Happy New Year wishes to everyone from the residents, staff, foundation, and campus facility board members of Presbyterian Homes & Services. We look forward to an exciting and remarkable year working together with the Central New York Parkinson’s Support Group.

Benny Mardones, our 2006 PAW Honoree, came back to the PHCNY for another visit with our residents and members of the CNYPSG on Friday, December 8, 2006. Needless to say, Benny’s visit was inspiring to us all. Benny shared his songs with us and included a new song he is working on for his new CD. On this visit, we were also able to meet Benny’s son, Michael, and his son’s girlfriend who came from Paris to be with the family. The PHCNY supplied Christmas photo cards of Benny that he autographed for those that asked. It was an emotional and wonderful time that we spent with our friend. Benny plans on coming back here in the spring to visit with his special friends that not only give him inspiration but hope as well.

The visit here at the PHCNY preceded Benny’s yearly Christmas concert that was held at the Turning Stone Casino on Saturday, December 9, 2006. The concert was fantastic and Benny was able to perform at his best thanks to his different medications he is taking for his Parkinson’s. What a change we have seen in him from May when he made his first visit compared to how he felt in September and December. Twice during his concert, Benny made mention of his inspiring and wonderful visit that he made here at the PHCNY and that he felt such a loving connection with each and every person in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.

Jim Ervin, president of Warrior Records in Hollywood, California, was also at the concert selling Benny Mardones merchandise to his fans. I introduced myself to Jim whom I have been in contact with since the PAW when we sold Benny’s merchandise at the event. Jim and Benny informed me that they had decided to donate a percentage of the proceeds from the sales to the USC Parkinson’s Research Center and to the Parkinson’s Fund at our facility.

A joint project between the efforts of Benny and Jim on the West Coast, and Tony Joseph, myself, and the continued assistance from CNYPSG, on the East Coast, is in the creative stage for this new year. This project will be a major fund raising event to benefit our Parkinson’s Residence as well as to add many new services such as state-of-the-art living environments, cutting-edge treatment via the use of telemedicine, community outreach programs, as well as additional space for research, therapy, and gardens, including an atrium. We will provide more information as plans become developed and finalized.

Benny in concert 12-9-06

L-R: Nancy McCaffrey, Benny

Mardones, and Ed McCaffrey

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