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Ten Years of Creative Aging ...page 2
Northwest
Prime Time
SERVING THE PUGET SOUND REGION SINCE 1986
www.NorthwestPrimeTime.com
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VOL. 20
NO. 6
Novem b Decem er/ ber 2020
Local Seniors Make the Hollywood Scene Star-Studded calendar earns national attention and raises money for the Alzheimer’s Association
S
eniors at a local retirement community are dressing up like Hollywood stars. For the last three years, residents at Issaquah’s Spiritwood at Pine Lake have had the full Hollywood treatment—including elaborate makeup and costumes—all for the sake of gracing the pages of best-selling calendars to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association.
“The project came about because I was looking for a way to earn more for the organization,” says Jennifer Angell, community relations director at Spiritwood. “We’ve had many benefits at the community to support that cause and I am always on the lookout for something unique.” Jennifer Angell is the mastermind of the calendar project that gives local seniors the full Hollywood treatment. Jennifer is the mastermind behind the project. “I She does all the make-up, costuming and takes the photos. This 2020 takeoff on the movie “Elf” features Bill as Will Ferrell’s title character. Bill is one of dozens of residents at Spiritwood at Pine Lake retirement costume, photograph and provide the makeup for the community to pose for the calendar project that benefits the Alzheimer’s Association. residents,” she explains. The seniors are delighted to participate people. We Award for in the major are featuring Kindness” and a makeovers that Salvador check for $1,000 to make them look Dali, Winston go toward the cost like celebrities. Churchill, of more costumes. Over the Eleanor The start of years, star turns Roosevelt, all this attention have included Colonel was a bit of an Marilyn Sanders, accident. Monroe, Tom Jennifer recast Jack as Tom Cruise’s Willie Nelson, Jennifer, who is Cruise in Top character in “Top Gun” Mary Tyler always looking for Gun, Queen Moore, the Bride of uplifting stories— Elizabeth, Alfred Hitchcock, Liza Minelli in especially since Cabaret, the crew of Star Trek, the famous candy Frankenstein, John Lennon, Elton John, COVID upended factory scene from I Love Lucy, Marlon Brando W.C. Fields, Andy everyone’s lives— from The Godfather, and so many more. Warhol and Charlie Spiritwood residents were transformed into iconic characters from the sent the Good The original inspiration for this unique original “Star Trek” for the 2020 calendar, photo by Jennifer Angell Chaplin.” News Network a project came when Jennifer noticed a strong Jennifer had video of residents resemblance between one of the residents and singing the national anthem at a “virtual Katharine Hepburn. She thought to herself how no idea the project would take off like it has, garnering attention from around the country. ballpark visit” and she accidentally attached a fun it would be to dress her up like the iconic The calendar has been covered picture of the calendar. The news outlet skipped movie star. on CNN, the Good News over the video and instead wanted the calendar. And then, why not Network, The Kelly Clarkson After that, calls from other news programs dress up even more Show and Access Hollywood, to and entertainment shows came pouring in. residents like Hollywood name only a few of the media “This project has been heartwarming, and celebrities? Taking their stories. Jennifer it’s created an even photos, creating calendars remembers how closer bond between and selling them to earn the residents us,” says Jennifer of the money for the Alzheimer’s “went crazy” special relationship she Association was the when Access has with the residents. logical next step for Hollywood’s host, “Posing as the stars and Jennifer. The theme of the 2021 calendar is “Famous Faces,” featuring residents who Mario Lopez, then autographing glossy The project started are look-alikes to famous individuals. In said the name of photos of themselves in 2018, resulting in this photo by Jennifer Angell, Carla poses their community makes the seniors feel like 2019’s calendar with as Eleanor Roosevelt. on TV. “The stars themselves.” its recreation of famous reaction has been fantastic,” she After the photo movie posters. Other photos have reinvented exclaims. “We’ve been getting shoots, the ‘stars’ would scenes from TV series. letters from all over the country.” parade through the dining “In wake of the pandemic, I am only doing During Jennifer’s recent hall in their costumes to single photos this year instead group shots like Jennifer’s makeup, costuming and photo appearance on The Kelly the clapping and cheers years past,” explained Jennifer. transforms Dale into W.C. Fields. Dale Clarkson Show, she was of their fellow residents. She describes 2021’s calendar as Famous has appeared in all three calendars. presented with a “National Faces. “It focuses on look-alikes of famous continued on page 22