Still Jammin’ after 75: St. Paul’s hosts watch party in The Dalles for Ageless Awards
This year, AGE+ is honored to celebrate the inspiring lives of (L to R) Judy Boyer, Tony Leineweber, and Jo Anne Sutherland.
The Dalles, Ore., April 11, 2026 — A free community watch party in The Dalles will give residents a chance to take part in this year’s Ageless Awards, a statewide celebration recognizing Oregonians age 75 and older who “lead, serve and make a difference” in their communities while challenging age stereotypes about aging.
The event will be held Wednesday, April 15 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Light refreshments will be served beginning at 11:15 a.m., followed by the program from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Attendees are welcome to bring a lunch, and no registration is required.
The local watch party is part of the statewide Ageless Awards program organized by AGE+, a nonprofit focused on reshaping how communities think about aging and promoting age-friendly policies and programs across Oregon.
“Each year, the Ageless Awards honor people 75+ who lead, serve, and make a difference in their communities,” organizers said. “These awards challenge ageism and show the positive impact older adults have today.”
This year’s honorees include Judy Boyer, Tony Leineweber and Jo Anne Sutherland, who will be recognized during the statewide celebration streamed online.
Tony Leineweber is a prominent active volunteer and community leader in Oregon, particularly known for his long-standing commitment to senior services and regional development in the Portland area.
Boyer is a Portland-born community activist and active volunteer dedicated to improving the lives of people within the city's Black community, continuing a family legacy of service.
Sutherland She is affiliated with the Redmond Senior Center in Central Oregon, where she is listed among the board and staff.
The awards are part of AGE+’s broader mission to confront ageism and elevate the visibility of older adults in civic life. The organization works to reframe aging not as decline, but as a stage of continued contribution, while also addressing systemic issues tied to aging such as health care access, housing, caregiving, and community support.
Keren Brown Wilson
AGE+ was founded by aging policy expert Keren Brown Wilson, who is widely credited with helping develop the assisted living model as an alternative to traditional nursing home care. Her work helped shift long-term care toward smaller, more residential settings intended to preserve independence while still providing support.
Wilson’s decades of leadership in senior living policy continue to influence the organization’s direction as it focuses on broader aging systems and community-based solutions.
The organization’s board includes Dr. Tina Castañares, a Hood River physician who founded La Clínica del Cariño in 1986. That clinic later became part of One Community Health, a major health provider in the Columbia River Gorge focused on expanding access to care for underserved populations.
Dr. Tina Castañares
Castañares’ work in community health and migrant care has been cited as part of AGE+’s emphasis on equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive approaches to aging.
The Ageless Awards typically highlight a small group of older adults selected through a nomination process reviewed by an internal committee. While public nominations are accepted, the organization does not publish a full list of nominees, instead announcing selected honorees ahead of the event.
Organizers say the awards are intended not only to recognize individual achievement, but also to challenge assumptions about aging in Oregon, where the population of adults over 65 continues to grow and demand for long-term care, housing, and support services is increasing.
The local watch party in The Dalles is open to the public, and organizers say all are welcome to attend.
For more information, visit www.ageplus.org or call 541-296-9587.
