ONTARIO – The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc. has announced the Richland Academy of the Arts has been named the 2025 Community Service Awardee.
The announcement was made in a ceremony on Friday, Aug. 15 at Hawkins Corner.
“We are honored to recognize a community partner whose creative spirit and dedication have enriched the lives of older adults for nearly 24 years,” the Area Agency on Aging stated. “Richland Academy of the Arts has been a valued partner of the Area Agency on Aging, offering programs that inspire movement, creativity, connection, and lifelong learning.
Programs including “Yoga for Seniors” to “Theatre for the Wise” and “Joy of Movement,” show the community what it means to age with purpose and joy, the agency noted.
“Their music and art offerings — from guitar and drumming to painting, ceramics, and floral arranging — foster creativity and community,” the agency stated.
In Spring 2025 alone, nearly 100 older adults participated in programs – a remarkable 95% increase from last year.
The impact doesn’t stop there. Through off-site enrichment in assisted living facilities, technology classes, and collaborative caregiver events, Richland Academy of the Arts ensures that art and expression are accessible to all — whether in a classroom, a care center, or at home.
Their commitment to thoughtful, inclusive programming — and to building a community through the arts — truly reflects their mission to “foster the creative potential that exists in everyone,” the agency stated.
Richland County Commissioner Cliff Mears presented a proclamation to the Richland Academy of the Arts in recognition of their outstanding service to the community. An additional proclamation was presented on behalf of Senator Mark Romanchuk.
Each year, the Area Agency on Aging honors senior citizens who demonstrate exceptional commitment to their communities and present a positive image of aging. One honoree is selected from each of the nine counties in the Agency’s service area: Ashland, Crawford, Huron, Knox, Marion, Morrow, Richland, Seneca, and Wyandot.
The Ohio District 5 Area Agency on Aging, Inc., located at 2131 Park Avenue West in Ontario, provides leadership, collaboration, coordination, and services to older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and resource networks that support independence, dignity, and choice.