Thursday, July 19
GERIAOKE TIME

By John Oehser - Colts.com

Colts Kickoff “Geriaoke” Program at Eagle Creek Center
INDIANAPOLIS - The Colts long have reached out to youth and other groups, Making it Personal throughout the city and state of Indiana.
Now, the Colts are reaching out to older fans, as well.

“Geriaoke,” a program that reaches out to nursing homes around the state of Indiana, made its debut Thursday with Colts officials and the team mascot, “Blue,” hosting a karaoke party at Eagle Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center.

“Our older fan base, some of them are confined to nursing homes,” Colts Director of Marketing Chuck O'Hara said. “This is a way to go out and be with them, too.

“It’s another way to Make it Personal.”

At Eagle Creek on Thursday, about 15 fans participated in the contest, singing songs from song books from the 1940s to the present. At the end, Blue crowned the winner and awarded prizes.

The grand prize winner received a “golden horseshoe,” and is entered in the “Super Geriaoke Finals,” information on which will be released at a later date.

All guests at the center received a Colts poster and other team giveaways.

The residents also got a chance to touch and be photographed with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, which the Colts won for winning Super Bowl XLI this past February.

Colts

Cheerleaders also attended the event.

“We’ve been really excited,” Eagle Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center Director of Nursing Becky Nash said. “All the residents were excited and the staff was excited. It’s been the best thing to happen to us in a very long time.

“They have had so much fun practicing. This is a marvelous, marvelous thing. It’s a tremendous gift.”

Nash said the Geriaoke program “boosts the morale of the industry and boosts the morale of the staff.”

“It gives the long-term care industry good publicity, so that’s a nice thing,” Nash said. “People get a chance to see how we really love and care about our residents and that’s a huge thing for us. We really appreciate the Colts.

“I think it’s a wonderful thing.”

Said Colts Senior Executive Vice President Sales and Marketing Tom Zupancic, “For years the Indianapolis Colts have done a great job of reaching out to younger fans with the Youth Football Program, the new Kids Club, Father/Son camps and the Jr. Cheer program. It is only logical that we take giving back to the next level by reaching out to older fans who reside in nursing homes.

“We hope by hosting the Geriaoke program that we inspire those in the community to bring entertaining programs to nursing homes in their neighborhoods.”