In a heartfelt effort to address senior loneliness, Dana Poon ’26, alongside her sister Jenna Poon ’28, established the first GlamourGals chapter in New Mexico. GlamourGals, a non-profit organization with over 100 chapters nationwide comprising high school and college students, offers companionship and beauty sessions to seniors. Dana and Jenna’s inspiration came from witnessing the positive impact their informal beauty sessions had on their grandmother, sparking their desire to make a difference in their community.
Dana and Jenna aimed to bring similar moments of joy to seniors in care facilities, where loneliness is a prevalent issue. After thorough research, Dana and Jenna connected with GlamourGals, launching their inaugural event at the David Spector Shalom Residence in December 2023.
Under Dana’s leadership, and with support from dedicated officers (Auberon Schnyder ’27, vice president; Jenna, treasurer and cofounder; and Evie Soule ’26 and Jacqueline Wiemeri ’26, public relations) and faculty members like Dara Johnson and Melanie Peterson, the chapter has diversified its activities, including beauty sessions, bracelets, crafting Valentine’s Day cards for seniors, and establishing an Instagram account for their chapter.
Since then, the chapter has thrived, building meaningful connections with senior residents through monthly events and meetings. Their efforts have gained recognition from the national organization, motivating them to try to expand their membership by 25%.
GlamourGals’ assistance has been pivotal, providing essential supplies and enabling the chapter to reach its goals. With a team of 20 active volunteers, Dana and her peers are committed to spreading joy and combating senior loneliness.
Their impact extends beyond beauty sessions as they witness the genuine joy and camaraderie fostered during interactions with seniors. A significant part for Dana and the other volunteers “is hearing their stories and seeing the joy on the seniors’ faces during these events.” From sharing stories to forming connections, each session brings as much joy to the student volunteers as it does to the seniors. “I hope to connect with other senior facilities and inspire more to join the cause.”
