Nancy Dickey was involved in working with the doctors who started the Ronald McDonald House in Dallas, and since its opening in 1981, she has been faithfully serving the organization. Because of this selfless devotion, Edgemere senior living community is recognizing Dickey as the second recipient of the 2011 Edgemere Salute to Seniors Award. Missy Bailey, volunteer coordinator for the Ronald McDonald House, nominated Dickey for the honor.
“Nancy is a committed and dedicated volunteer,” said Bailey. “She is constantly looking for ways to ease the stress and strain of the families who are staying with us. The Ronald McDonald families and staff are better off because Nancy has chosen to give so much of herself to others.”
The Edgemere Salute to Seniors Award is presented quarterly to honor an individual who is making a difference in their community. Qualified nominees are active adults age 62 and above who volunteer their time and talents to their communities, and who also exemplify leadership, spirit, and citizenship.
“Mrs. Dickey is committed to serving the Ronald McDonald House and so many other worthy organizations in our area,” said Tori Mallad, director of sales and marketing at Edgemere. “It is because of caring volunteers like her that organizations like the Ronald McDonald House are so successful and can serve so many deserving families.”
While working at UT Southwestern Medical Center’s Cancer Center in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Dickey worked with the doctors responsible for the beginning planning and thoughts about The Ronald McDonald House. The doctors she worked with were instrumental in seeing that families had a place to stay when their children were receiving treatments. After the Ronald McDonald House opened in Dallas, Dickey started volunteering when her time allowed.
“I think anything we can do to make someone’s life a little easier is what we ought to do,” said Dickey. “It’s such a blessing to put a smile on someone’s face and let them know that somebody cares.”
While volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, Dickey typically works at the front desk. She takes referrals for families to stay at the House, gives tours to new families as they check in, gives tours to members of the community who come to visit, and on occasion, she helps in the kitchen. She is always happy to pitch in and do whatever needs to be done.
Dickey, 63, retired from UT Southwestern Medical Center after more than 30 years. The last 15 years she spent managing the pathology business office. She spends a large amount of her time volunteering. On top of serving Ronald McDonald House, she and her husband deliver a weekly Meals on Wheels route. She also works in the nursery at her church, Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving, and she helps Carter BloodCare by attending community activities and encouraging others to be blood donors. She greatly enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.
The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas exists to serve and sustain families when serious illness or injury strikes the most cherished part of their lives, their children. For more information visit www.rmhdallas.org.
ABOUT EDGEMERE
With 304 independent living apartment homes, 60 assisted living suites, 31 memory care private apartments, and 72 private rooms for dignified skilled nursing, Edgemere is the largest and most comprehensive life care senior living community in Dallas. The community is located in the Preston Hollow/Park Cities area at 8523 Thackery Street at Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225. The Plaza Health Services at Edgemere, located on the same campus at 8502 Edgemere Road at Northwest Highway, offers assisted living, skilled nursing, and memory support services for Edgemere life care residents, as well as for others in the community.
Edgemere is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit senior living community sponsored by Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), a Texas-based nonprofit organization that sponsors sister communities The Buckingham in Houston, Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin, The Stayton at Museum Way under construction in Fort Worth, and Mirador in Corpus Christi. For information, visit www.edgemeredallas.com, or call (469) 619-0825.
