1. A Championship
Season
At The Belvedere of Westlake
How hosting a minor league
baseball player helped Ohio’s
premier assisted living facility
score big with residents

2. Rae-Ann Skilled Nursing
& Rehabilitation Centers
• Family-owned and operated since 1974
• Nationally and regionally
recognized for excellence in
skilled nursing and rehabilitation
• Located in Cleveland, Ohio

3. Rae-Ann Skilled Nursing
& Rehabilitation Centers
Suburban Geneva
Westlake West Park
The Belvedere

4. The Belvedere of Westlake
• 33 suites
• Exterior/Interior design
• Town Centre setting

5. The Belvedere of Westlake
• Breakfast in our café
• Lunch and dinner in our
restaurant style dining
room

6. The Belvedere of Westlake
• Studio and 1 bedroom
suites feature private
baths, kitchenettes, an
d in-suite laundry

7. The Lake Erie Crushers
• Professional baseball team in the independent Frontier
League
• 2009 Inaugural Season
• Games played at new All Pro Freight Stadium in
neighboring Avon, Ohio

8. The Lake Erie Crushers

9. The Idea:
Connecting the Belvedere
and the Team
• News story about the Crushers seeking host families for
players
• Considered personal hosting, decided to consider The
Belvedere
• Asked residents and staff and received an enthusiastic
“yes!”
+

10. Josh Faiola
• Starting pitcher (right-handed)
• Graduate of Dartmouth College
• Drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 and 2006
• Signed with the Orioles in 2006 after graduation
• Career Orioles minor league record of 3-1 with a 2.35
ERA
• Signed with the
Crushers in 2009,
at age 26, after 1 ½
years off due to
shoulder injury

11. The Experience

12. The Experience

13. The Experience

14. The Experience

15. The Experience

16. The Experience
The Lake Erie Crushers Win the
2009 League Championship!

17. The Experience

18. The Experience

19. Media Coverage
May 11 – Josh’s story runs in
May 13 – reports on “Meet and Greet” event
May 14 – features story about Josh’s new living arrangement
May 17 – runs in-depth story on cover of
“Friends & Neighbors” section
May 20 – visits The Belvedere for a live interview with Josh
May 21 – shares story with readers in Northeast Ohio
June 8 – Cindy meets with ESPN producer to discuss “Glory Days”
documentary
July 15 – begins filming Belvedere residents and Josh’s story
September 6 – attends Josh’s farewell party at The Belvedere
October 27 – broadcasts Glory Days documentary to a national
audience of millions of viewers

20. Media Coverage

21. Media Coverage

22. Media Coverage

23. Benefits and Results
• Bridging generations, with benefits for both
• Engaging residents with the community
• Increase in community awareness
• Local, regional, and national media coverage about
The Belvedere, Rae-Ann, and the Crushers
• Creating a partnership between Rae-Ann and the team

24. An Enduring Partnership
Josh Faiola, 2009, Pitcher
• Married to Allison
• 2 Kids: Carsyn and Cody
• Living in Houston, TX
• Inside Account Executive
for Alert Logic
“You gave us a beautiful home, have been great
friends, and welcomed us like family. This has been an
amazing experience.”

25. An Enduring Partnership
Joel Collins, 2010-2011, Catcher
• 10th round draft pick for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2007
• Married to Sierra, son Brody
• Living in Lynchburg, VA
• District store manager for Sprint
“The Belvedere played an
enormous role in making this
season one that we and our
family will look back on with
great memories.”

26. An Enduring Partnership

27. An Enduring Partnership

28. An Enduring Partnership
Travis Risser, 2012, Pitcher
• 2010 Frontier League All Star Team
• Living in Hershey, PA
• Working for his dad’s business
• Coaching high school pitching
• Taking a year off from playing baseball
“[Residents] always wanted to know how the team was doing.
The way they truly cared about me was something very special.
From having one resident tell me I looked awful with facial hair
to throwing out candy in parades, I really enjoyed interacting
with the residents and will miss all of them.”

29. An Enduring Partnership
Jeff Isom, 2013, Manager
• New Crushers Manager in 2013
• Previously managed minor league
teams for the Milwaukee Brewers
• Played for Purdue University and
San Diego Padres & Pittsburgh
Pirates minor league teams
• Relocating to Cleveland
“I am thankful for the opportunity to be living in The
Belvedere for the summer of 2013. I am looking forward
to meeting my new neighbors.”

30. An Enduring Partnership

31. Lessons Learned
• “The game isn’t over until it’s over.”
- Yogi Berra, NY Yankees Catcher
• “Good is not good when better is expected.”
- Vin Scully, LA Dodgers Broadcaster
• “Think outside the batter’s box.”
- Cindy Griffiths-Novak,
The Belvedere of Westlake Owner/Operator

32. For more information:
Cindy Griffiths-Novak
cgnovak@rae-ann.net
Josh Faiola
joshfaiola@gmail.com