Governor Branstad to recognize Iowa centenarians

posted 8/10/2016 in Press Releases

In an effort to recognize Iowans who are celebrating 100 years or more of life, Governor Terry Branstad and the Iowa Department on Aging are launching a call for centenarians and are planning a number of regional Centenarian Recognition events throughout the state.

For the purposes of this program, a centenarian is any older adult who will be 100 or older by Dec. 31, 2016, and whose primary residence is Iowa.

“We are so fortunate to have such a large number of centenarians in Iowa,” said Iowa Department on Aging Director Donna Harvey. “They have lived through things many of us have only read about in books or seen in movies; their collective wisdom and experience is an inspiration to us all. We can learn so much from these men and women who have helped make Iowa the great state that it is.”

To assist the State of Iowa in recognizing centenarians, the public is encouraged to inform a centenarian, or the person’s family or caregiver, about this call for centenarians and where to access and submit an application. The application is posted on the Iowa Department on Aging’s website at www.iowaaging.gov or may be requested by calling 800.532.3213 or emailing Danika.Welsch@iowa.gov.

Each centenarian will receive a signed certificate from Governor Branstad that is suitable for framing and will be invited to attend a Centenarian Recognition event on October 19 at the Heartland Acres Agribition Center in Independence. This event will be sponsored by the Iowa Department on Aging and Iowa’s Area Agencies on Aging.

The Iowa Department on Aging will accept forms for any centenarian on an ongoing basis to be included in the statewide Centenarian Registry, but to receive an invitation to one of this year’s Centenarian Recognition Events and a signed certificate from the Governor, applications must be received by August 31, 2016.