TAMPA,, Fla., Nov. 6, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sylvia Mackey, widow of NFL Hall of Famer John Mackey, has been named as an adviser and spokeswoman for a select group of Inspired Living brand senior living communities being developed to meet the unique needs of retired NFL players and the community at large.

Ms. Mackey will support an affiliation between Pro Football Legends, the marketing arm of the NFL Alumni Association; Tampa developer Mark Bouldin; the Inspired Living communities; and management company Validus Senior Living.

As Inspired Living aspires to be the premiere and preferred senior living choice for retired NFL players and their families, Ms. Mackey will chair an advisory board comprising NFLAA members, spouses and family members to provide insight about their special needs as the communities are being developed.

Plans are in the works for 33 assisted living and memory care communities to be built in major cities with a high concentration of retired NFL players. The first affiliated community is under construction outside Windermere, Florida. Along with highly personalized memory care and assisted living services, the state-of-the-art communities will offer swimming pools, dog parks, boardwalks, tiki huts, exclusive technology, and putting greens, as well as fine dining.

Some costs associated with assisted living may be covered under the NFL's 88 Plan, which provides benefits to certain players with Alzheimer's, dementia, ALS or Parkinson's disease. The plan was named in honor of John Mackey – Sylvia Mackey's husband – who wore jersey No. 88. The five-time Pro Bowl tight end for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1992. Diagnosed with dementia after his retirement, he required assisted living care until he died in 2011.

Sylvia Mackey has since become an advocate for quality care for NFL alumni and a passionate supporter of the Inspired Living brand. "Inspired Living casts such a positive image for all of the families. … If John were alive, I know he would support this wonderful project," she said. "Yes, I have lost the love of my life, but I have not lost the life in my love for him and his legacy – and this is it."

In her role, Ms. Mackey will help educate former players about the 88 Plan and its benefits and serve as a media and events spokeswoman. She will attend grand openings, support various projects and initiatives as needed, and assist in the approval of naming new facilities that include the Mackey name.

Rebecca Lingold, SVP for Validus Senior Living, said discovery rooms in all NFLAA-affiliated communities will be called The John and Sylvia Mackey Discovery Lounge. "Sylvia brings knowledge and passion from her own personal experience to the role of spokeswoman for Validus Senior Living," said Joe Pisarcik, President and CEO of the NFL Alumni Association. "We feel strongly that she will be a great asset as she relates her story to other NFL Alumni families who are going through the same situation she went through."

About Validus Senior Living

Validus Senior Living, a rapidly growing senior lifestyle company based in Tampa, Florida, owns and operates a complete continuum of leading-edge senior living communities, including independent living, assisted living and memory care. Validus Senior Living's focus is creating vibrant and livable communities with highly personalized care based on individual needs and preferences. An affiliate of Validus Group, a private investment management firm that develops, owns and manages real estate related businesses, Validus Senior Living also provides property development, acquisition and management expertise.

For information on Validus Senior Living, please call 813-330-2660 or visit: www.ValidusSeniorLiving.com.

About NFL Alumni and Pro Football Legends

Pro Football Legends is the commercial marketing name and logo of the NFL Alumni Association, a nationwide group comprised mainly of former National Football League players, coaches, and other employees whose mission is to serve, assist, and inform players and their families. The association offers a variety of medical, financial, and social programs to help members lead healthy, productive and connected lives, as well as community initiatives under its "Caring for Kids" programs. For more information, please visit: www.nflalumni.org.

CONTACT: Laura Offenberg
         loffenberg@ValidusSeniorLiving.com
         813-330-2669