Giving the phrase “Senior Prom” a whole new meaning

The Senior Center’s Aged to Perfection gala has a prom theme this year

Senior Center Director Joan Churchill is super excited about this year’s Aged to Perfection gala on September 23.

“It’s the most amazing thing,” she said. “We have developed a Senior Prom with music from the late 1940s to early 1980s to cover the sounds and trends of the Greatest, Boomers and Gen X.  It is a highly inclusive event. Many of us didn’t go to our senior prom because we didn’t feel welcome—and many of us did go.”

Now you have a chance to go again – or go for the first time—at the Senior Center’s “Aged to Perfection: Senior Prom,” which will be held at the Community Church of Sebastopol.

“We encourage people to dress as they wished they could have at their Senior Prom, or dress in the decade they like best, or just come as you are, but be prepared to dance, enjoy amazing local wines, enjoy appetizers from the Harvest Café and desserts from many local bakeries, including a shining Prom sheet cake designed by local Patisserie Angelica. Not your grandma’s Senior Prom!” she said.  

This year’s gala is the center’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Churchill said the center depends on individual donations and local business sponsorships for 16% of its total revenue.

“We thank everyone for this support, and we need it to keep providing the scope of programming that we provide,” she said.  “Our goal for the Senior Prom is to net $50,000 to support our Harvest Café.”

Donations are particularly crucial this year because the city of Sebastopol, due to its financial woes, was unable to provide the same level of support for the Senior Center as it has in years past.

The Harvest Café, which provides lunch for seniors and anyone else, is the Senior Center’s most popular program.

“We are able to provide hand-crafted, individually made meals that are delightful and affordable as a major way of encouraging elders to come out to the community and enjoy a lovely meal. Lunch is fixed price, with a salad or soup, main entrée, dessert and beverage. We encourage people to make a ‘day or morning of it’ by participating in one of our many elder-focused fitness classes, and other programs and workshops, in addition to lunch.” 

Church describes the Sebastopol Area Senior Center as “an amazing array of volunteers, staff and patrons that have a synergy that creates comfort, togetherness, hope and enjoyment. Our main goal is offering insightful, life-enhancing socialization and learning opportunities for our community’s elders.”

“The Harvest Café plays a great place in this as more people come here to enjoy the comfort of a home-cooked meal (without cooking it!) than any other program,” she said. “We can keep our prices for a lovely meal as low as possible by encouraging those that can to support it.” 

In addition to the music and dancing at the Senior Prom, there will be an auction and paddle raise, for travel packages and even a total relandscaping of your yard.

“Tickets are going quickly and are $100 a piece, including food, wine and plenty of other fun,” Churchill said.  “You might even be named Prom King or Queen.”

For more information or for tickets to Senior Center’s Senior Prom gala, click here  or call the Senior Center at 707-829-2440.