A Couple’s Vows Create Opportunities to Age Well

Kirsten Jacobs is no stranger to organizations assisting older people in Washington, DC. For the past four years, she has worked in the Education and Development Division of American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA).

She is so passionate about her work on issues related to aging that two years ago she was trained as a volunteer at Iona and every other week visited a woman who was homebound. When she and long-time partner Jake Kirsh decided to get married this summer, there was no question about what they wanted for their wedding. Kirsten and Jake made a list of all their favorite non-profit organizations as a gift registry and sent it to their guests.

“We were so overwhelmed by the responses we got. People had looked up every website on the list and called us to say how much they enjoyed reading about these organizations, ” says Kirsten. Iona was one of the charities listed and received gifts from all over the country in honor of their wedding day.

These gifts will be used to ensure that Iona’s essential programs and services are available to all who need them, regardless of income level. Kirsten and Jake were married on August 14, 2010 in their hometown of Portland, Oregon, where they will now make their home. Kirsten continues to work for AAHSA and has started a Master of Social Work at the University of Portland, where she is planning to do a certification in gerontology.