| Pictured above is Richard Gere with his father, Homer, and MOWAA CEO Enid Borden. Homer received MOWAA's annual outstanding volunteer award, the Jody Teppedino Nicolo Award for 2006. Homer Gere has been a loyal volunteer with a Meals On Wheels program in upstate New York for almost 20 years, and the Jody Award was MOWAA's way of recognizing his commitment to his community's seniors. Enid Borden met with Richard and Homer in New York not only to present Homer with his award, but to work on a television PSA featuring the Geres that will run nationally later this year. This PSA will be the first project that Richard Gere will work on with MOWAA, and the whole Association is proud to have his support. |
| Richard Gere to Appear in MOWAA PSAs Septemner 14, 2006 |
February 2007
The Essence of the Man
A Message from CEO Enid Borden
This past summer I had one of the most extraordinary experiences that any woman could have. I got to spend some
time in the company of two fantastic men. Yes, I spent a glorious summer day in my hometown of New York City with
Homer and Richard Gere. Most of you know the story by now, but for those of you who don’t, let me explain. Nancy
Schmid, a MOWAA Board member, called me last year to tell me about an incredible volunteer at the Meals On Wheels
program in Syracuse, NY. Nancy is the Nutrition Project Director for the Onondaga County (NY) Department of Aging
and Youth and the MOW program in Syracuse is one of her programs. She told me that Homer Gere was a long-time
volunteer for the Syracuse program and that his son was none other than Richard Gere. She suggested that it would be
a wonderful opportunity for MOWAA and all senior nutrition programs if Richard would possibly help us with a public
service announcement. Well, I’ve never been shy so I called Homer Gere and chatted with him. I fell in love. He’s the
nicest, kindest, most generous man that you could imagine. He told me stories about how much his volunteering meant
to him. He was indeed proud of being a Meals On Wheels volunteer. I told him that it would mean a great deal if he
could talk to his son about possibly doing a public service announcement about volunteering for Meals On Wheels.
To make a long story short, Richard Gere said that he would do the public service announcement. I then went to
Richard Gere’s office in NYC with a team of advertising professionals from Ogilvy and Mather (who were going to do
this for us pro bono). We spent several hours talking to Richard about his vision for this public service announcement. I
had to constantly pinch myself while I was sitting there because it was still unreal to me that I was sitting next to one of
the great screen actors of our time. I walked away from the meeting realizing that beyond his great acting prowess, I
was actually sitting in the room with one of the best human beings of our time. His commitment to his causes and his
concern for others is a testament to his compassion and understanding of the value of others. In 2001 he founded a non-
profit called Healing the Divide, which promotes understanding, cooperation and innovative solutions to issues that
threaten the welfare and prosperity of people and communities around the world. A spiritual man, Richard Gere is
committed to making a difference in the world.
I walked away from that initial meeting with Richard inspired and excited. He told wonderful stories about Meals On
Wheels and the meaning it has to his Dad. He understood that these programs throughout the United States were truly
serving a need and that they were special to all who were touched by them – including his Dad.
Then on a glorious summer day Marley and I traveled to NYC to shoot the public service announcement that stars our
hero, Homer Gere. Richard is also in the PSA, but the true leading man is Homer. I don’t have to tell you that our
volunteers are our heroes and Homer, at the age of 84, is so special.
I am writing this now because I want to inform you that the television public service announcement will probably be
airing in the not too distant future. These spots will be a reminder to the public that volunteering for Meals On Wheels is
extremely important. The ads are fabulous and I still get goosebumps when I see them. You’ll be hearing more from us
as soon as we know when they will be released for television. I know that they will be an excellent recruitment vehicle
for volunteers in your communities. You will also soon be receiving materials from us about print public service
announcements for your program’s use that can be personalized with your program’s name to be used in your local
news publications. That will be coming shortly.
The other reason for this discussion about Richard Gere is to ask you to do me a favor. Richard Gere did MOWAA and
all senior nutrition programs the ultimate good work --- he volunteered his time and talent to produce a public service
announcement to help us all. He spent a great deal of time, effort, and energy to do this for us. Many of you want to
thank him for this. His office has heard from many of you wanting him to come to your program; to honor him with
awards; and to ask him to help with a fundraising campaign in your community. My favor to you is that you respect
this generous and kind man and know that he cannot possibly do these things. He has a very busy career schedule that
finds him traveling the world for films and for his own Foundation. I know that you would all love for him to visit your
program and accept the accolades that he deserves for doing this for Meals On Wheels, but I’ve already told him that he
is our Man of the Year and that we are indebted to him. Please know that he cannot come to your programs and that his
staff cannot possibly even answer all of your correspondence. Thank you so much for wanting to honor him, but the
best way to do that would be just to go to his movies, visit his website at www.healingthedivide.org and follow his
words. I end this piece with a quote from Richard that is the essence of this wonderful man and friend of ours: He said:
“Lasting and meaningful change in the world can only happen when people come together to boldly re-imagine what
might be and to find creative solutions to the issues affecting them.”
While I’m the one who had the honor and privilege to spend some time with him, please know that I carried your
thanks and respect for him and his Dad for doing this “so no senior goes hungry.”®
The Essence of the Man
A Message from CEO Enid Borden
This past summer I had one of the most extraordinary experiences that any woman could have. I got to spend some
time in the company of two fantastic men. Yes, I spent a glorious summer day in my hometown of New York City with
Homer and Richard Gere. Most of you know the story by now, but for those of you who don’t, let me explain. Nancy
Schmid, a MOWAA Board member, called me last year to tell me about an incredible volunteer at the Meals On Wheels
program in Syracuse, NY. Nancy is the Nutrition Project Director for the Onondaga County (NY) Department of Aging
and Youth and the MOW program in Syracuse is one of her programs. She told me that Homer Gere was a long-time
volunteer for the Syracuse program and that his son was none other than Richard Gere. She suggested that it would be
a wonderful opportunity for MOWAA and all senior nutrition programs if Richard would possibly help us with a public
service announcement. Well, I’ve never been shy so I called Homer Gere and chatted with him. I fell in love. He’s the
nicest, kindest, most generous man that you could imagine. He told me stories about how much his volunteering meant
to him. He was indeed proud of being a Meals On Wheels volunteer. I told him that it would mean a great deal if he
could talk to his son about possibly doing a public service announcement about volunteering for Meals On Wheels.
To make a long story short, Richard Gere said that he would do the public service announcement. I then went to
Richard Gere’s office in NYC with a team of advertising professionals from Ogilvy and Mather (who were going to do
this for us pro bono). We spent several hours talking to Richard about his vision for this public service announcement. I
had to constantly pinch myself while I was sitting there because it was still unreal to me that I was sitting next to one of
the great screen actors of our time. I walked away from the meeting realizing that beyond his great acting prowess, I
was actually sitting in the room with one of the best human beings of our time. His commitment to his causes and his
concern for others is a testament to his compassion and understanding of the value of others. In 2001 he founded a non-
profit called Healing the Divide, which promotes understanding, cooperation and innovative solutions to issues that
threaten the welfare and prosperity of people and communities around the world. A spiritual man, Richard Gere is
committed to making a difference in the world.
I walked away from that initial meeting with Richard inspired and excited. He told wonderful stories about Meals On
Wheels and the meaning it has to his Dad. He understood that these programs throughout the United States were truly
serving a need and that they were special to all who were touched by them – including his Dad.
Then on a glorious summer day Marley and I traveled to NYC to shoot the public service announcement that stars our
hero, Homer Gere. Richard is also in the PSA, but the true leading man is Homer. I don’t have to tell you that our
volunteers are our heroes and Homer, at the age of 84, is so special.
I am writing this now because I want to inform you that the television public service announcement will probably be
airing in the not too distant future. These spots will be a reminder to the public that volunteering for Meals On Wheels is
extremely important. The ads are fabulous and I still get goosebumps when I see them. You’ll be hearing more from us
as soon as we know when they will be released for television. I know that they will be an excellent recruitment vehicle
for volunteers in your communities. You will also soon be receiving materials from us about print public service
announcements for your program’s use that can be personalized with your program’s name to be used in your local
news publications. That will be coming shortly.
The other reason for this discussion about Richard Gere is to ask you to do me a favor. Richard Gere did MOWAA and
all senior nutrition programs the ultimate good work --- he volunteered his time and talent to produce a public service
announcement to help us all. He spent a great deal of time, effort, and energy to do this for us. Many of you want to
thank him for this. His office has heard from many of you wanting him to come to your program; to honor him with
awards; and to ask him to help with a fundraising campaign in your community. My favor to you is that you respect
this generous and kind man and know that he cannot possibly do these things. He has a very busy career schedule that
finds him traveling the world for films and for his own Foundation. I know that you would all love for him to visit your
program and accept the accolades that he deserves for doing this for Meals On Wheels, but I’ve already told him that he
is our Man of the Year and that we are indebted to him. Please know that he cannot come to your programs and that his
staff cannot possibly even answer all of your correspondence. Thank you so much for wanting to honor him, but the
best way to do that would be just to go to his movies, visit his website at www.healingthedivide.org and follow his
words. I end this piece with a quote from Richard that is the essence of this wonderful man and friend of ours: He said:
“Lasting and meaningful change in the world can only happen when people come together to boldly re-imagine what
might be and to find creative solutions to the issues affecting them.”
While I’m the one who had the honor and privilege to spend some time with him, please know that I carried your
thanks and respect for him and his Dad for doing this “so no senior goes hungry.”®
| ************************************************* |
| The Light in Gere |
| The Light in Gere |
| The Light in Gere |
| I want to thank so much for my dear friend Reut for sending me this advertisement |