Governor Rendell Proclaims Sept. 7-13 'Senior Community Center Week'

HARRISBURG, Pa., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G.
Rendell today proclaimed Sept. 7-13 as "Senior Community Center Week" to
recognize the important role that senior centers play in the lives of
thousands of older Pennsylvanians.
"Pennsylvania's more than 600 community centers serve meals to eligible
seniors and provide a place where they can interact, enjoy conversation and
get information on nutrition, health care and other issues," said Governor
Rendell. "They help to keep older adults engaged in community activities and
have fun, which is vital to their quality of life."
More than 200,000 people frequent the centers and 83,000 are served 4.3
million nutritious meals each year. The centers continue to meet the
challenges of serving their visitors and offering valuable programs that
sustain them.
Pennsylvania has the fifth highest number of people age 60 and older at
nearly 2.5 million residents; they represent nearly 20 percent of the state's
total population.
The locations of senior centers can be found on the Pennsylvania Senior
Centers' Web site, www.paseniorcenters.org, or by contacting a local Area
Agency on Aging whose information can be found at www.aging.state.pa.us.
The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public
education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing
economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out
more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly
newsletter, visit www.governor.state.pa.us.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The text of Governor Rendell's proclamation follows:

SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTER WEEK
SEPTEMBER 7-13, 2008

WHEREAS, More than 620 Senior Community Centers provide a variety of
activities, programs and services in every county across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Senior Community Centers are a visible symbol of Pennsylvania's
concern and support for older persons; and
WHEREAS, Senior Community Centers provide opportunities for seniors to
stay active and healthy, continue learning, share experiences and stay
connected with friends and community members; and
WHEREAS, Senior Community Centers can help older persons enhance their
dignity, support their independence, and encourage their continued involvement
within their communities; and
WHEREAS, more than 83,000 eligible persons eat meals at these centers and
more than 4,000,000 meals are served at these centers annually - keeping older
Pennsylvanians healthy and socially involved; and
WHEREAS, Senior Community Centers continue to meet the challenges of the
changing face of aging, particularly with the baby boomer generation; and
THEREFORE, I Edward G. Rendell, Governor of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim September 7-13, 2008, as SENIOR COMMUNITY
CENTER WEEK. I encourage all Pennsylvanians to recognize the important role
Senior Community Centers play in the lives of older Pennsylvanians.
GIVEN under my hand and the Seal of the Governor, at the City of
Harrisburg, on this 14th day of August in the year of our Lord two thousand
and eight, and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and thirty-third.
Edward G. Rendell, Governor

CONTACT:
Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116
Jane Crawford, PDA
717-783-1549

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

Chuck Ardo, +1-717-783-1116, or Jane Crawford, PDA, +1-717-783-1549, both of
the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor