For several years, residents of Marquis Piedmont and the University of Portland women’s basketball team, the Portland Pilots, have created a special bond. The senior residents ‘adopt’ a basketball player each year, attend all of the Pilots’ home games and watch as many away games on TV at the facility as possible. The Pilots even make it a priority to visit the facility at least once each year to spend time with their senior Pilot Pals. The relationships they have developed over the years are deeply caring, and the intergenerational connection between the seniors and players is positive for all involved.
This year, the Pilots had a very successful regular season, positioning themselves for the opportunity to compete in the Western College Conference Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada. If they won the WCC, they would move on to March Madness, and the Pilot Pals had a wish to travel to Las Vegas to cheer their team on to a big victory. A partnership between Wish of a Lifetime and Vital Life Foundation granted that dream through the Elevated Wish program, and both the seniors and the University of Portland players couldn’t have written a more magical ending! Watch the video to find out what happened when the Pilot Pals took Vegas.
