Older adults rock - quite literally - in the case of Young@Heart TM, a rowdy bunch of 70- and 80-year-olds who will help Special Transit celebrate its 30th Anniversary with a unique and inspiring concert for music lovers of all ages.
In their first Colorado appearance, Young@Heart will perform "Alive and Well," which includes songs featured in the documentary film,
Young@Heart: You're Never too Old to Rock. The
sold-out performance is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 13 at First Presbyterian Church in Boulder.
Special Transit is using the occasion of its 30 th Anniversary to celebrate the vibrancy of the community's older adult population and the importance of aging well by maintaining independence and self sufficiency. Also in celebration of the anniversary, November will be Free Ride Month on Special Transit. New and existing riders can use Special Transit's door-through-door, wheelchair accessible service for free during the entire month by calling 303-447-9636 to schedule a ride.
The highlight of the anniversary celebration is a performance by Young@Heart, a group of unlikely rockers that has toured internationally performing songs by everyone from James Brown to The Clash. The chorus was featured in a documentary film that premiered in the spring of 2008 to much acclaim and positive critical review. A film reviewer in
USA Today noted: "The Young@Heart chorus comprises an eclectic and endearing bunch of oldsters with a zest for life and enthusiasm for music. They also inspire with their upbeat attitudes and willingness to embrace the new and unfamiliar."
As the title sponsor for the 30 th Anniversary, the Boulder Rotary Club raised nearly $30,000 for Special Transit and is providing a group of volunteers to work as ticket takers and ushers at the event. "We are honored to have been chosen by Boulder Rotary Club as the beneficiary of their fundraising efforts," said Lenna Kottke, executive director of Special Transit. "We also owe a debt of gratitude to Bill Fischer, our former board member and dedicated Rotarian, who brought us together in this project." Fischer, a former administrator at the University of Colorado and long-time community volunteer, died in August.
Young@Heart is also appearing in Denver, presented by Senior Care of Colorado and benefiting Jeremy Bloom's Wish of a Lifetime, on Sunday, Nov. 15 at the Wells Fargo Theater. Tickets for this performance are available through TicketsWest.
The Boulder concert is a benefit for Special Transit, a private, nonprofit organization that provides transportation and mobility options to improve the quality of life for older adults, people with disabilities and very low-income individuals. Since 1979 the organization has provided more than 2.5 million passenger trips. For more information,
www.specialtransit.org.