Breathitt Named Senior Center of the Year

The Breathitt County Senior Citizens Center was awarded the Kentucky River Aging Council’s prestigious Senior Citizens’ Center of the Year during the Council’s Annual Meeting on December 3.

The award recognizes the hard work and effort demonstrated by the Breathitt County Center through its various activities, meals, transportation, and programs conducted each year.

“It is an honor to receive this award on behalf of our members, staff, volunteers, business, community and governmental support entities, and our board,” Lowell Hamilton, co-chair of the Center Board said. “This recognition is a reflection of the power of ‘we’ in providing a wonderful place of engagement for our seniors every day.”

Hamilton and members of the Breathitt County Senior Citizens Board were on hand to accept the award.

“KRADD through its support and recognition of centers in Breathitt, Knott, Lee, Leslie, Letcher, Owsley, Perry and Wolfe counties, promotes the power of senior centers in making a difference in the lives of older adults. The Senior Center of the Year Award was established to raise awareness about the positive impact senior centers have not only on the participants, but the community as a whole and to recognize best practices,” said Stacie Noble, Assistant Director for Aging Services. The centers offer social activities, nutrition, health and wellness programming that promote independent living and good health, she noted.

Lowell Hamilton added that the Breathitt Center wants to be the ‘go to’ place for seniors that will keep them moving to avoid a sedentary life style or social isolation which leads to a shorter life span.

Other awards presented at the annual meeting included the Senior Center Most Successful Center Activity, which was awarded to the Lee County Senior Citizens, and the Senior Center Most Innovative Project, which was presented to the Hazard/Perry Senior Citizens. 

The 2025 Title V Host Agency of the Year was LKLP, and the Title V Participant of the Year Award went to Mona Campbell.  Caregiver of the Year recognition was presented to Donna Epperson.