Don’t Postpone Health Advocates

On the occasion of Health Advocates for Older People’s 40th Anniversary, Gary Heinze, President of the Board of Directors, prepared a poem to commemorate the organization’s decades of service to the community and to share information about the organization’s history. We are publishing this poem here so that it can be enjoyed by our wider audience.

Health Advocates for Older People for 40 years
Has been helping seniors with a mission quite clear,

To support aging with vitality and independence
And help you live with confidence,

From 1985 to today HAFOP has been able to do
Great things thanks to volunteers and donors like you,

With management from Executive Directors who shine
Named Milburn, Houghton and Colin Klein,

And leadership from Board Presidents so fine
Starting with Krohn, and then Hartley, Wade and Heinze,

And dedication from ‘the Nancys’, as in Ploeger, Houghton and Carr
Health Advocates has truly come so far,

With Josephine McFadden’s great endowment gift
And Advisory Board leadership, which is Betsy Timberman’s heavy lift,

Our late centenarian board member, Marguerite Yates
With her Jazz fundraising is a true HAFOP great,

We offer Home Safety and Fall Prevention
And assistive equipment donated with intention,

Our Living by Design Team is key
Providing services and items for free,

Health Advocates’ Program for Healthy Aging
Offers classes that are all raging,

Like Basic Exercise, Chair Yoga, and Strength & Tone
And Tai Chi and Reiki where interest has grown,

Our focus on socialization is enhanced
By seasonal celebrations, luncheons, harmonica lessons and dance,

Plus groups for writing, knitting, and games
And cultural trips where you meet friends and learn names,

So let’s all celebrate this milestone with great verve
To ensure seniors by HAFOP continue to be served!

Gary G. Heinze, March 14, 2026