Max Hess, a 13-year-old from Bath Township in northeast Ohio, helped to further the OPRS mission of enhancing the physical, mental and spiritual well-being of older adults without even realizing it.
In the fall of 2007, Max was faced with the challenge of developing a social service project for his upcoming bar mitzvah. Contemplating how helping others could be combined with his own hobbies and interests, Max came up with a unique combination – older adults and video games.
Max didn’t choose just any game, though. He chose Wii, Nintendo’s newest gaming console that encourages users to get up and move in order to play games like bowling and golf. Max had heard that older adults were embracing the Wii because of its ability to help them stay mentally sharp and physically fit.
The Senior Independence Adult Day Center in West Akron was a perfect fit for Max’s project, given its non-denominational and not-for-profit nature. And so, Max got to work raising money to purchase a Wii for the center.
In July of 2008, Max took his own Wii to the center to give a demonstration and teach clients how to play. Both Max and the Wii were well received, and the participants were excited and eager to have their own system.
“After Max left, the clients were asking every day if I had heard from him,” said Daphne Massaro, director of the center. “They were anxiously awaiting the call that he had raised enough money so they could play their very own Wii.”
They didn’t have to wait long. On August 17th, the day after his bar mitzvah, Max received the last few donations that helped him reach his fundraising goal, giving him enough money to purchase the Wii and an additional controller.
Max presented the system to the center and its clients on August 26th, and the fun hasn’t stopped since. “The clients love it!” says Massaro. “We’re hoping to have some friendly Wii competitions with Rockynol residents in the future.”
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