Daniel Smith as a young Navy man in sunglasses beside a recent portrait in a suit and red beret

Daniel Smith was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, the youngest of eight children in a family of four boys and four girls. Being the baby of the family, he admits with a laugh that he was a “mama’s boy.” Growing up, Smith enjoyed playing sports, including baseball, football, and basketball, and worked various odd…

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Collage of golf clubs and balls and pickleball paddles and balls for the Frankie G Charity Classic

Each summer, the Lake Forest Country Club in Lake St. Louis becomes more than a place for golf and recreation—it transforms into a hub of generosity and remembrance during the annual Frankie G Charity Classic and Pickleball Tournament. What began as two separate charitable events—the Lake Forest Charity Classic and the Frankie G Memorial—has grown…

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Robert Stephenson at his desk in 2025 beside his Navy enlisted photo at age 17

Robert Stephenson was born in Chicago on June 14, 1925, as the third of four children in his family, with two older brothers and a younger sister. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Moline, Illinois. There, his father purchased a house, but they lost it during the Great Depression. The family…

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Ryan Dickherber and Kyle Laramie on the gold medal podium at the 2025 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships

The 2025 Minto US Open Pickleball Championships, held April 26 through May 3 at East Naples Community Park in Naples, Florida, once again lived up to its reputation as “The Biggest Pickleball Party in the World®.” This year’s event set new records with 3,400 players participating from all 50 states and more than 40 countries,…

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Veteran of the Month December 2024: JT Stewart, in an old family photo and a recent portrait in a cowboy hat

JT Stewart was born in Turkey, Texas, in 1933, but he grew up in the small town of Levelland. in the Texas Panhandle. Due to his red hair, he was nicknamed “Red” throughout his life. Stewart’s childhood was characterized by hard work and perseverance while living on a cotton farm located seven miles outside of…

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Dogs for Our Brave: Save a Veteran. Save a Dog. Save Two Lives. Proudly supported by Veterans Care Coordination

Last month, in honor of Veterans Day, Veterans Care Coordination (VCC) proudly contributed to Dogs for Our Brave (DFOB) through the company’s Serving Others fund — an employee-driven program where team members can donate a portion of their paycheck to support meaningful causes.   Located in St. Louis, Missouri, Dogs for Our Brave was founded…

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Veteran of the Month November 2024: Salvatore Balletto, with the U.S. Army seal over an American flag

Born in 1942 as the son of an Italian immigrant, Balletto grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. His father was from Sicily, and his mother was from Ohio. After graduating from John Adams High School, he became interested in cars. He started building and racing cars on the track at Dragway 42 in Ohio. He described…

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Michael Hayes in service photos: deployed in Poland, with daughter Mady in Japan in 2012, and with Kenzie in 2008

Hayes was born and raised in a small farming town in Iowa as the youngest of four children, with two older sisters and one older brother. He spent his childhood playing in the fields and has fond memories of getting lost in the woods for hours while hunting with his dog. Helping out in his…

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6 ways your agency can honor Veterans on Veterans Day, with an American flag

Veterans Care Coordination™ is proud to partner with quality providers nationwide who share the same passion as VCC in making it easier for wartime Veterans to age at home. Veterans Day, observed on November 11th, is dedicated to honoring the sacrifice and service of those who have fought for our freedom. For home care companies,…

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Smiling multigenerational family with grandparents, parents and a baby, for National Grandparents Day 2024

National Grandparents Day is coming up next month on Sunday, September 8th, and this year’s theme is “Grand Minds: Learn, Love, Legacy.” It’s a day dedicated to celebrating and honoring the love given by grandparents. When my dad became a grandpa, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and often quoted Bill Laurin, saying, “If I knew…

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