Hannan Center Celebrates 100 Years of Enriching the Lives of Older Adults

DETROIT — For a century, Hannan Center has been a lifeline for older adults in Detroit, a place where seniors find connection, creativity, and care when they need it most. This fall, the nonprofit will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a series of special events, honoring its legacy of service while charting a bold future for aging in Metro Detroit.

Since its founding in 1925, Hannan has stood alongside seniors through moments of prosperity and periods of crisis, committed to ensuring that no one is left behind due to isolation, poverty or age-related health concerns. Today, the organization serves more than 1,500 older adults each year through programs that range from dementia care and caregiver respite to social work support, benefits navigation, emergency assistance, lifelong learning, and creative arts initiatives that foster connection, dignity, and purpose.

“Reaching 100 years is both a celebration and a responsibility,” said Vincent Tilford, President and CEO, Hannan Center. “Hannan’s work has always been about more than services. It’s about affirming the dignity, creativity, and resilience of older adults. As we mark this milestone, we’re not only honoring our past but committing to a future where aging is embraced as a vital and powerful stage of life.”

Hannan Center’s Core Programs Include:

• DayBreak Adult Day Program: Provides dementia-centered activities, social engagement, caregiver respite, care coaching, legal aid, mediation, and emotional support. Families benefit from educational workshops and caregiver skill-building.

• Zena Baum Senior Service Center (since 2007): Offers intake assessments, benefits navigation, group and individual counseling, legal referrals, elder abuse screening, social isolation identification, and home-care coordination.

• Beyond U – Creative Aging Workshops: Based on research in the benefits of creative aging, Hannan offers classes in fine arts, writing, technology, and culturally based wellness, aimed at lifelong enrichment.

• Resource Hub: Access to nonprofit tenants located onsite, including organizations like Operation ABLE, AARP, and environmental justice groups.

• Ellen Kayrod Art Gallery & Gift Shop: A publicly accessible gallery showcasing older adult artists and professional art exhibitions. The gallery hosts monthly exhibits and the annual “Emerge!” festival.

• 70 Over Seventy Awards: Annual recognition of older Michigan residents excelling in art, civic leadership, entrepreneurship, lifelong learning, and lifetime achievement.

• Affordable Shared Amenities: Conference space, tech support (high-speed internet), office space, café (Hannan Café providing meals and a cybercafé for those 60+), and meeting rental space.

To commemorate this milestone, Hannan Center is hosting a series of events that celebrate its history, spotlight the power of aging with resilience, and look ahead to a bright future. This includes:

• Detroit Historical Museum Exhibit: Opening October 11, 2025, and running through January 20, 2026, this exhibit will showcase a century of Hannan’s impact on older adults and the broader Detroit community, featuring historic artifacts, photographs, paintings, sculptures and more. For additional details, visit: https://www.detroithistorical.org/exhibitions.

• The Emerge Art Festival: Artists aged 55 and older can participate in a judged competition, exploring themes of aging, creativity, and community in Detroit. Selected pieces will be featured in the festival for cash prizes. The art festival opens on October 18. For more information visit: https://hannan.org/emerge/.

• 100th Anniversary Celebration: The Hannan Center will host a special community celebration on Friday, October 25 at 11 a.m. bringing together staff, volunteers, donors, elected officials, and community supporters for a day of recognition, reflection, and fellowship at the organization’s historic Detroit facility located at 4750 Woodward Ave. The event will feature formal remarks from Tilford, along with special guests and invited dignitaries who will highlight Hannan’s lasting impact on older adults and the broader community.

A centerpiece of the program will be a tribute to centenarians. A select number of people 100 years and older – whose lives represent resilience, wisdom, and the enduring spirit of Detroit’s older adult community – will be honored guests. Each centenarian will be acknowledged during the ceremony, underscoring Hannan’s mission of celebrating and supporting the vitality of aging. Attendees will also enjoy guided tours of the Hannan Center, offering a first-hand look at the spaces where programs and services enrich the lives of older adults every day. Following the program, guests will be welcomed to connect over light refreshments.

• 70 over Seventy – The Next Chapter Awards: On Saturday, November 1, 2025, from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Atheneum Suite Hotel, Hannan will honor individuals in their 70s and beyond who have made remarkable contributions in categories such as Art, Civic and Community Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Lifelong Learning, Lifetime Achievement, and Unsung Hero. For more information visit: https://hannan.org/70overseventy/

Hannan Center is proud to acknowledge the ongoing support of Comerica Bank, which has been part of Hannan’s journey since its inception. Additionally, we extend our gratitude to our partners: Mary Thompson Foundation, HAP/CareSource, AARP, GJC, Morgan Stanley, Total Health, and D-AAA, who help make our programs accessible to all.

About Hannan Center
The mission of Hannan Center is to preserve the dignity and enhance the quality of life for seniors in Michigan. In 1925, Luella Hannan founded the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation to serve aged persons in Detroit. Today, over 100 years later, Hannan continues to ensure that seniors are respected, valued, empowered to reach their potential and connected to a community of their choice. Through lifelong learning opportunities and care coordination, Hannan Center assists older adults with their social, educational, medical, financial, and housing needs. For more information, please call 313.833.1300 or visit www.hannan.org.

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