Lathrup Village man inspired by mother, grandmother to support seniors

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

LATHRUP VILLAGE — Growing up in the Bronx, N.Y., in an “old-world” Italian family surrounded by other “old world” Italian families, Tony Fama learned to respect his elders.

“He was raised with respect; it was just a part of getting up in the morning and breathing,” said his mother, Maria Fama. “You never had to say it, it was just the way we were all raised. That’s the way we were raised, and we raised our children the same way.”

As he got older, that simple respect grew into understanding and compassion, and Tony Fama developed a special place in his heart for his elders.

Nine years ago, Tony Fama left his successful career as a television news reporter to form an Internet-based company that offers resources for seniors. He named the company after his mother and his grandmother: Maria Madeline Project Inc. He currently operates the organization and its Web site, www.experienceseniorpower.com, out of his Lathrup Village home.

“It started as a community for baby boomers or seniors, where people 50 years old and older could come for all sorts of different resources,” Tony Fama explained.

Not only is it a free social networking place for seniors, but thanks to Tony Fama’s experience in television, he has put together video reports on investments, reverse mortgages, long-term care insurance, Medicare benefits, etc. He also has a “Featured Baby Boomer” report, as well as articles written by nurses and dieticians, and information on elder law, finances, healthy lifestyles and support groups.

“Our most popular online activities for them are where the baby boomers are publishing their autobiographies, their photo albums and their poetry,” Tony Fama said. “We’ve really developed a community for them online. It’s kind of like a MySpace for baby boomers.”

Tony Fama has also published a book along with software that allows grandchildren to teach their grandparents how to use computers.

“I hear from families all the time that they bought the book for Grandma as a present, and she’s learning the keyboard while bonding with her granddaughter,” Tony Fama said, which is exactly what he’d hoped for. “We’re very excited about the direction we’re headed. I had hoped that this would work to benefit baby boomers in strengthening their relationships with friends and families. I can’t say that I’d envisioned we’d be here today, less than 10 years later.  It’s exciting and it’s rewarding. I really do love it.”

Tony Fama named the company the Maria Madeline Project because of his love for the two most special women in his life.

“They’re such dynamic women who taught us to be compassionate, to be respectful,” he said. “In everything I do, I try to mirror that ideal and that approach.”

When he first started the company, he gave his mother the shock of her life.

“Mom is in New York, and I didn’t even tell her until one day, I handed her all the corporate paperwork and I said, ‘This company is named for you and (Grandma).’ She cried. It was really sweet.”

“It was a shock when he presented me with this,” Maria Fama said. “He had a very good job, a very lucrative job, and I thought, ‘Why would he give everything up for this?’ But I think if you knew my son, Anthony, well, that’s what he’s all about. That’s him. That’s exactly what he is. My mother and him shared one heart, I’m totally convinced of that. He’s truly a genuine person. I can’t say anything bad about him, except he’s a vegetarian.”

Tony Fama and the Maria Madeline Project were featured on NBC’s “Today Show” several years ago, and recently received congressional funding for its efforts, in conjunction with Cyber Seniors in Detroit, to provide computer training for at-risk children and disadvantaged seniors.

For more information on the Maria Madeline Project or to access the Web site, free of charge, visit www.experienceseniorpower.com.

You can reach Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586) 279-1108.