Residents of Presbyterian Village North recently celebrated St. Patrick’s Day and Irish-American Heritage Month at a social gathering in mid-March. They were certainly feeling the “luck of the Irish” with Marty Ruiz, a Dallas-entertainer who delights in performing cultural pieces and classic songs from decades past. Lisa Englander, life enrichment manager for Presbyterian Village North, plans the monthly events at the community and works to include activities that residents may enjoy from a social, physical, spiritual, cultural and thought-provoking perspective.
“We were delighted to welcome Marty Ruiz out to our community for his special performance,” said Englander. “It is so important to expose yourself to different cultural experiences throughout your life. Marty is truly talented, and we are grateful for his exceptional performances. Having him delight the residents in recognition of Irish-American Heritage Month and St. Patrick’s Day was a real treat!”
In 1999, Marty Ruiz began singing at retirement communities. He now performs music for all ages and genres. He also gives special programs with others entertainers. His music takes seniors back to their youth, letting them reminisce with all the popular songs they grew up listening to in their free time. He also incorporates other musical pieces so they may experience something new.
Presbyterian Village North welcomes residents of all faiths and celebrates diverse cultures from around the world. Irish-American Heritage is just one of many cultures residents will come together to recognize this year. Up next they will observe Cinco de Mayo, and just last month the residents went on a tour at a Jewish temple in Dallas. Englander’s goal is to plan on-site and off-site activities, tours and special cultural events so residents are constantly being exposed to new experiences and have the opportunity to learn.
“If you dig really deep, you’ll find that there are a plethora of unique places in Dallas, a lot of which we haven’t heard of that are worth visiting, as well as some really talented entertainers who can bring some fun right to your doorstep,” said Englander. “I love researching places we haven’t taken residents to see before and people who we can invite to the community for special shows. We are constantly changing things up, which makes my job extremely fun!”