Nearly 5,500 Atlanta senior residents and public officials attended the 2017 Forever Young Senior Citizens Ball at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Atlanta.
The annual event salutes seniors for their commitment, service, and leadership to the Atlanta community, and encourages them to stay active and healthy through community programs and outreach initiatives.
“It has been such a privilege for me to host this incredible event for the past eight years, honoring our senior residents and their contributions to Atlanta,” Reed said during the event. “When I was elected Mayor in 2010, I made a promise to restore the ball, and since that time my Office of Constituent Services has enhanced this signature event to be representative of the appreciation we have for our seniors who have done so much to enrich and strengthen our city.”
The long-standing tradition of the Senior Citizens Ball was created under the service of Mayor Bill Campbell, who believed it was critical to recognize and honor the individuals who helped Atlanta become the global city it is today.
For many years following Mayor Campbell’s inaugural Senior Citizens Ball, the celebration, supported in various forms by succeeding mayors, was one of the city’s most anticipated social events.
However, due to budget constraints, the City of Atlanta did not host the ball in 2008 and 2009.
Mayor Reed, in response to requests from dozens of seniors, promised to restore the ball shortly after his inauguration in January 2010 and followed through on that promise with the 2010 Senior Citizens Ball.
A number of notable Atlantans served hosts for the evening, including Ryan Cameron of V-103, Frank Ski of V-103, Aungelique Proctor (of FOX 5); Vince Sims (of CBS46), actress Terri Vaughn, and inspirational speaker Jay White.
A special highlight of this year’s gala included a special presentation by Reed to his mother, Sylvia Reed, as the recipient of a Phoenix Award, the highest honor a resident can receive in the City of Atlanta. This year’s Forever Young Senior Ball was planned by the Mayor’s Office of Constituent Services and Sylvia Reed.
“I am thankful to my mother, Mrs. Sylvia Reed, and our generous sponsors who made this year’s ball such a success,” said Reed, who pointed out the event’s record attendance. “The 2017 Forever Young Ball hit a record attendance, with every ballroom in the Atlanta Marriott Marquis at capacity.”
The event’s sponsors included Kaiser Permanente, AARP of Georgia, Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Hudson Group and JenCare Senior Medical Centers. Additionally, more than two dozen business and community leaders contributed private funds for the ball.
