CANTON, Mass – Acclaimed jazz singer Donna Byrne gave a concert April 6 for residents of Orchard Cove in Canton, an award-winning community offering senior living options that span the full continuum of care and is part of Hebrew SeniorLife, New England’s largest nonprofit provider of senior health care and living communities. The live concert performance featured Tim Smith-Ray on piano and Les Harris, Jr. on drums, and was presented by the Orchard Cove Scholarship Fund as a thank you to the generosity of residents. 

An acclaimed singer and recording artist, Byrne sang from the Great American Songbook to the Beatles. She has performed with renowned artists including Tony Bennett, the Artie Shaw Orchestra, Herb Pomeroy, and others, and has played legendary venues from Los Angeles to New York to Boston, her hometown, and London, including the Blue Note, Tavern on the Green, Regattabar, the Rainbow Room, and Royal Albert Hall. 

Pianist Tim Ray played for many years with Lyle Lovett, and performed with Aretha Franklin and Bonnie Raitt at Carnegie Hall, the White House, the Kennedy Center, and other venues. He has appeared on The Tonight Show, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Conan O’Brien Show, as well. Berklee-trained Les Harris, Jr., is a former teen drum prodigy, who sat in with jazz greats Tommy Gallant, Herb Pomeroy, and Phil Wilson by the time he was 14. He has also toured with the Artie Shaw Orchestra, saxophonist Scott Hamilton, and vocalist Cheryl Bentyne.

“The jazz concert was really wonderful,” said resident Nancy Connery, a retired director of Admissions and Financial Services at MGH, “The auditorium was set up as a nightclub, with clusters of small tables, and it was just a really happy night. People loved the performance and enjoyed themselves. It was a great way to thank the residents who have generously supported the Orchard Cove Scholarship Program.” 

For the past three years, residents and friends have contributed more than $50,000 each year that is used to provide educational scholarships for Orchard Cove employees. The program was established more than a decade ago by residents as a way to support employees’ educational goals. The significant scholarships – which supported 20 employees in 2021 – are in addition to other incentives and supports from Hebrew SeniorLife for employees who enroll in academic programs. Last year’s students majored in nursing, psychology, engineering, information technology and other programs at colleges including Dartmouth University, Vanderbilt University, UMASS Amherst, Simmons University, Suffolk University, Massasoit Community College, and others. In over 22 years, the committee has supported more than 100 employees pursue their educations goals.

“For many of these staff members, the scholarships make the difference in being able to afford higher education. We so look forward to seeing how these employees make their mark at Orchard Cove and beyond,” said Orchard Cove Executive Director Aline Russotto.

The volunteers who manage the Orchard Cove Scholarship Program were concerned that it would be difficult to continue to raise money during the pandemic, when they could not hold big events. But, according to Connery, “we tried different ways to raise money, and found that residents continued to want to support the scholarship fund as a way to show their appreciation for the employees who help them every day.”

Miles for Scholars
On April 18, to celebrate the Boston Marathon, the scholarship fund will kick off a new initiative, “Miles for Scholars.” "Residents will track various activities to reach 26.2 miles of the marathon but they can complete that any way they want, by walking around the campus, on a treadmill or while swimming or any other activity," Connery said. A large map of Boston will be used to track residents’ progress towards the goal of completing their marathon, with donations for every milestone.

As another way to connect residents with employees, staff will also get a chance to track their mileage, too, though they will participate for free. However, employees participating in the “Miles for Scholars” marathon can apply their activity to a wellness program that Hebrew SeniorLife offers employees.  

About Hebrew SeniorLife
Hebrew SeniorLife is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching, and redefining the possibilities of aging. Hebrew SeniorLife cares for more than 3,000 seniors a day across six campuses throughout Greater Boston. Our locations include: Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-Boston and Hebrew Rehabilitation Center-NewBridge in Dedham; NewBridge on the Charles, Dedham; Orchard Cove, Canton; Simon C. Fireman Community, Randolph; Center Communities of Brookline, Brookline; and Jack Satter House, Revere. Founded in 1903, Hebrew SeniorLife also conducts influential research into aging at the Hinda and Arthur Marcus Institute for Aging Research and trains more than 1,000 geriatric care providers each year. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit https://www.hebrewseniorlife.org or follow us on our blog, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

BOSTON — Jennifer Waterman, MPT, GCS, Home Health Physical Therapist at Hebrew SeniorLife Home Care was recently selected to receive the Clinician of the Year award by the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts. Jennifer will receive the award on June 19 at the 2018 Home Care Alliance Innovations Showcase and Star Awards ceremony at Granite Links Golf Club in Quincy.

The Clinician of the Year award is given to a nurse or therapist who has consistently demonstrated an exceptional degree of clinical excellence in the use of their skills, a commitment to individual professional growth, special contributions to the agency and team colleagues, a special degree of caring and commitment to patients, and longevity in the home care profession.

The Home Care Alliance is a statewide association dedicated to promoting homecare as integral part of the health care delivery system. The Alliance is the definitive voice for home care in Massachusetts and builds public awareness of home care – helping citizens of the Commonwealth understand the scope of services and how to make wise health choices.

Jennifer has been a member of the HSL Home Care Rehabilitation Team since 2011, received her certificate as a Geriatric Certified Specialist in 2016, and is currently studying to become a Certified Expert in Adult Exercise. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) both in the Massachusetts division and the Geriatric Division and is a member of the Falls Committee at Hebrew SeniorLife Home Care.

Kim Portello, PT, COS-C, Director of Clinical Services, Hebrew SeniorLife Home Care said, “Jennifer’s enthusiasm for her profession and patients is infectious. She engages her patients by inquiring about what is important to them, and establishes a treatment plan to assist in helping patients achieve their goals, along with the goals she sets upon initial evaluation. I have had the privilege of going on site visits with Jenn and I am always struck by the connection she makes, not only with her patients, but with their families and caregivers as well. Her commitment to quality and her patients was instrumental in our achieving Home Care Elite status this year.”

Jennifer provides home care and physical therapy to residents at Hebrew SeniorLife’s Orchard Cove community in addition to patients in the greater Boston area.

About Hebrew SeniorLife

Hebrew SeniorLife, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School, is a national senior services leader uniquely dedicated to rethinking, researching and redefining the possibilities of aging. Founded in Boston in 1903, the nonprofit, non-sectarian organization today provides communities and health care for seniors, research into aging, and education for geriatric care providers. For more information about Hebrew SeniorLife, visit http://www.hebrewseniorlife.org, follow us on Twitter @H_SeniorLife, like us on Facebook or read our blog.