Gapers Block has ceased publication.

Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
 Thank you for your readership and contributions. 

TODAY

Tuesday, March 19

Gapers Block
Search

Gapers Block on Facebook Gapers Block on Flickr Gapers Block on Twitter The Gapers Block Tumblr


A/C
« Albany Park Theater Project Stages a Feast of Cuisines and Cultures Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation, The Stanford Prison Experiment, I Am Chris Farley & Samba »

Profile Fri Jul 31 2015

One Dream at a Time, Charity Supports Seniors in Poverty

One Dream: Louise at a Cubs game

Melissa Cosentino has had one dream for as long as she can remember: working to improve the lives of seniors. She grew up with a strong relationship to her Grandmother Mimi, which inspired her to begin working with older adults in high school. When she went on to college, she knew she wanted to study gerontology, social work, and health care management. She had found her passion -- advocating and caring for the senior population.

That passion led to the development of her growing Chicago-based charity: One Dream. The organization fulfills the dreams of low-income seniors by providing them with an experience they have desired, but do not have the means to pay for.

Cosentino created the organization because she has seen first hand the crushing effects of senior poverty.

"The more I've worked with seniors the more I've seen cases of senior poverty, which is a huge problem," she said. "There's a recent study that shows that almost half of America's seniors have low incomes below 200 percent of the poverty level, which means they're struggling to make ends meet. By 80 years old, that number jumps up to 60 percent of the senior population on low income."

Senior poverty is a growing problem in the United States, with 45 percent of America's retirees living in poverty as of 2013.

Cosentino fears that as the baby boomers age, senior poverty will spiral out of control.

"It's scary to think about!" she said. "With baby boomers getting older, in the next five years we'll have almost 15 million more seniors in America. Considering there's roughly 40 million seniors now that's a 37.5 percent increase, so this is a serious problem and getting even more serious."

So where exactly do these numbers come from? Well, according to a recent report released by the Kaiser Family Foundation, while the official measure used by the federal government claims only 10 percent of seniors are currently living in poverty, 33 percent are living within 200 percent of the poverty threshold, which is an annual income of $11,354 for a single senior and $14,309 for a household of two. This official threshold also does not take into account out-of-pocket medical costs, which can comprise a large portion of seniors' expenses.

Therefore, the Supplementary Poverty Measure (SPM for short) was recently created to address this issue. It deducts out-of-pocket medical expenses from a senior's income, creating a more realistic picture of those who are in poverty. Under the SPM, 15 percent of America's seniors are living below the poverty line. Forty-five percent are living within 200 percent of the SPM poverty threshold. For a household of one, this means an annual income, after medical expenses, of $22,714.

The numbers are a bit different in Illinois. Under the official poverty measure, only 9 percent of Illinois' seniors were living under the poverty line between 2011 through 2013. But when using the SPM, that number increases to 15 percent. When looking at those who live within 200 percent of the official threshold, 31 percent of our state's seniors were living near or in poverty. That number was 44 percent when using the SPM.

These numbers mean our seniors are living in fairly dire straits. As the cost of nursing homes and medical expenses keep increasing, many seniors are finding themselves without the necessary funds to support themselves, let alone have the luxury to have the once-in-a-lifetime experiences they deserve in their "golden years."

That's where Cosentino and One Dream come in. She networks with her colleagues in the senior living industry and other contacts to find seniors who have a dream experience her organization can fulfill. The One Dream team then calculate the costs of that dream experience, put the sum up on their site, and use crowdfunding to make a senior's dream into reality.

One Dream recently made such a dream come true for Darlene Wilcher of Oak Park. As a lifelong Chicago resident, she had dreamed of what it would be like to ride in a helicopter through the city.

But until One Dream stepped in, she never would have thought that would be possible due to her financial circumstances. Darlene has epilepsy, as well as other medical conditions, which have been difficult to overcome.

Two weeks ago, however, One Dream provided Darlene with the experience of a lifetime as she and two friends went up and took a tour of the city with Chicago Helicopter Experience, which had donated the ride to help make her wish come true.

One Dream: Darlene on a helicopter ride

Other fulfilled dreams have included trips to Lyric Opera and a Cubs game.

Cosentino explained how the organization determines the costs of each dream, such as Darlene's helicopter ride, based on its associated expenses.

"If someone wants to attend a play, for example, we calculate the cost of handicapped accessible transportation (if needed), a nurse (if needed), food/drinks, tickets, and a small amount towards helping us to afford a photographer, videographer, and editor," she said. "All the expenses needed to fulfill the dream are called a 'funding goal.'"

The next step, crowdfunding, is the crucial piece of the process to ensure the senior's dream is met. In-kind donations also play a large role in reaching a funding goal.

"We then will raise the necessary funds via online crowdfunding. If we get in-kind donations from sponsors, such as event tickets or donated transportation, the goal amount is reduced appropriately," she said. "For example, Lyric Opera of Chicago donated 92-year-old Diana's ticket to see the opera, The Chicago Cubs donated a few tickets for 98-year-old Louise's dream to see the Cubs play at Wrigley Field, and Chicago Helicopter Experience donated Darlene's helicopter ride."

While finding company sponsors has tremendously helped achieve these dreams, One Dream is also looking to expand its current pool of citizen donors.

"Thus far, our donors have consisted of friends and families, and people who are inspired by the seniors' stories," Cosentino said.

Cosentino's dream has come true as well, as her organization has expanded.

"As sappy as this sounds, my 'one dream' comes true each and every time I witness someone getting their dream fulfilled," she said. "I have daydreamed about fulfilling senior dreams for a long, long time, and to see them finally happening is a magical experience."

One Dream is always looking for qualifying seniors who have a dream they'd like to see come true. The organization is also currently looking for anyone interested in volunteering for the organization. They particularly are in search of experienced photographers, videographers, designers, and marketers who can spread the word to find more deserving Chicagoland seniors with dreams the organization can fulfill. Visit One Dream's website to find out more.

Images courtesy of One Dream

 
GB store

Linda Benwitz / July 31, 2015 5:14 PM

Although it's an uncomfortable topic, senior poverty will affect many people and I appreciate being reminded about the grim statistics. Unfortunately as boomers age and their savings are depleted, many will face daunting times ahead. One Dream is a shining star that will hopefully reach many deserving seniors.

GB store

Architecture Tue Nov 03 2015

Paul Goldberger Describes the "Pragmatism and Poetry" of Frank Gehry's Architecture in His New Book

By Nancy Bishop

Architecture critic Paul Goldberger talks about Frank Gehry's life and work in a new book.
Read this feature »

Steve at the Movies Fri Jan 01 2016

Best Feature Films & Documentaries of 2015

By Steve Prokopy

Read this column »

Blogroll

ACRE
An Angry White Guy
Antena
AREA Chicago
ArchitectureChicago Plus
Arts Engagement Exchange
The Art Letter
Art or Idiocy?
Art Slant Chicago
Art Talk Chicago
Bad at Sports
Bite and Smile
Brian Dickie of COT
Bridgeport International
Carrie Secrist Gallery
Chainsaw Calligraphy
Chicago Art Blog
Chicago Art Department
Chicago Art Examiner
Chicago Art Journal
Chicago Artists Resource
Chicago Art Map
Chicago Art Review
Chicago Classical Music
Chicago Comedy Examiner
Chicago Cultural Center
Chicago Daily Views
Chicago Film Examiner
Chicago Film Archives
Chicago Gallery News
Chicago Uncommon
Collaboraction
Contemporary Art Space
Co-op Image Group
Co-Prosperity Sphere
Chicago Urban Art Society
Creative Control
Defibrillator
Devening Projects
Digressions
DIY Film
ebersmoore
The Exhibition Agency
The Flatiron Project
F newsmagazine
The Gallery Crawl...
Galerie F
The Gaudy God
Happy Dog Gallery
HollywoodChicago
Homeroom Chicago
I, Homunculus
Hyde Park Artcenter Blog
InCUBATE
Joyce Owens: Artist on Art
J-Pointe
Julius Caesar
Kasia Kay Gallery
Kavi Gupta Gallery
Rob Kozlowski
Lookingglass Theatre Blog
Lumpen Blog
Marquee
Mess Hall
N'DIGO
Neoteric Art
NewcityArt
NewcityFilm
NewcityStage
Not If But When
Noun and Verb
On Film
On the Make
Onstage
Peanut Gallery
Peregrine Program
Performink
The Poor Choices Show
Pop Up Art Loop
The Post Family
The Recycled Film
Reversible Eye
Rhona Hoffman Gallery
Roots & Culture Gallery
SAIC Blog
The Seen
Sharkforum
Sisterman Vintage
Site of Big Shoulders
Sixty Inches From Center
Soleil's To-Do's
Sometimes Store
Steppenwolf.blog
Stop Go Stop
Storefront Rebellion
TOC Blog
Theater for the Future
Theatre in Chicago
The Franklin
The Mission
The Theater Loop
Thomas Robertello Gallery
threewalls
Time Tells Tony Wight Gallery
Uncommon Photographers
The Unscene Chicago
The Visualist
Vocalo
Western Exhibitions
What's Going On?
What to Wear During an Orange Alert?
You, Me, Them, Everybody
Zg Gallery

GB store

 

Events


A/C on Flickr

Join the A/C Flickr Pool.



About A/C

A/C is the arts and culture section of Gapers Block, covering the many forms of expression on display in Chicago. More...
Please see our submission guidelines.

Editor: Nancy Bishop, nancy@gapersblock.com
A/C staff inbox: ac@gapersblock.com

Archives

 

A/C Flickr Pool
 Subscribe in a reader.

GB store

GB Store

GB Buttons $1.50

GB T-Shirt $12

I ✶ Chi T-Shirts $15