Rancho Santa Fe resident receives 10News Leadership Award
10News recently honored Rancho Santa Fe resident Robert Svet and Del Cerro resident Bill Stone, founders of the Forget Me Not Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for senior adult residents and patients in nursing homes, as well as other long-term care facilities. The Forget Me Not Foundation provides hundreds of fresh cut flowers to nursing home activity directors that are used by the residents in recreational and therapeutic activities. These activities promote a sense of wellbeing, improve cognitive reasoning and decision making, enhance manual dexterity, encourage companionship and create happiness.
Robert Svet was the inspiration behind the Forget Me Not Foundation. While planning his son’s wedding, Robert wondered, “How can we share the artistic and inspiring bouquets we used to celebrate the joyous occasion of my son’s marriage?” Svet posed this question to business partner Bill Stone, president of TheraStaff, LLC. TheraStaff specializes in providing physical, occupational and speech therapists to nursing homes, long-term care facilities and other medical settings; therefore, Stone was acutely aware of the needs of the residents and patients in these facilities. Based on this knowledge, it was decided to provide the wedding flowers not as floral arrangements but as materials that would allow the residents to touch, smell, create and personally enjoy the beauty of the flowers.
The Forget Me Not Foundation was created in May 2010 and has touched and enhanced the lives of over 10,000 residents, family members, and employees in nursing homes and long-term care facilities throughout San Diego and Orange Counties.
To become involved with the Forget Me Not Foundation, individuals, private foundations or corporations may provide sponsorships, donate flowers, or volunteer their time to help brighten the lives of nursing home residents and patients of long term care facilities. The majority of funds needed to establish and operate the Foundation have been donated by Svet and Stone.
Svet serves as CEO of the Forget Me Not Foundation and is also the chairman and founder of The Eastridge Group of Staffing Companies. Stone acts as president of the Forget Me Not Foundation and is also president of TheraStaff, LLC. The Foundation’s goal for 2012 is to conduct over 50 floral therapy events and to expand further into Orange County.
Svet and Stone received the 10News Leadership Award on March 7. The award was presented at the San Diego Ronald McDonald House by Pedro Villegas, SDG&E director of Community Relations and LEAD San Diego President/CEO Vicky Carlson.
Call the Forget Me Not Foundation at (877) 403-4483 or visit
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The 10News Leadership Award recognizes San Diegans who are dedicated to improving the community. To nominate a friend or colleague, log on to
and click on “10News Leadership Award” to fill out a nomination form. The 10News Leadership Award committee, made up of KGTV staff members, Volunteer San Diego, and LEAD San Diego members, will review each submission. You can also send a nomination letter to 10News Leadership Award, 4600 Air Way, San Diego, CA 92102. Include your phone number and address, as well as the contact information for the person you are nominating.