AAOK 3 Year Anniversary
In February we dedicated our meeting to celebrating our 3rd anniversary. This included a presentation of all our AAOK’s, donations, and lots more information about our club and its history. We also recognized our founder, Joe Santoro, with a Certificate of Kindness. We have come a long way since our first meeting with 12 members, especially since the pandemic knocked us out of business for a year. Thanks to all for making our club such a success!
February 17, 2022 – Margaret Furlong
This was a wonderful AAOK event for a wonderful lady. We honored Margaret Furlong at a breakfast event at the Hope Lutheran Church. Margaret volunteered for many years at Lowell Prison in Ocala working with a group of ladies in the Crafts of Conviction Group teaching crafting skills and sharing stories from the outside world. Margaret was also instrumental in getting the Community Resource Center off the ground. She worked with the ladies that made several different items, such as baby clothes, and small children’s quilts that were distributed through the fire department. Dolls were given to ladies in nursing homes and also to children in the hospital as learning tools She is a huge supporter of ‘Abundance of Love’ and delivers carloads of craft items from Hope Crafters to AOL for distribution. She is always working in the background and it was our pleasure to acknowledge Margaret’s many years of service. Our thanks to Jen Smith, Barbara Bickley, John Mairino, and Debbie Fisher for all their help.
Jukebox Bingo Fundraiser
Our February fundraiser was an amazing success. We had some 240 people fill the theatre at Rohan Recreation Center. The night, hosted by Ric Mitchell, was full of laughter and fond memories as we played Bingo based on all the songs we knew as kids. These funds will put us in a great position to carry out our events as well as to continue donations to other caring clubs here in The Villages. Everything we do is focused on our mission to create a Culture of Kindness in The Villages and beyond.
Our many thanks to those of you who were a part of this event, and those who contributed gifts. One of the highlights of the evening was our guests of honor, Mary and Jim Courtney. They are members of our club who have recently found it necessary to move to assisted living. They are both in their 90’s and have been married for 67 years! They had such a wonderful time, and we had a wonderful time watching them enjoy themselves. Our thanks to Stan and Cheryl Misiazek for supplying their transportation.
Funraiser suzie casta
106 lucky people enjoyed the evening with the talented Suzie Casta
AAOK Club Activities
Lois Rose gives Labor of Love
Kennon Atkinson receives Kindness Award
Kennon Atkinson receives Kindness Award
Lois Rose, AAOK Member, used her sewing skills and made red Kindness masks. Lois donated her time, materials for the masks and they were sold at the AAOK meeting. Kudos to Lois!
Kennon Atkinson receives Kindness Award
Kennon Atkinson receives Kindness Award
Kennon Atkinson receives Kindness Award
President Lindsay Collier presented Kennon Adkinson, Sonny's BBQ Chief Kindness Officer, a Certificate of Kindness for his many kindness programs in the community.
100 members 3/11/21
Kennon Atkinson receives Kindness Award
100 members 3/11/21
The AAOK Club met March 11, 2021 with a record high attendance including 7 new members bringing us to the 100 mark. Discussions on future plans to accomplish the mission of promoting a culture of kindness in The Villages, the upcoming Fun(d) Raiser with the famous Suzie Casta, and future social events. Joyce Gilette from The Villages Dollars for Scholars program and Anne Sheehan from the Dayton, Ohio AAOK Club shared their stories.
Board Members
AAOK Club Board of Directors
Carol Cholette, John Maiorino, Margaret Wolfe, Jen Smith and Lindsay Collier show items that will shared at the AAOK 1st Annual Celebration & Fundraiser from 6:30-8:30 pm on Jan. 16, 2021, at the La Hacienda Recreation Center, Carmen Miranda Theater. An evening of music & song with the famous Suzie Casta, along with other fun activities. Bring your own drinks & snacks. Only a limited amount of tickets will be sold, in order to conform with all safety directives. Contact Treasurer, Jen Smith, for your tickets jpsmith@comcast.net or 352.250.3431
AAOK In the news
Villages Neighbor Magazine August 2020 Issue
Another Act of Kindness mentioned in one of the Villages Magazines!