FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Calvin Green, Court Operations Consultant @307-4798

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ELVES FOR ELDERS-HOLIDAY CHEER FOR
A FORGOTTEN POPULATION

(TAMPA, FLORIDA - 11/15/04) – Marta, 82, wants baby dolls to hold. Linda, 58, wants lipstick and nail polish so she can look pretty. Lucy, 53, is diabetic and wants sugarless gum. When asked what he wanted, Stanley, 90, smiled and said, "snacks!" All Miriam, 68, wants is a Spanish speaking companion with whom she can talk and go to lunch.

"I think that people will be very surprised and even heartbroken at the basic wants and needs of these people, who are often forgotten," according to Marcia Larkin, Senior Court Program Manager of the Elder Justice Center, "which goes to the very core of why we do this gift drive. Judge Susan Sexton, Administrative Law Judge for the Probate and Guardianship Division of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court, was the pioneer of this idea several years ago, which finally came to fruition in the 'Elves for Elders' holiday gift drive. Judge Sexton's ideas together with the collaborative efforts of the Elder Justice Center and Hillsborough County's public guardian have truly touched the lives of the wards under public guardianship. Something as simple as underwear, socks, pajamas, or a dress to wear for Christmas makes an enormous
difference. People seem to give for needy children during the holidays to make certain they have gifts to open, but the elderly are often neglected. These wards of the State under public guardianship have no money and often no family. So, they generally spend the holidays alone and go without the basics that we tend to take for granted. That is what we discover in our review of their types of cases in the
guardianship division throughout the year. But this is a great opportunity for everyone to do just a little bit extra for some really needy people and we hope that the community will, once again, join us in our efforts."

Anyone interested in participating in the Elves for Elders project should come to the Elder Justice Center, located in the Main Courthouse in downtown Tampa, Room 481, where a holiday tree is decorated with individual name tags and wish lists. For those who can not come downtown but still desire to participate, please call the Elder Justice Center at 276-2726 for a list of 'elders'.

The gift drive will conclude on Monday, December 13, 2004, on the sixth floor lobby of the Main Courthouse at 2:00 p.m. Participants are welcomed to attend the holiday celebration which will conclude at 4:00 p.m. The party will be hosted by Hill Law Group, Access Home Health, and Waters CPA Group. Join the Elder Justice Center and Aging Solutions by providing a little extra for some needy people who will benefit greatly through the support of our community.

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