Centenarian Celebration History

In 2009, Linda Pancio (from ACTS), Joanne Kline (Montgomery County AAA), and Deb Klock (private care manager) discussed holding an event to celebrate the hundreds of Centenarians in Montgomery County who had contributed to the collective history within the county. From there, a steering committee was formed, involving a true public-private partnership to include all aspects of the aging network across Montgomery County.

The committee decided the event should be filled with fun, fully celebrating an important milestone as a Centenarian, and they would link this celebration to an annual event held each May during Older Americans Month.

The Administration for Community Living (ACL) leads our nation's observance of Older Americans Month with a different theme each year. We love and honor our Montgomery County Centenarians and our celebration has grown from 28 attending in its first year to now including over 60! It is such a wonderful time, that there are several Centenarians who attend yearly. It has become a popular event for the Centenarians, their caregivers, and family members, and the dozens of volunteers who participate annually. Our energy grows each year as we celebrate the increasing number of Centenarians in Montgomery County and we thank them for all they have contributed!