On Friday, May 26 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. the Akron Zoo will become the first zoo in Ohio to receive an Age-Friendly Seal of Approval by the Better Business Bureau, followed by a demonstration of the new pilot program to representatives from the media and local chambers of commerce.
The Age-Friendly Seal of Approval pilot program is a multi-sector collaboration by the Akron-Summit Age-Friendly Task Force, spearheaded by County Executive Ilene Shapiro, Mayor Dan Horrigan, and Direction Home Akron Canton Area Agency on Aging & Disabilities. The event will include a brief ceremony and a walking tour highlighting the Akron Zoo’s superb accessibility and service to older adults which earned the Zoo this designation. Attendees will also be given information about how additional businesses and institutions may apply through BBB Akron to earn the Seal of Approval in the future. Lastly, VANTAGE Aging will share how residents can participate in this process through the AmeriCorps Seniors Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
The event will be followed by activities as part of the Akron Zoo’s Age-Friendly Friday. Guests ages 62 and older will be able to purchase a Senior ticket for $12.00 and receive a second general admission ticket for free. The Zoo will also offer giveaways, snacks for seniors, and a chance to win a family membership while supplies last.
To attend the media portion of the event at 9:00 a.m., please RSVP with Colleen Kelly at ExecutivePress@summitoh.net by May 22, 2023. More information about the Age-Friendly Seal of Approval program will be released after the conclusion of the event.
What: Age-Friendly Seal of Approval Ceremony and Demonstration
Who: Summit County Executive Ilene Shapiro, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan, Akron Zoo President & CEO Doug Piekarz, BBB Akron President & CEO Shannon Siegferth, Direction Home Akron-Canton President & CEO Gary Cook, VANTAGE Aging CEO Kim Ventresca.
When: Friday, May 26 at 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Where: Akron Zoo Barnhardt Family Welcome Center
500 Edgewood Ave.
Akron, Ohio 44307
