Today’s 60 for 60 story highlights the meaningful impact of our Peer-2-Peer (P2P) Program and the lifelong connections it helps create. At its core, P2P is designed to help adults living independently or with their families discover social opportunities rooted in shared interests.
The three-decade-long friendship of Pearl Anderson and Amy Denne perfectly illustrates this mission. Pearl and Amy first met in 1990 while volunteering to decorate floats for the New Year’s Day Rose Parade. They became fast friends, loving nothing more than going out together, chatting on the phone, and spending Sundays at church.
Eventually, a falling out caused them to lose touch until the P2P program brought them back together.
In December 2022, Pearl, a new Easterseals SoCal (ESSC) P2P participant, was excited to attend her first ESSC holiday party. Standing in the festive room wearing a Santa hat, she couldn’t believe her eyes. There was Amy, the friend she had lost touch with more than 30 years ago.
“I stood in front of her for a couple of minutes, and she didn’t recognize me because of the Santa hat and how much time had passed,” Pearl recalled. “But I recognized her instantly.”
Program Director Brian Nguyen noted, “Without this service from Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center, Amy and Pearl may never have had the opportunity to reconnect.”
Today, their story has come full circle. Amy and Pearl don’t just hang out during scheduled events; they spend time together independently. This is the ultimate goal of the Peer-2-Peer program — moving past organized activities to foster natural, lifelong bonds that truly enrich lives.