Happy Thanksgiving! Read a message from our Chief Executive Officer, Jack Callison.
Dear Sunrise Family,
Thanksgiving is easily one of my favorite holidays of the year. It is a time to pause. And reflect. And count our many blessings in life. Unlike other holidays, it’s not about hunting down the perfect gift. Rather, it is a time for families, friends, and relationships, both old and new. It’s about slowing down from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Recalibrating. Recharging. And refocusing on what is important in life. It is a time for expressing gratitude; and indeed, we all have much to be grateful for.
Make no doubt about it. The events of the last two years permanently changed our lives in profound ways. Many experienced loss, fear, and challenges that were previously unimaginable. However, as we continue to successfully emerge from the very real challenges we endured together, the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday season could not come at a more opportune time. As we look forward, there is indeed tremendous reason for Hope. Optimism. Genuine happiness. The Thanksgiving holiday this year represents a positive inflection point in so many ways. It is once again, a time for giving thanks.
This year, my personal list of blessings I am most thankful for include:
- My health – I am eternally grateful for the effectiveness and availability of the COVID-19 vaccines that now keep us safe and healthy. I sleep peacefully at night knowing my immediate and extended family members, as well as my closest friends, are all now fully vaccinated.
- My family – my greatest treasure in life; ours is an incredibly tight-knit, extended family, which keeps me grounded and my heart full; family is everything to me. I am a lucky man.
- My friends – so many wonderful friendships grew even tighter throughout the pandemic; the last several years reminded me yet again of the importance of these authentic relationships.
- My passion – being able to pursue a career with such a mission-driven organization like Sunrise makes my heart sing. Life is short and where I choose to spend much of my time (a precious and limited resource for all of us) matters even more to me on the other side of 50. That’s why I gladly chose to be “all-in” when I joined the Sunrise family earlier this year; Sunrise’s mission of championing quality of life for all seniors resonates deeply with me.
Finally, and most importantly, I want to express my heart felt gratitude to you, our more than 22,000 dedicated Sunrise team members. Please never forget the work you do daily matters in the lives of many. You are the reason Sunrise is such a Great Place to Work and Great Place to Live. Sunrise’s culture is uniquely special and that will never change. You are Committed. Resilient. Compassionate. You live our values: Passion, Joy in Service, Stewardship, Respect, and Trust. You are Sunrise. For that, I am grateful.
From my family to yours, I wish you and your loved ones holiday blessings and a very heartfelt Happy Thanksgiving.
Grateful,
Jack R. Callison, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer