Evanston, Ill. (February 10, 2009) – Mather LifeWays, a unique not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating “Ways to Age Well” for older adults, has extended the entry deadline to March 27 for Aging Well Bakes!, its first-ever recipe contest aimed at celebrating Illinois’ and Arizona’s active, older adults and their baking talents.
Adults 55 years of age and older are invited to share an original baked dessert recipe that brings up fond memories and inspires others to be creative in the kitchen. Mather LifeWays will feature finalists’ entries on the contest website: www.matherlifeways.com/agingwellbakes and a grand prize winner will receive a $500 gift certificate to Williams-Sonoma.
“Growing older can be a fun, sweet, and positive experience and Mather LifeWays is excited to celebrate that through the Aging Well Bakes! recipe contest,” said Sara McVey, Vice President, Marketing & Director of Operations. “We are sure that there are thousands of wonderful recipes statewide that have been passed down from generation to generation and we encourage those to be shared in the competition.”
The Aging Well Bakes! recipe contest marks the second contest created by Mather LifeWays to celebrate the talents of older adults. Most recently the organization sponsored the Aging Well Rocks! Song Competition, a contest designed to celebrate the musical talent of people over age 55.
“Getting older is not synonymous with giving up on your dreams,” said Reed Engel, Director of Wellness Strategies at Mather LifeWays. “In fact, older Americans who remain engaged with their hobbies and passions tend to be happier and sometimes healthier than their counterparts who don’t dedicate time to their most loved activities.”
To participate in the competition, entrants 55 years of age and older who are Illinois or Arizona residents must submit an original baked dessert using up to 10 ingredients, an optional photograph of their baked dessert, and a brief narrative (50 words or less) explaining why the dessert represents an appropriate treat for Aging Well.
Illinois Contestants can log onto: www.matherlifeways.com/agingwellbakes and Arizona contestants can log onto: www.splendidotucson.com/agingwellbakes for official rules and instructions on how to submit recipes. Entries will be accepted through March 27, 2009. A panel of Mather LifeWays culinary experts will determine the winning entry, which the organization will announce the week of May 4, 2009.
About Mather LifeWays
Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather LifeWays enhances the lives of older adults by creating Ways to Age Well.SM Founded in 1941 by entrepreneur and humanitarian Alonzo Mather, Mather LifeWays is a unique not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a continuum of living and care; making neighborhoods better places for older adults to live, work, learn, contribute, and play; and identifying, implementing, and sharing best practices for wellness, workforce issues, memory care support, and empowering caregivers. To learn more about our senior residences, community initiatives and Institute on Aging, please call (847) 492.7500 or find your way to www.matherlifeways.com.
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