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PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2015
CONTACT: Ashley Marshall
254-715-9040; marshalla@elderaffairs.org
Department of Elder Affairs and United Way of Florida to Host Florida Senior Day
~ State Agency Secretaries to participate in Town Hall with seniors; Champion of Service award
to be distributed during noon program ~
TALLAHASSEE – On April 15 at the State Capitol, the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA)
and United Way of Florida will host Florida Senior Day, an annual celebration that is expected to bring
more than 1,500 elders and advocates from across Florida to the State Capitol to honor the many
contributions of Florida seniors.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with United Way for this event that honors elder Floridians,” said
Florida Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Samuel P. Verghese. “In its 15th year, this event has been
revamped and features more than 60 partners and new activities that encourage seniors to have their
voices heard. One of our most important missions at the Department is to honor and celebrate our elders,
and Florida Senior Day gives us the perfect opportunity to do that.”
Florida Senior Day will begin at 10:00 a.m. inside the Capitol in the Cabinet Room with a Town Hall
meeting where seniors will be able to pose questions to state leaders. Secretary Verghese will lead the
panel to discuss the future of aging in Florida, as well as the state’s preparation for the booming elder
population. Panel participants in the Town Hall include Secretary Liz Dudek, Agency for Health
Care Administration; Secretary Mike Carroll, Department of Children & Families; Surgeon
General John Armstrong, Florida Department of Health; Director Barbara Palmer, Agency for
Persons with Disabilities; and Randall Hunt, President of the Florida Association of Area Agencies
on Aging. Anna Johnson, veteran WCTV anchor and co-host of Ageless in America, will moderate
the meeting.
Following the Town Hall meeting, at 11:00 a.m., performances will begin in the Capitol Courtyard.
Senior groups have traveled from as far away as Miami to showcase their talents, including musicians,
dancers, and choirs.
Florida Senior Day will feature a complimentary Chick-fil-A lunch, and more than 60 interactive partner
booths will provide important resources for attendees. Free health screenings will be offered, and the
Department of Elder Affairs’ SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program will be on-site
to provide free, unbiased, and confidential Medicare counseling for anyone seeking assistance with
Medicare issues or those interested in cost-savings and prescription drug programs.
DOEA Secretary Samuel P. Verghese will address attendees during a noontime program, and he will be
joined by Chester Spellman, Chief Executive Officer of Volunteer Florida, to present a Champion of
Service award to a deserving recipient who volunteers to serve elders. The Tallahassee Swing Band will
close the day with a free concert at 1:00 p.m.
Event Details:
10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
The Florida Capitol, Capitol Courtyard and Florida Cabinet Room
Tallahassee, Florida
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