Press Releases
MorseLife Honors Charlotte Stern as Volunteer of the Quarter
91 Year Old Also Resident of The Tradition of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, FL (February 29, 2008) – MorseLife recently selected Charlotte Stern, a resident of the organization’s independent living residence The Tradition of the Palm Beaches, as its Volunteer of the Quarter. At 91 years old, Charlotte has been opening her heart and soul as a volunteer for many organizations in New York and New Jersey for more than 35 years, and has distinguished herself as a popular volunteer in the gift shops at The Tradition and Morse Geriatric Center since August, when her beloved husband Maurice passed away.
Charlotte Stern, Volunteer of the Quarter for MorseLife.
In accepting the honor, she reflected on the reason that she decided to volunteer after her husband’s death. “Everyone was so nice to Maurice while he was at Morse Geriatric Center, and before that, when we lived together at The Tradition of the Palm Beaches,” she noted. “I really wanted to ‘give back’ all of the love and care we both received.”
The Brooklyn native has been “giving back” as a volunteer since her five children were young – from the pharmacy at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn and gift shop at St. Barnabas Hospital in New Jersey, to organizations like Hadassah and the National Council of Jewish Women. “Volunteering first and foremost keeps you young,” she said. “It’s also enjoyable to give a hand to people, while being able to make a difference.”
Married for 67 years to her late husband Maurice, they lived in West Orange, New Jersey, where her husband was a manufacturer of lady’s lingerie. As snowbirds, they had a second home in Lake Worth and then moved to Boynton Beach permanently before becoming one of the first residents at The Tradition of the Palm Beaches.
According to Nadine Greenberg, Director of Volunteer Services at MorseLife, Charlotte brings much life and love to all she does. “Her vitality, spirit and warmth are so infectious – she makes each and every person with whom she connects feel important,” she said. “Charlotte is so worthy of this honor – we all love her so much.”
When not volunteering, she dotes on her family, which includes 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. “One of my grandsons is Chief of Staff for the Governor of Rhode Island,” she said. “I am looking forward to going to his son’s bar mitzvah in 2009.”
As Volunteer of the Quarter, Charlotte will be among those considered as Volunteer of the Year at the end of 2008. Nearly 600 people of all ages and backgrounds annually give generously of their time and energy as volunteers for MorseLife and its entities serving the needs of seniors of Palm Beach County.
MorseLife offers many enriching opportunities for adults and young people who are willing to give of their time and hearts through volunteerism. These include everything from visiting with residents, sharing talents and skills, working in Gift Shops, to delivering kosher meals to homebound seniors, providing clerical support and assisting with religious activities. “The goal is to match people with specific talents, experience and interests,” noted Nadine Greenberg. “It is wonderful to see so many individuals of all ages and backgrounds willing to make a difference.”
For more information about volunteer opportunities at MorseLife, call Nadine at (561) 687-5871, or email her at nadineg@morselife.org.
MorseLife is a nationally-recognized provider of health care and residential services for seniors and their families in Palm Beach County. A charitable, not-for-profit organization, its programs include long term care, short term rehabilitation, independent and assisted living, home care, and an institute for geriatric research and education. Founded in 1983, MorseLife has built a reputation and tradition of caring for seniors with excellence, dignity and compassion -- honoring senior living -- now and forever. For more information, visit www.morselife.org.