Community News

The Pavilion Hosts Austin’s First Intergenerational Day

June 6, 2012

The Pavilion at Great Hills in Austin, Texas was honored to be selected as the area’s first senior community to host “Intergenerational Day.” This unique event was sponsored by Youth2Seniors, a local non-profit group that creates intergenerational programs in the Austin area. On the beautiful spring afternoon of April 28th, the Pavilion was teeming with excitement as young folks and young-at-heart residents socialized and enjoyed the festival promoting friendships between the generations. Every corner of our community was filled with a special activity for the generations to enjoy together, including food vendors, face painting, storytelling, “glitter tattoos,” trivia games, an arcade-type photo booth, a bounce house, bear building (donated to childrens’ shelters), arts and crafts activities, planting stations, drawings, and a silent auction.

But it was a fun event with a serious purpose as well, and is another way our Community’s residents give back to the community at large. So how, you might ask, do intergenerational friendships help young people?

It’s well known that children and youth benefit mightily from interaction with seniors.
It promotes positive communication skills and improves academic performance.
It provides positive self-esteem by providing youth with a sense of community purpose, service, and positive role models.
It decreases the risk for drug abuse, since young people involved in intergenerational programs have been found to be 46% less likely to initiate drug use.

In addition to all the fun, the silent auction raised over $5,000. This was not surprising given the outstanding offerings up for bidding, which included airline tickets, amusement park tickets, hotel accomodations, art work (including some created in our intergenerational art class), golf packages, jewelry, a garage door opener including installation, and chilldrens’ summer camp registrations.

The success of the event was due to the wonderful help of many sponsors as well as resident and Youth2Seniors volunteers under the leadership of the Youth2Seniors President, Adelle Connors. For more information on the event or Youth2Seniors, follow the group on facebook (www.facebook.com/youth2seniors.org) or the Intergenerational Day website (www.intergenerationalday.org). The event was so successful in the “fun and funds” it generated, that the Pavilion will be the site of more co-sponsored activities, including a summer art program for youth and our Community’s seniors, a winter art show, quarterly holiday events, and more bear building for childrens’ shelters.

The Pavilion at Great Hills Experiences “An Enchanted Evening”

February 8, 2012

The Pavilion at Great Hills truly experienced “An Enchanted Evening” on Wednesday night, February 8, 2012! Residents, families, and staff danced and enjoyed the “Big Band” sounds of the Skylarks. This wonderful group of musicians, along with their lovely vocalist, nostalgically brought back memories of the ‘40s and 50s and inspired everyone to take a dip on the dance floor.

Festooned with blue and silver swags of tulle around entryways, silver stars dangling from the ceiling, and sparkly lights at every table, the Pavilion’s dining room could have been mistaken for a swanky nightclub. Everyone looked the part too . . . from sequined ladies to fedora-topped gentlemen. We’re all still abuzz with excitement about what a grand evening it was, which was preceded by a delicious steak dinner.

We’d love to have you join us at our next celebration . . . there is always something fun brewing at The Pavilion at Great Hills where our residents enjoy the casually elegant life!

Employee of the Year

November 2, 2011

Jose Garcia receives annual Frontier Management Award

This year, Mr. Jose Garcia, Maintenance Director at The Pavilion at Great Hills, was selected as Frontier Management’s Employee of the Year from among its over 4000 employees throughout the country. The Employee of the Year award is made annually to a Frontier employee who routinely goes above and beyond the call of duty to fulfill Frontier’s mission of enriching the lives of our residents, staff and associates through our programs, communications, environments and true commitment.

On November 2nd, Chief Operating Officer Don Harris and Regional Vice President Connie Lowther travelled to Austin to present this honor to an unsuspecting Mr. Garcia. The award was made during a surprise celebration which included residents, the Pavilion staff and leadership team, corporate leaders, and representatives of our new owners.

Mr. Harris, Ms. Lowther, and Clara Hollis, Executive Director, all remarked on Mr. Garcia’s example of commitment to The Pavilion and Frontier. Along with a plaque commemorating his award, Mr. Garcia received a $1000 check. Mr. Garcia was among the first employees hired at the Pavilion, coming on board several months prior to its grand opening in June 2010.

Since the beginning, Mr. Garcia’s actions and demeanor has exemplified the Frontier mission. As the sole maintenance staff member, Mr. Garcia has a big job in keeping our 100+ unit assisted living and memory care facility looking beautiful and in good working order, and he does so through his hard work, focus, and commitment.

He is dedicated to ensuring that our property is safe, in good repair, meets all regulatory requirements, and remains aesthetically beautiful. In the midst of this hard work, he always has a smile and time to listen to residents and staff alike, who routinely express their appreciation for his attention to their needs. Mr. Garcia is a model of professionalism and caring to everyone in the community and will serve as an outstanding example for next year’s award winner!

The Pavilion at Great Hills Newsletter

November 2011

By Clara Hollis, Executive Director

I love fall, don’t you? While we may not get the blazing foliage display of New England, central Texas has its own seasonal delights. The Great Hills of Austin surrounding the Pavilion bring lovely nuanced shades of autumn that turn my thoughts to carving pumpkins and turkeys, planning Thanksgiving dinners, and eating candied apples and pecan pie. Undoubtedly we appreciate the cooler, crisp temperatures more than most Americans, especially after our history-book hot and dry summer of 2011.

This fall at the Pavilion, we’ll be making new autumn memories as we celebrate the holidays ushered in by November and December. We have the usual busy slate of activities planned, but look forward to these special events as well:

November 14: “Glamour Shot” photographs from 10am to 1:30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for our residents to have a beautiful portrait taken here at the Pavilion for a mere $15 which can make a special and meaningful Christmas gift for families.
November 16: Thanksgiving Family Feast and Appreciation Night from 5 pm to 7 pm. We love our families and want to let them know how much we appreciate them. Celebrate your family’s food traditions by bringing your favorite side dish to add to the Pavilion’s turkey, dressing, and other fare for a great time of fellowship and thankfulness for all that our families mean to us.
December 7: Launch the Christmas and Hanukah season at The Pavilion’s Annual Holiday Tree Lighting from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm, featuring concern violinist musical accompaniment.
December 10: A Holiday Tea in Memory Care at 10 am.
December 17: A Holiday Tea in Assisted Living at 10 am
January 11: Winter Dance from 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm

I am so excited about life at the Pavilion. It is my privilege and pleasure to be a part of the Pavilion family and spend my days in your home.

The Pavilion Participates in Austin’s 2011 Memory Walk

October 16, 2011

Since opening in June 2010, the staff at The Pavilion at Great Hills, along with Frontier Management, have been committed to assisting the Austin’s Alzheimer’s Association in fundraising for research and program support for caregivers. The Alzheimer’s Association’s signature event is the annual Memory Walk, which brings the community together in support of this mission. Last year, the Pavilion team raised nearly $5,000 through a variety of activities, including their 22-member walking team. We were proud to have ranked 4th overall in total donations raised!

This year, once again the “Pavilion Pacers” hit the streets of Austin on foot and in wheelchairs to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. Additionally, several fun activities were held in advance of the 2011 Memory Walk on October 15th. In September, The Pavilion hosted a “Vegas Night with Elvis”. Residents, their families, staff, and community guests enjoyed a wonderful Italian banquet, a silent auction, and entertainment by Elvis (well, it may not be the real Elvis but he sure looks and sounds like him!). This will be a fun-filled evening for all with an awesome purpose!

Other activities this year included the Pavilion Pacers t-shirt sale to wear during the walk. Any vendors purchasing Pavilion Pacers t-shirts also benefited by having their business logo imprinted on the t-shirt as a co-participant. Another special activity was the Pavilion’s first “Garage Sale.

A big congratulations is in order for the entire Pavilion family—residents, their families, and the Pavilion staff for your outstanding fundraising accomplishment for the Alzheimer’s Association. This year, The Pavilion raised $3,131.65 through their activities. Kudos to all for your commitment to a worthy cause. The Pavilion family truly gives back!

“We are excited and committed to this worthy cause. Each day at the Pavilion’s Memory Care unit, we see the impact of Alzheimer’s and related dementias on our residents and their families. But we also know that our residents who suffer this disease can continue to live enjoyably and meaningfully in a supported living environment like ours. This is our mission and it is a joy to support the Alzheimer’s Association in fulfilling theirs,” states Clara Hollis Executive Director.