celebration Luncheon on September 14 as
part of the LeadingAge Ohio 2017 Annual Conference and Trade Show. Founded in 1937, LeadingAge Ohio is a member driven organization that represents approximately 400 longterm care facilities located in more than 150 Ohio towns and cities, as well as those providing housing services
and ancillary health care across a continuum of settings. Through a recent merger with Midwest Care Alliance,
LeadingAge Ohio’s members represent home care and hospice services to an even greater degree than ever
before. Member organizations are estimated to serve more than 400,000 elderly Ohioans and employ more
than 35,000 persons statewide. Members are sponsored by religious, fraternal, private and government
organizations committed to providing quality services for their residents and for older persons in the community
at large.
About Eliza Jennings
Eliza Jennings, a not-for-profit organization providing excellent care and services to older adults on Cleveland’s
West Side for more than 129 years, is a nationally recognized expert committed to helping people make the
most of the aging experience. Eliza Jennings communities include the Eliza Jennings Health Campus in
Cleveland; the Renaissance Retirement Campus in Olmsted Township, and Devon Oaks Assisted Living in
Westlake. Eliza Jennings offers a full spectrum of choices for aging adults, including independent and assisted
living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, respite care, and adult day programs. Eliza Jennings offers a
full range of home and community-based services including skilled home health care, a nurse practitioner
house call program, and clinic services. Eliza Jennings is the first aging services organization to offer SAIDO
Learning, a non-pharmacological cognitive therapy shown to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
and other dementias among older adults. For more information about Eliza Jennings or any of its programs
and services, visit elizajennings.org or call 216.226.5000.
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Eliza Jennings, a not-for-profit organization providing excellent care and services to older adults on Cleveland’s
West Side for more than 129 years, is a nationally recognized expert committed to helping people make the
most of the aging experience. Eliza Jennings communities include the Eliza Jennings Health Campus in
Cleveland; the Renaissance Retirement Campus in Olmsted Township, and Devon Oaks Assisted Living in
Westlake. Eliza Jennings offers a full spectrum of choices for aging adults, including independent and assisted
living, skilled nursing and rehabilitation services, respite care, and adult day programs. Eliza Jennings offers a
full range of home and community-based services including skilled home health care, a nurse practitioner
house call program, and clinic services. Eliza Jennings is the first aging services organization to offer SAIDO
Learning, a non-pharmacological cognitive therapy shown to improve the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease
and other dementias among older adults. For more information about Eliza Jennings or any of its programs
and services, visit elizajennings.org or call 216.226.5000.
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