Bill Kilgore likes to exercise to stay fit, but thanks to the Fitness Minutes for Charity program at Edgemere, bettering his health also helps to raise money for local charities. It’s a win-win. Kilgore, 85, and his fellow workout buddies worked up enough sweat last quarter to donate $750 to the North Texas Food Bank, which will help provide 2,250 meals to local men, women and children. Last year, the program raised $2,823 for local charities and they have already raised $1,426 this year. While the working out has already started, the charity beneficiary for the current quarter has not been selected.
“I participate because I like to do exercise, and the main purpose of the program is to make people want to work out,” said Kilgore. “The more exercise we do, the more money we can give to a charity. It’s a great program, and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Edgemere contributes $1 to the selected charity for every 500 minutes of exercise reported by residents. Residents record minutes of any kind of exercise that they do on their own or in a group class. Some of the popular exercises recorded are working out on fitness equipment, floor exercises, swimming, walking, line dancing and a variety of group exercise classes led by Edgemere Fitness Coordinator Charles Plafcan.
The Edgemere fitness committee calculates the total minutes reported from residents each month. At the end of each quarter, the minutes are added up and the donation is given out at Edgemere’s residents’ association meeting. This month, the residents will select a new charity to receive a donation. They typically choose a smaller, local charity that can really benefit from the donation.
“The program is unique and is such a benefit not only to our residents but also to the charities that we donate to,” said John Falldine, managing director of Edgemere. “It’s exciting to see our residents push themselves to exercise more and improve their health because they know it will benefit others in need in our community through the donations. We look forward to continuing this program and choosing even more organizations to give to.”
Kilgore has been participating in the program since he moved to Edgemere about five years ago. The program began about 10 years ago, but he became involved immediately. His favorite type of exercise is the aerobics class, which he participates in three times a week. He also loves walking and does it almost daily.
“I like being part of this program,” said Kilgore. “I’m happy to stay active and continue exercising for my own benefit as well as the benefit of others.”
With 304 independent living apartment homes, 60 assisted living suites, 31 memory care private apartments, and 72 private rooms for dignified skilled nursing, Edgemere is the largest and most comprehensive life care senior living community in Dallas. The community is located in the Preston Hollow/Park Cities area at 8523 Thackery Street at Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225. The Plaza Health Services at Edgemere located on the same campus at 8502 Edgemere Road at Northwest Highway, offers assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory support services for Edgemere life care residents, as well as for others in the community.
Edgemere is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit senior living community sponsored by Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), a Texas-based nonprofit organization that sponsors sister communities The Buckingham in Houston, Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin, The Stayton at Museum Way in Fort Worth, Mirador in Corpus Christi, and The Barrington at Carmel in Indianapolis. For information, call (469) 619-0825 or visit www.edgemeredallas.com.
Images courtesy of Edgemere:
Image 1: Edgemere resident Genie Fritz presents a $750 check donation to Lauren Holloway of the North Texas Food Bank.
Image 2: Edgemere residents work up a sweat for a good cause