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Residents at Friendship Village and students of Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy (ELSA) celebrated their unique partnership in a suitably inimitable way. Earlier this month, seniors and their young friends with cognitive disabilities honored their friendship by scuba diving in Friendship Village’s beautiful aquatic center.
91-year old Velma Robinson said that scuba diving was “fantastic.” She added that the opportunity permitted her to try something new. “I just can’t see people sitting in their rooms watching TV when they can get out and enjoy life,” she said.
Friendship Village is a retirement community in Schaumburg. Jeannette Magdaleno, manager of life-long learning and volunteer services who coordinated the event said, “We are always encouraging the residents to try something new.” Over the past several years, Friendship Village’s lifestyles department has introduced residents to rock climbing, laser tag, archery, iFLY indoor skydiving, go-karting, snow tubing, and now scuba diving. “When you try something new, it makes you feel very alive,” she said.
The residents of Friendship Village have been working on a volunteer project with students from ELSA, which is a four-year post-high school program at Elmhurst College for young adults with disabilities. The project, called New Life for Old Bags, uses recycled garbage bags to create sleeping mats for the homeless. “This event with Diveheart permitted the residents of Friendship Village and the students to celebrate their friendship while trying something new,” said Jeannette.
The scuba diving instruction was provided by Diveheart. The Downers Grove-based not-for-profit offers scuba diving instruction and opportunities to children and adults with disabilities and wounded veterans.
“Scuba diving was very exhilarating,” said 87-year old Helen Moffat, who tried out scuba diving. “It gives you a new lease on life!”
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Last week, 100 spirited participants, ages 70-94, gathered at South Bay at Mt. Pleasant senior living community for the 4th annual Liberty Games.
The Olympic-style event is a signature experience of Liberty Senior Living, a leader in the senior living industry. The Liberty Games brought residents from 10 of the organization’s independent living communities for three days of competition. Participating communities, in addition to the host, were The Barclay at SouthPark, Brightmore of South Charlotte, Carolina Bay at Autumn Hall, Brightmore of Wilmington, The Templeton of Cary, Wellington Bay, Pisgah Valley, Quail Haven Village, and Hayes Barton Place.
The Games were spearheaded four years ago by Haley Kinne-Norris, INSPIRE Wellness and Enrichment Coordinator for Liberty Senior Living. “I wanted to find a fun way to bring everyone together for a healthy competition,” Kinne-Norris said. Liberty Senior Living boasts a strong commitment to a culture of wellness.
The 2025 event was spectacular from start to finish. Opening ceremonies started with a torch reportedly used in the Paris Olympics, a color guard presentation by cadets from the Citadel, and the energetic entrance of each team. The keynote address /pep talk was delivered by philanthropist inspirational speaker and retired basketball official, Dereck Whittenburg.
The extraordinary ceremony ended with a headstand by Cookie Finkelstein, an 83-year-old athlete from South Bay at Mt. Pleasant. The six-time cancer patient went on to win the ½ mile walk.
Athletes, many of whom have been training for months (if not the entire year since last year’s Games), participated in various events. The athletic competitions included bocce ball, putting, swimming, billiards, ping pong, shuffleboard, a water balloon tossing off a fourth-floor balcony towards a bull’s eye on the ground, and more.
In addition to the physical events, the Liberty Games included trivia, chess, and other cognitive competitions in which the residents’ minds were challenged.
A Culture of Wellness and Engagement
The Liberty Games were designed to crown champions and, even more importantly, foster a sense of community, camaraderie, and active engagement. The Liberty Games embody a corporate-wide commitment to promoting a culture of wellness, where staying engaged and active is a priority no matter your age.
Elizabeth Pierce, a resident of Brightmore of Wilmington, competed in several activities. The arthritis in one arm and shoulder and hip replacements she said, “don’t hold me back from having a good time. This is a fun and competitive way for me to represent my community and I feel great.”
Celebrating Achievement
After the Games, winners in each event were recognized with awards for first, second, and third place. The top-scoring teams were also recognized, with The Templeton of Cary taking home the gold for the third time.
A Legacy of Health and Wellness
Ultimately, the Liberty Games event proves to be much more than a competition—it is annually an inspiring celebration of active aging. The Liberty Games are a fun reminder that it’s never too late to pursue health, build friendships, and stay engaged with life. For the participants, the games are a chance to challenge themselves, laugh with new friends, and take pride in staying active and involved to live a purposeful, independent and engaging life.
