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PrintA senior citizen in assisted living in western North Carolina wishes she could meet Donny Osmond. A Green Hill resident is trying to make that happen through Twilight Wish Foundation.
Tish Zimmerman, who came to Rutherford County 13 years ago from Fayetteville, has worked with senior citizens all of her 27 year career.
About three years ago she met Kim Owen in a senior care facility and the two women struck up a conversation. Zimmerman was actually interviewing for a job at the facility and during the visit she met Ms. Owen. Their conversation turned to music and Zimmerman asked Ms. Owen what type music did she enjoy and she quickly responded, Donny Osmond.
"We had an immediate connection as I grew up with Donny's posters on my sister's wall and listened to them play his music every morning as I got ready for school," Zimmerman said.
"We started singing Puppy Love together," Zimmerman continued of her meeting with Ms. Owen.
"Although I did receive a job offer, I was unable to take it at the time, but Kim remained in my thoughts," Zimmerman said. "I was determined to try to do something for her regarding Donny Osmond," Zimmerman explained.
One day Zimmerman saw a Twilight Wish post on Facebook and she looked into the organization a little further.
"I knew it was something I wanted to be involved in and my first thought about a wish was Kim (Owen)," the senior citizen she'd met three years earlier.
Zimmerman contacted the national nonprofit Twilight Wish Foundation, headquartered in Doylestown, PA.
Last month Zimmerman was named director of the newly-formed North Carolina chapter which will be granting wishes to seniors in western North Carolina.
On the job today, Zimmerman is working to get Donny Osmond and Ms. Owen together.
Zimmerman has more than 27 years experience in the senior care industry including working in assisted living, nursing homes, adult day care and hospice.
Although with another group in 2021, Zimmerman was able to fulfill a wish for James Kingsbury, an electrical engineer for Mattel (back in the 70s) who was also the voice of Donald Duck in the Disney toys they produced. Zimmerman arranged for Mattel to send Kingsbury a letter of recognition and a toy care package to celebrate Donald Duck's birthday and in honor of his contributions to Mattel.
WLOS TV in Asheville visited Kingsbury at Carolina Reserve in Hendersonville and reported the story in June 2021 on Donald Duck's birthday.
Prior to Zimmerman's work in fulfilling his wish, Kingsbury had never received recognition for his part of Donald Duck.
"Although Kingsbury was aging and having memory problems, he never stopped speaking like Donald Duck," she said.
"It brought him great joy when we would take trips in the community and sharing that voice with any and all children and adults. He was a local celebrity...We were also able to contact Mattel and they sent Jim a letter of appreciation and acknowledgment for his contributions and a gift box full of Mattel toys," she said. (Kingsbury has since passed away).
Zimmerman's first job in her nearly three decade career working with seniors was as an Activity Coordinator for a dementia unit in a nursing home in Maryland.
"Seniors are often an underserved population and many think it is too late to fulfill a wish or dream. I want them to know it is never too late and no dream is too big or too small."
Zimmerman worked in an assisted living that partnered with Wish of a Lifetime and they granted wishes to the residents.
"While I was there, they granted twin sisters who were the first twin airline stewardesses for Delta airlines in the 50's, to go to the Delta museum in Atlanta. Another wish was from a WWII veteran, who was one of the 316 survivors of the Indianapolis, the ship that delivered the bomb to Hiroshima. He wanted to have a fishing trip with his sons and grandsons. Another loved Elvis and "she had the time of her life at a meet and greet with Travis Powell, Elvis tribute artist and then at his concert at the Foundation (Performing Arts Center, Isothermal Community College).
"Ever since that time, I have looked for ways to help provide ways for my residents to fulfill wishes."
In her new role in western North Carolina, Zimmerman has received three requests thus far and is looking for more seniors who have a wish.
Besides trying to get Donny Osmond and Ms. Kim together, she has a request from a woman for a lift chair and another senior wants to meet Alan Jackson.
Zimmerman is a music therapist and owned her own business, is an activity director and also a Certified Dementia Practitioner.
She and her husband, a veteran of the military, have lived in a lot of places, she said before retiring to Rutherford County.
"I have been married to my wonderful husband, Paul, for 33 years. We have one baby girl, Gigi, a rambunctious shih tzu," she says.
Zimmerman also enjoys singing, playing the guitar and making pictures from old jewelry. Her latest is a rooster.
She also volunteers at the Holly Springs Senior Citizens home and Oak Grove Nursing and Rehab.
Zimmerman is looking for other requests from seniors in Rutherford County and the area.
"We are currently applying for multiple grants to help fulfill wishes for seniors in Rutherford County. Any and all grants and contributions collected in Rutherford County are solely used for the purpose of the resident's wishes here in this county," Tish said.
"It is my passion to work with the elderly," said Zimmerman. "I have seen the needs of the elderly go unnoticed and unfulfilled. It would be my honor to help the senior population in Rutherford County and surrounding area see wishes come true, no matter how small!"
Twilight Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that grants wishes to seniors who are over 65 years old and have an income of less than 200% of poverty level annually, or who are permanent residents of a nursing facility. The mission of Twilight Wish Foundation is to honor and enrich the lives of seniors through intergenerational wish granting celebrations. Visit www.twilightwish.org. To reach Tish Zimmerman, email her at wnctwilightwish@gmail.com or call 917-319-1342.
