Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S Department of Health and Human Services to be Keynote Speaker at Iona’s Second Annual Art of Caring Luncheon

       NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 17, 2010

Contact: Yesenia Peiker

Director of Communications

(202) 895-9457

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Assistant Secretary for Aging, U.S Department of Health and Human Services to be Keynote Speaker at Iona’s Second Annual Art of Caring Luncheon

Special Guest Speaker Author and Journalist, Paula Span

Washington DC- Iona Senior Services announced today that Kathy Greenlee, Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services, will be the Keynote Speaker at its second annual Art of Caring Luncheon to be held on April 21^st, 2010.

Kathy Greenlee was appointed by President Barack Obama as the fourth Assistant Secretary for Aging at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and confirmed by the Senate in June 2009. Ms. Greenlee brings over 10 years of experience advancing the health and independence of older persons and their families.  Prior to becoming Assistant Secretary she served as Secretary of Aging for the state of Kansas.

In addition to the keynote address from assistant secretary Greenlee, the Art of Caring will feature a special address from Paula Span, the author of When the Time Comes: Families with Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions. Ms. Span currently writes the New Old Age blog for The New York Times and trains the next generation of journalists at the  Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she was the 2009 Distinguished Teacher of the Year.

Iona will honor two outstanding community leaders at the event - Vera Waltman Mayer and Wes Carson.  Vera Mayer recently retired after 22 years working at Iona as Senior Advocate to assist the DC government to develop quality and affordable options for low-income DC residents with chronic health care needs, and for the past fifteen years has served as the coordinator of the DC Coalition for Long Term Care. Wes Carson has served Iona and his community tirelessly, as a former member of Iona’s Board, as a representative of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church on Iona’s member council, and has served thousands of hours as a volunteer medical escort and assistant in Iona’s early Alzheimer’s Clubs. 

All proceeds from the Art of Caring will benefit Iona’s Client Care Fund serving families participating in the Adult Day Health, Wellness, and Arts Center, those who receive counseling and case management, as well as support groups and arts and wellness programs.  Iona’s Adult Day Health Center is the first on the East Coast to be awarded the Excellence in Dementia Care distinction by the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

The Art of Caring Luncheon will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 from Noon – 2:00 pm at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Tickets can be purchased through Iona for $150 per individual ticket and $1,500 for a table of ten. To purchase tickets or for information on sponsorship and benefits, please contact Diane Greenspun at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202-895-9443.

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Iona Senior Services is a nonprofit organization founded in 1975 with a mission to support people as they experience the challenges and opportunities of aging. We educate, advocate and provide community-based services to help people age well and live well. Visit our website at www.iona.org.