Never Too Late began granting wishes for residents in January of 2000 at the Miller's Senior Living facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. Since that time, Never Too Late has established relationships with the staff at dozens of Marion and Hamilton County long-term care facilities.

The receptivity to the cause and purpose of Never Too Late has been impressive. There have been articles in the Indianapolis Star and The Topics Newspapers. And that's just newspaper coverage! WISH-TV 8's Dick Wolfsie has featured NTL's efforts on a regular basis (see video links below) and WRTV 6 honored our founder, Bob Haverstick with a Leadership Award in May 2003! And let's not forget Channel 13's continued coverage of NTL's ability to get our beloved senior citizens behind the wheel of very fast cars at the Speedrome. WIBC loves to interview our wish recipients and even the Indianapolis Mayor's Office recognized NTL's contributions to our elderly by bestowing a Community Service Award to NTL founder Bob Haverstick in October 2003.

A passionate corps of volunteers is emerging to help make these dreams come true for our elder treasures. They have gotten involved with their time, money and services and have come away feeling clean, humbled and whole, knowing that even the smallest ripple of kindness, like showing up at a nursing home with a birthday balloon, will create such a tidal wave of joy in a person's life.  NTL has inspired others to take up the cause as well; check out Forever Young, NTL's first spinoff (we are sooo proud!).

Mostly, Never Too Late is about making connections, networking in the best sense of the word, making people feel good about themselves. This program is about taking people who feel invisible and forgotten and showing them we care just because they are alive and with us. It is not about what they bring to the table, or what they can do for us - it is about our remembering them and honoring them for all they have ever done or been all of their long lives. This is a full circle treatment, honoring their early and middle years and treating them with grace and dignity in their final years.

The ultimate goal for Never Too Late is to provide a setting of intergenerational exchange, 'where eight-year olds and eighty-year olds bring meaning and purpose to one another. Ideally, with time and continued interest, there will be enough Never Too Late volunteers to adopt the residents at every long-term care facility in Indiana, so that there is at least one wish a day being granted in every facility statewide.

The time is right, with the graying of America, for a Never Too Late to have a lasting impact on the lives of our elders. According to the Census Bureau, there are currently 34.7 million Americans 65 and older. By 2011, there will be an estimated 40 million; and by 2050, almost 82 million in this age category .Now is the time to ask yourself, "How can I help"? For more information on Never Too Late, contact Bob Haverstick @ 317.823.4705.

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