Just a Diddy thought

On May 13, Debra Vinh, a communications specialist at the Riderwood retirement community in Silver Spring, Maryland, signed for an unexpected and large delivery of dogwoods. The note read, “To the Residents of Riderwood: Wishing you a bountiful and beautiful spring!” and was signed “Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs & Combs Entertainment.”

Vinh, like most people, wondered whether the card was a prank. But after some digging, the team at Erickson Living, the company that runs Riderwood, learned the truth. Yep, the flowers were from the Sean Combs.

Here’s the back story: After a celebratory lunch following his commencement speech at Howard University on May 10, Combs thought it’d be a shame to waste the beautiful centerpieces arranged by Washington’s “it” event planner Andre Wells. So the music mogul, apparently still riding high from his big moment, asked Wells whether there was somewhere to send the flowers “to brighten someone’s day.” Wells thought of Riderwood, among other places, and the flowers were sent.

“It was simply an act of kindness, and that makes us feel good,” Simone Gomez, a facilities coordinator at the Erickson Living retirement community, said in a statement. “His mission was accomplished, and we appreciate Mr Combs’ thoughtfulness.”