The Legacy Senior Communities has been dedicated to providing exceptional services for seniors and their families for more than 60 years. The nonprofit organization has served thousands of families and believes in supporting and recognizing others who make it their life’s mission to do the same. Therefore, The Legacy Senior Communities decided to establish an award that pays tribute to those who are positively impacting the community. For the first time, at the annual Yes! Event on November 19, The Legacy Senior Communities will present an award to a worthy recipient who has worked to address the needs of Texans dealing with aging, mental health and/or cognitive challenges. The 2014 Carmen Miller Michael Legacy Senior Communities Award will be given to Molly Bogen, executive director of The Senior Source. This award was established by a committee chaired by Madeline Unterberg and including Adlene Harrison, Shirley Tobolowsky, Julie Lowenberg, Hanne Klein and Freda Gail Stern. The committee selected Bogen to receive the award.
“I was surprised and quite honored to hear that I would be the first to receive such an award in Dr. Carmen Miller Michael’s name,” said Bogen. “The same issues that drove her to do such amazing work drive me. I am passionate about impacting the lives of Texans who are aging, those who face cognitive challenges and those who may need direct services to improve their lives.”
Bogen has been leading The Senior Source as the executive director for 38 years. Bogen has chief staff responsibility for administration and management of the agency with its 63-member staff and just completed her 10 years of service on the Board of Trustees for the Baylor Specialty Health Centers. The Senior Source helps with job searches, nursing home advocacy, money management, safety and protection, volunteer opportunities and counseling on many aging issues and provides a service delivery system on a continuum with 10 programs. Bogen made up her mind to focus on serving older adults during her study of social work in graduate school. Growing up in a small community, Bogen recalls seeing older adults in need and deciding that she wanted to make sure that in the future, seniors received the respect and attention they deserve throughout their lifespans.
“Molly is a true example of an individual who cares for seniors and strives to make a difference in their lives,” said Andrea Statman, Director of Development for The Legacy Senior Communities. “We are proud to have her as the inaugural Carmen Miller Michael Legacy Senior Communities Award recipient. Just like Dr. Michael, Molly strives to find solutions and improve the lives of those in need. She inspires all of us who dedicate ourselves to bettering the lives of seniors in North Texas.”
The Carmen Miller Michael Legacy Senior Communities Award was created to pay tribute to special qualities Michael possessed: a pioneering spirit and an unshakeable sense of justice and compassion. Michael was a visionary who gave hope and help to individuals facing difficult challenges. She was a major force in advancing an improved quality of life for people dealing with aging, mental illness and cognitive challenges.
“Dr. Michael was such an exceptional person in so many ways,” described Michael Ellentuck, president and CEO of The Legacy Senior Communities. “She was genuinely devoted in her work and volunteerism as a mental health advocate throughout her adult life, and we were fortunate to have her serve on our board. We established an award in her name to recognize the integral role she played in our organization and in many others across North Texas. We feel grateful to have known her, and we look forward to presenting this award in her name.”
“I hope I am an advocate like Dr. Michael,” said Bogen. “If I am just a little like her in challenging the status quo and speaking for the underserved, then hopefully I’m heading in the right direction.”
Bogen encourages everyone to seek ways they can make a positive difference in the lives of seniors and simply recognize how much the aging population truly has to offer.
“We can be so youth-oriented in the Dallas metro area, always searching for that elusive fountain of youth, but it’s overwhelming to live that way,” explained Bogen. “We have a lot to learn from the older adults around us, and we will all appreciate life more if we accept the aging process.”
Bogen is motivated by her belief that there are new challenges to address in the senior living industry every day. She loves to learn about the opportunities that lie ahead in the future.
“I believe everyone should be able to live out their older years and leave this earth with dignity,” said Bogen. “Many don’t like to think about aging or helping older adults as their health declines, but recently our life expectancy has increased and there is a more urgent call to action regarding consideration of aging adults and their needs. Besides, aging is a reality that all of us face.”
Bogen will receive the award at the Yes! Event fundraising luncheon on November 19, at noon, at the Winspear Opera House with special guest speaker Jane Pauley. Proceeds will go toward The Legacy Preston Hollow Residents’ Assistance Fund, which provides charitable support for residents who rely on The Legacy Senior Communities for the cost of their daily care and for the extra services that enrich their lives. Proceeds also will benefit The Legacy at Home to provide help for seniors who remain in their own homes but need financial assistance for personal care services that keep them safe and independent.
For more information about the Yes! Event luncheon and sponsorship opportunities, visit The Legacy Senior Communities Yes! Event page.
Contact Robyn Johnston, Associate Director of Development, at 972-468-6162 with specific questions, or email her at rjohnston@thelegacysc.org.