'Tis the season for Joy as local senior inspires donation to ACTS

East Longmeadow, Mass.– East Village Place resident Joy Holsing, 79, has a festive name and spirit of giving that make her a local star of the holiday season. Holsing recently spread a bit of good cheer to Action Centered Tutoring Services (ACTS), where she helped present the non-profit with a donation of $2,500 through her retirement community’s participation in Watermark for Kids.

“It was a perfect day, and so wonderful to see the children get excited,” said Holsing. “And for me, being an East Village Place resident and involved with ACTS, I got to witness the good from both angles. I greatly appreciate my community for recognizing a serious need for a great program.”

Holsing is a coach for the site directors for ACTS, which provides free one-to-one tutoring and mentoring to elementary school children in grades 1-5 from September to May.

To support her good-hearted efforts, Holsing’s East Village Place retirement community helped secure a $2,500 donation for ACTS through Watermark for Kids, a nonprofit started by Watermark Retirement Communities President David Barnes. The organization aims to support and empower underserved kids to express their character, leadership, creativity, compassion and spirit – to express their true selves and thrive.

East Village Place announced its intention to support ACTS through Watermark for Kids over the summer and delivered the check this month.

“This is such a wonderful gift,” said Dr. Barbara Headley, ACTS executive director. “We operate solely on donations and grants, and receiving this gift helps us to match a challenge grant we received which will double this gift.”

The award will help ACTS establish new tutoring sites with educational tools, site directors, books, and more, she said. Headley said Holsing is a world of knowledge and creativity.

“Joy does activities that build character, civic responsibility, faith and team leadership skills; the kids just gravitate towards her,” she said. “Her commitment to the kids is phenomenal, and she fulfills everything our organization desires in a site director.”

Holsing began volunteering with ACTS almost 20 years ago, when she retired from working as a high school physical education and health teacher and school counselor after more than 26 years. While working at St. Paul Catholic High School in Bristol, Conn., Holsing also was the girls’ basketball, softball, field hockey and tennis coach. She even started a “Summer Shape Up” program for the kids. Within the past year, Holsing chose to relocate to East Village Place, where she has continued her passion for helping youth become the best versions of themselves.

“I see tremendous value in volunteering and helping the kids,” said Holsing. “I hope I can always remain a tutor.”

“East Village Place is proud to celebrate and support Joy’s volunteer work and her commitment to giving back,” said Patti Castelli, executive director. “It is clear from the warm welcome she received at ACTS that she is a valued friend to the other tutors and a mentor to the students. She inspires not only to those at ACTS, but all our residents and associates.”

About Watermark Retirement Communities®:

Watermark creates extraordinary and innovative communities where people thrive. We believe aging is about renewal rather than retirement. Watermark communities are known for highly trained and caring associates, a lifestyle built on choice, fine amenities, integrative wellness and innovative programs including the award-winning Watermark University featuring a wide variety of engaging classes for residents and area seniors. Based in Tucson AZ, Watermark has been named in the top 25 Best Workplaces for Aging Services in a national program conducted by the Great Place to Work Institute and published on Fortune.com. A privately held company with a reputation for over 30 years for service, innovation, integrity and financial stability, Watermark manages more than 60 retirement communities in 22 states coast to coast. Visit watermarkcommunities.com for more information.