VIDEO: Crofton Dreams Grants Senior Citizen’s ‘Diamond’ Wish

Several volunteers and supporters from around the Crofton area are doing their part to grant a wish to a Bowie senior citizen. 

Bowie’s Eileen Prevo is a resident at the . Her husband, Bill, visits her every day in the center. In February, the couple will celebrate their 55th anniversary.

While the couple loves one another, Eileen has a bit of a crush on singer Neil Diamond. Bill said his wife’s favorite song is “Sweet Caroline.”

And thanks to Crofton Dreams, Eileen will have a chance to hear the song performed live this summer.

Crofton Dreams is a program that grants the special requests of seniors living at the center, according to Director of Therapeutic Recreation Dawn Chourouk.

On Tuesday night, Chourouk put out a call for volunteers to help get Eileen to the Neil Diamond concert on June 14 at the Verizon Center in Washington, DC.

using her Facebook account and emails.

By Wednesday afternoon, Eileen’s dream was almost complete.

VIDEO: Crofton Patch was there as Chourouk told the good news to Bill Wednesday.

Chourouk said help flooded in from across Anne Arundel County. She said the following vendors agreed to help. 

• Roanes Rigging Transfer offered to pay for the concert tickets and dinner for Bill and Eileen.
• Town Transport of Annapolis volunteered to handle the Prevo’s transportation that night.
• Pasadena Hair stylist Christine Fridley will do Eileen’s hair, nails and makeup.

Chourouk said Crofton Dreams is still looking for a boutique or store to donate jewelry and an outfit for Eileen (and possibly Bill). They also are calling on a professional photographer to take a picture of the couple that night.

Crofton Dreams operates using donations from the Crofton Leisure Fund. Chourouk said the fund helps elderly residents have an enhanced quality of life.

“We have a resident who is training to do a marathon," Chourouk said. "She wants to do the 60-mile Walk for the Cure."

That resident is training to do 20 miles a month around the Crofton Care and Rehab Center.

“When we have a volunteer that can do six hours of paperwork, that’s six hours we can spend doing things that help the residents enjoy life,” Chourouk said.

Anyone interested in helping complete Eileen’s Neil Diamond Trip, or contributing to Crofton Dreams and the Crofton Leisure Fund can contact Dawn Chourouk at 410-721-1000, ext. 4276, or dchourouk@croftoncrc.com.

Editor's note: This article has been updated from a previous version to reflect that the Prevos will be celebrating 55 years of marriage.