Celebrating
our 20th Anniversary!
The
Merrymakers Association began serving the elderly in nursing
homes in 1986. A local entertainer, Jim Johnson, met with a
group of Omaha businessmen to form Merrymakers’ mission, to
bring music and laughter to elderly and seniors in the Omaha
area. Most facilities have a budget for activities for their
residents. However, the budget is often limited. The cost of
providing quality entertainment can use up most of the
activities budget. Volunteers are often unreliable or lack the
quality that elderly audiences deserve. Many facilities also
noticed a dramatic decline in the number of musicians available
to provide free entertainment for their residents.
In 1986, eight nursing
homes were given ten performances for the year.
Slowly this dream to
provide the elderly and seniors with musical entertainment began to
grow. Each year, more and more residents received the benefits of
Merrymakers’ free entertainment.
Today, Merrymakers
serves over 28,000 elderly and seniors with free, musical
entertainment every year. In 2006, over 67 facilities have had
Merrymakers perform for their residents every month. Merrymakers serve
every nursing home in a 50-mile radius of Omaha and over 18 assisted
living facilities, many are considered low-income.
So many other places
would love to have the service of Merrymakers, help us to keep the
dream alive and growing!
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