Retirement community donates money to fund dining services staff scholarships

PEORIA, Ariz. — The Plaza del Rio Foundation’s Spring/Summer 2015 Scholarship Awards Presentation honored 12 employees from Freedom Plaza Retirement Community, Freedom Plaza Care Center, Plaza del Rio Care Center, and Casa del Rio Senior Living, all located on the Plaza del Rio campus in Peoria.

Funded by resident donations, the William T. and Laura Lou Riggs Memorial Scholarship Fund awarded a total of $20,200 to 12 scholars for the Spring/Summer 2015 semester.

“We are always appreciative of the support the scholarship program receives from our executive director, Jai Larman,” said Jeanne Chisholm, president of the Plaza del Rio Foundation. She also expressed gratitude to the Plaza del Rio Foundation Scholarship Committee board members: Jim Gates, Peg Gittus, Robert Hagen, Mary Koleski, all residents of Freedom Plaza, and Ruth Woodson, a resident of Casa del Rio.

Larman, executive director of Freedom Plaza, offered insights into the eligibility process of scholarship recipients, which are based on academic achievement, work experience, and financial assistance needed to achieve their goals.

Sharing the wise words of a Chinese proverb, Larman recited the quote, “Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”

The Spring/Summer 2015 scholarship recipients: Casa del Rio dining services staff Jo Annmarie Cesante and Chloe Olenick; Freedom Plaza dining services staff Dina Buzimkic, Erin Gradel, and Courtney Kelly; Freedom Plaza concierge/security Corbin Green; Freedom Plaza personalized living Kimberlee Hollander; Freedom Plaza Care Center health services Tonya Crittenden; Freedom Plaza Care Center medical records Kim Morales; Freedom Plaza Care Center personalized living Alexandra Hamby; and Plaza del Rio Care Center health services Melissa Garcia and Samantha Diaz.