Thursday’s light snowfall didn’t stop the tailgate action at the Area Agency on Aging, where team spirit was in full swing for the Agency’s fall fundraiser.
“Who doesn’t like a tailgate party with hot dogs, chips and cookies?” said Duana Patton, CEO of the Area Agency on Aging District 5. “When you think fall you think football, it all came together.”
Keeping warm inside the Hawkins Center in Ontario, tailgaters enjoyed food, camaraderie and an Ohio State football game for a small donation. All proceeds benefit the Area Agency on Aging Foundation as well as the Hawkins Corner Community.
“It is a fundraiser for our foundation that helps support the Hawkins community and all the great things we do to provide services to seniors,” explained Patton.
The tailgate would not have been possible without two community donors, Primrose Retirement Communities and Dr. Harold Ballitch of Advanced Eye Care Center. Patton said Primrose donated and prepared the meal for the day, and Ballitch donated the money for the three door prizes: a 55-inch flat screen television, an Apple iPad, and a tailgate party pack. Raffle tickets for the door prizes were sold at $1 for one or $5 for six.
Patton also noted both donors have partnered with the Agency in the past, working on a referral basis back and forth. Many seniors from the Agency are referred to Primrose when looking to go into a retirement setting, or referred to Advanced Eye Care Center for any medical needs.
“It’s a huge community effort with some great partners,” she said. “They really have been generous and made this possible.”
While any donation goal would be wonderful, Patton said the foundation was hoping to raise a couple thousand dollars – a goal she feels was exceeded on Thursday.
“Our staff has really gotten behind this, we kind of gave them some competition and they really embraced that,” she said with a laugh.
“It’s a huge community effort with some great partners,” said Duana Patton, CEO of the Area Agency on Aging District 5. “They really have been generous and made this possible.”
