SPOTLIGHT: THE HEART OF SENIOR LIVING
Watermark for Kids Reaches
Across Generations By Cynthia Helzel
Elizabeth achieving her dream of equestrian lessons as a Watermark Kid. Photo credit: The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay W
atermark Retirement Commu- nities is reaching out to enrich the lives of people at the oppo-
site end of the age spectrum. The Tucson, Ariz.-based senior living provider serves children and young adults age 6 to 22 in a unique way through its Watermark for Kids nonprofit organization. “Watermark for Kids provides individual
funding to help kids attain goals they would not otherwise be able to reach. It pays for everything from sports equipment, music lessons, and tuition for leadership camps to chess tournament fees and ballet classes. The organization’s larger goal is to empow- er Watermark kids to grow up and make a difference in their world.
Founded by Watermark CEO David
Barnes as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 2007, Wa- termark for Kids focuses on assisting children in areas where Watermark communities are located. In addition to helping individual kids achieve life-enhancing goals, it also has aided on a wider scale through partnerships with food banks and school districts. The seeds of Watermark for Kids were
planted in Barnes when he saw a program about poverty on the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” A young girl in one of the families struggled to do well in school; her family lacked what most people take for granted, including running water. Barnes realized that kids from underprivileged families have many obstacles to reaching their potential.
50 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
He saw that a relatively small amount of money could make a big difference in a child’s life. “We decided to form Watermark for
Kids to try to either remove barriers from young adults who were trying to excel at something or provide them the opportunity to excel at something when they didn’t have the means,” Barnes said. The organization also looks into the child’s well-being to see if there are unmet needs such as winter coats or new shoes. “The heart of Watermark for Kids is that
we’re all about helping kids thrive,” said Jill Hofer, executive director of Watermark for Kids. Hofer estimates the program has helped hundreds of individual children around the
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