WAILEA - "Giving Back," a local nonprofit program that trains senior citizens to be mentors, recently received one of 10 annual Mutual of America Foundation $15,000 Community Partnership Awards at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort & Spa.
The award was for the "Giving Back Fall Prevention Project," which is a collaboration involving Giving Back, Kaunoa Senior Services and the Maui District Health Office.
Giving Back trains active senior citizens as mentors, who then work with the frail elderly practicing Brain Gym, vision-improvement exercises and other integrated movements. Activities benefit both mentors and mentees.
The program is held at a Kaunoa lunch site, and funding and independent program evaluations are Health Office functions.
Mutual of America Foundation also presented a special coin to honor seven project participants: Lorrin Pang, Jeny Bissell and Mary Santa Maria of the Health Department; Leola Muromoto of Kaunoa Center; Steve Sussman of Maui Consults; Rick Ortiz of The Mac Pro; and Peggy Sanches, board president and mentor of Giving Back.
Officials of the nonprofit said they will use the award funds to expand the Maui program and help replicate it elsewhere. For more information, see www.GivingBackMentoring.org.
