Local Seniors Honored for Volunteer Service

Feb. 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Mirador senior living community, with underwriting support provided by the SQLC Charitable Foundation, recently held an awards dinner to honor four Corpus Christi area seniors who received the Mirador 2010 Salute to Seniors Award.

The Salute to Seniors Award is presented quarterly to honor an individual who is making a difference in their community. Qualified nominees are active adults age 62 and above who volunteer their time and talents to their communities, and who also exemplify leadership, spirit, and citizenship.

“It was an inspirational evening sitting through a lovely dinner and hearing how these seniors have dedicated so much of their time to giving back to our community,” said Cindy Waldron, executive director at Mirador. “The team at Mirador is so happy to be able to recognize these deserving individuals for the difference they are making here in Corpus Christi. Volunteerism is so important, and each honoree is a testament to how important and fulfilling it can be to give of one’s time.”
The 2010 honorees were nominated by the nonprofit organizations they serve, and include:  Nancy Hardeman, Carolyn Keskitalo, David Hoffman and Chris Davis Garcia.  Each honoree was presented with a commemorative Salute to Seniors Award Tiffany gift during the ceremonies.


Nancy Hardeman
(Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi)


Hardeman, 69, began her involvement with the Ronald McDonald House 17 years ago. She served as the interim executive director before becoming a full time volunteer. Hardeman's duties include guest registry, sending thank you letters for donations, answering phones, data entry and giving out lots of hugs. Before retiring, Hardeman worked in the insurance industry for 30 years.


Carolyn Keskitalo
(Corpus Christi Downtown Lions Club)


Keskitalo began serving the Lions over 23 years ago. She considers herself a full-time Lion, and everyday works hard serving the Coastal Bend community.  She has served as president twice, secretary three times and has sponsored more than 59 members.  Her main involvement is with the Lions Eye Bank of Texas, where her duties include informing people about cornea transplants, providing free exams and eyeglasses for underprivileged school children and leading various fundraisers throughout the year.  

Her volunteerism with The Lions Clubs International Organization has garnished Keskitalo with many awards, including the Lions Eye Bank of Texas Angel Award, Ray Hughston Humanitarian Award and the Lions International Leadership Award.  She also served 10 years as Lions World Service for the Blind co chairperson, training blind or nearly blind people in areas of home, personal care and career.


David Hoffman
(Driscoll Children’s Hospital)


Hoffman began volunteering at Driscoll Children’s Hospital 5 years ago after a friend recommended it. After volunteering at multiple places, he discovered that working with the children at Driscoll’s was the most rewarding. Mr. Hoffman spends countless hours with the families at Driscoll delivering movies to help them pass the time and cheering them up with his numerous funny hats, battery-operated toys, and his positive spirit

Mr. Hoffman is a retired Navy veteran who served our country for 24 years. After the Navy, he was a supervisor with Boeing and McDonnell-Douglas. He is now able to do what he loves by spending his time serving the families at Driscoll’s.



Chris Davis Garcia
(Corpus Christi Metro Ministries)

Garcia began serving Metro Ministries after her retirement 6 years ago. Garcia has been able to spend a significant amount of her time doing volunteer work, including serving food to homeless in her area through Corpus Christi Metro Ministries.  

While working full time, Garcia supported Metro Ministries by giving small financial gifts whenever she was able. After retiring from a 22 year career with the Corpus Christi Independent School District, she started donating her time to the organization.

Garcia and several others from her Sunday school class serve meals on Fridays in the Loaves and Fishes cafeteria at Metro Ministries.


In 2008, SQLC founded the SQLC Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that operates to make grants to and support programs and services that advance the interests of seniors.

Scheduled to open this summer in the heart of south Corpus Christi, Mirador will be the area’s only full service life care senior living community.  The $79 million gated community will include approximately 125 customized independent living apartment homes, each with a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, and 24-hour emergency response system, as well as 44 private assisted living suites, 41 private rooms for dignified nursing care, and 18 private residences for memory support. Designed to enrich the lives of seniors, Mirador will feature 25,000 square feet of commons areas on a lush 17-acre campus with a premier location close to local restaurants, shops and attractions.

Mirador will be a 501(c)3 not-for-profit senior living community owned by Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), a Texas-based nonprofit organization that owns sister communities Edgemere in Dallas, The Buckingham in Houston, Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin, and The Stayton at Museum Way in Fort Worth.  For information, visit www.miradorretirement.com, or call (361) 288-7027.