A rich past and a bright future: Celebrating 50+ years of

Our Organization’s History

To some, we will always be the SAAC…

SPARK Senior Centers of Montgomery County became the official brand name of our organization in June 2025, which coincided with our 50th Anniversary! This change was implemented after many years of discussions about how to increase brand awareness within our community and promote continued collaboration between our two Senior Centers in Lansdale and Harleysville. Over the years there have been many names and many locations for our Senior Centers, but regardless of our official name or our address, we have remained dedicated to providing our local seniors with a place to find purpose, community, and vitality as they age.

Exterior view of a building with a small front lawn, trees, and a sign indicating it's a healthcare or community center.
GHNPSS logo featuring three animated figures celebrating, with a dark blue and yellow color scheme

1975:

The Senior Adult Activity Center of Harleysville Area and The North Penn Senior Adult Activity Center were each incorporated in 1975. Each Center functioned as its own 501(c)3 non-profit until the merger almost 40 years later.

1981:

The Harleysville Senior Center first operated in Alumni Hall, a building belonging to Lower Salford Township. In 1981, the Township purchased and remodeled a former factory (coincidentally named SPARK!) which has been the Center’s home in Harleysville ever since.

1983:

The PEAK Center was located at 315 West Main Street in Lansdale, from 1983 - 2013.

2013:

Encore Experiences merged with The PEAK Center in 2013, creating Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services as the umbrella organization which oversaw the operations of both facilities. At this time the PEAK center moved to a temporary location at the Advanced Living Communities Campus known as Schwenckfeld Manor, where it remained during the construction of the North Penn Commons.

2016:

The Peak Center found its current home within the North Penn Commons upon the completion of the construction of this facility in October of 2016.

2025:

In June of 2025, Greater Harleysville and North Penn Senior Services officially rebranded as SPARK Senior Centers of Montgomery County. Encore Experiences is now known as SPARK Senior Center of Harleysville, and The PEAK Center is now known as SPARK Senior Center of Lansdale. This change promotes unity between our two centers and sets us up for a bright future of “Sparking Connections and Enriching Lives” for local seniors.

A circular logo with the text 'Spearheading connections, enriching lives' in orange, surrounding a yellow star and a stylized starburst pattern on a black background.
Exterior of a building with a sign that reads "Food Experience" near a manicured lawn and shrubbery.
Logo for The Peak Center in Lansdale featuring mountain peaks and yellow human figures celebrating, with the text 'The Peak Center in Lansdale' and a label 'Part of GHNPSS.'
Logo for 'Encore Experiences in Harleysville,' featuring blue and yellow human silhouettes with raised arms and text indicating it's part of GHNPS.
Museum or visitor center reception desk with the words 'Peak Center' above, green walls, and informational displays behind the desk.
Logo for Greater Harleyville and North Penn Senior Services, featuring icons of seniors and mountains with the text 'Encore Experiences in Harleyville' and 'The Peak Center in Lansdale'.
A group of seniors seated at a banquet table, clapping and smiling, during a presentation at a Senior Services event. A woman stands at a podium, speaking or preparing to speak. A large screen behind her displays the event title and details about services for seniors in the greater Harleyville and North Penn areas.

Celebrating our 50th Anniversary

Celebrating our 50th Anniversary

We celebrated this milestone for our organization with a fabulous Open House at SPARK Harleysville on September 12, 2025. We enjoyed visits from local dignitaries, entertainment, great food, and time catching up with new and old friends. If you have additional photos from the event that you would like to submit, please email info@sparkseniorcenters.org Thanks to everyone who made this special event possible!

Four women standing behind a table with a cake, cutting it during a celebration at the Senior Programs event called Spark. The table has a banner that reads 'SPARK Senior of M' and the women are smiling.
Two women dressed in traditional Korean hanbok performing a dance with drums.
Four elderly women are dancing on a wooden floor stage in a community center, with a red curtain backdrop.
Women dancing and socializing at a decorated indoor event with tables and chairs.
A woman in a red blazer and black skirt is speaking into a microphone at an indoor event. Two other women and a man are standing in the background, with a table covered in a white and purple cloth on the left.
Two women standing at a table inside a room, with the woman on the left speaking into a microphone. The woman on the right is smiling and clapping. The room has tables, chairs, and some people sitting, with colorful walls and a closed window with bli
A round table decorated for a 50th anniversary celebration with black and gold themed napkins, glasses, and a centerpiece of orange roses and decorative black and gold elements.
Five women sitting and standing around a table at a celebration, with a floral centerpiece and decorations indicating the year 1975.
Two women practicing yoga or dance moves on a wooden floor in a room with a red curtain background. One woman has gray hair and the other has curly brown hair.
Colorful fall flower arrangements in wood-look pots decorated with miniature pumpkins and orange mesh accents, placed on a table.
A woman with glasses and a short-sleeved dress speaking into a microphone during an event, with other women standing behind her and a table with a cake and a banner.
Group of women in traditional Korean hanbok performing with drums indoors.
A smiling elderly woman waving her hand at a crowded gathering, wearing a floral blouse with purple flowers, in a room with many people seated at tables, some engaged in conversation, and colorful artwork on the walls.
A man in a white shirt and dark pants holding a microphone and speaking at an event. There is a table with a white tablecloth that has the logo 'SPARK' in the background. A woman in a black and white dress is standing behind him.
Older women dancing at a social gathering in a community room with tables and chairs.
Group of six people standing together posing for photo in front of stage with red curtains.
Centerpiece for a 1975 celebration with a paper flower base, a decorative sign showing the year 1975, and a floral arrangement of a white and an orange rose in a vase.
Several women wearing traditional Korean hanbok are participating in a dance or ceremony indoors, holding the edges of their long skirts, with a red curtain and a green wall in the background.
A large group of elderly people gathered around a decorated banquet table in a community hall, engaging in conversation and held hands. The table is set with gold utensils, glasses, and a vase of flowers, and a woman is serving food in the background
Six flower pots with colorful fall flowers and Halloween decorations arranged on a table in front of a projection screen and red curtains.
Senior citizens gathered at tables in a decorated banquet hall celebrating a 50th anniversary, with some people smiling and others looking around, and a stage with a red curtain in the background.
Group of women dressed in traditional Korean hanbok performing a fan dance with large colorful fans, standing indoors in front of a curtain.
A woman dancing energetically at a social gathering in a community room with other elderly people sitting and standing nearby.
An elderly woman running through decorated doorway at a celebration with balloons and people in the background.
Group of elderly women dancing and talking in a community room with tables, chairs, and decorations.
A woman with glasses and a colorful scarf around her neck appears to be surprised or excited while holding onto a pillar in a crowded room.
An event hall with a long buffet table covered in a white tablecloth, with bottled soda, water, disposable cups, napkins, and decorative items. The walls are decorated with framed artwork, and there are empty chairs around and a few tables set up for
An older man wearing a black hat, glasses, a white shirt, and black pants sitting on a chair, singing into a microphone while using a laptop. There is audio equipment and a water bottle on a small table beside him, with a gold curtain backdrop.
Two women are engaged in an animated conversation at an art gallery. The woman on the left is wearing a purple top and burgundy skirt, and the woman on the right is wearing a blue patterned top and has a purse over her shoulder. There are several pai
Smiling woman in pink shirt and floral apron standing in commercial kitchen holding a box, with other kitchen staff working in the background.
Table decorated with a "Happy 50th Anniversary" sign, gold paper honeycomb decoration, stack of napkins with "50th Anniversary" printed on them, a small plastic cup with gold band, and a black and wood handled shovel.
Two women serving food at a community meal, with a kitchen background and a woman behind the counter.
Four women in traditional Korean attire performing a dance with colorful fans in a room with a wooden floor and red curtains.
Elderly people seated at a banquet table with table numbers, in an art gallery or community center, with a woman serving food and framed artwork on the wall.
A large gathering of elderly people dining at a long banquet table decorated with black and gold accents and small floral centerpieces, in a community hall setting.
A woman in a black blazer, peach top, and jeans standing on a wooden floor, speaking into a microphone during an event at Senior Centers of MontCo. There is a table with a cake, a beer bottle, and a banner in the background. Another woman in a black
A man in a blue blazer and dark pants is speaking into a microphone while holding a plaque or award. A woman in a black and white patterned dress, with curly hair and glasses, is standing in the background smiling. There is a table with a cake and a
Five women in black tops and traditional blue skirts with pink sashes dance together, holding colorful fans above their heads, in a room with a red curtain and wooden floor.
Three square celebratory cakes with white frosting, decorative flowers, and writing in red and yellow icing, placed on a table with the logo of Spark Senior Centers of MontCO, surrounded by five flower pots with colorful fall flowers and pumpkins for
Women in traditional Korean hanbok performing a dance with colorful fans, smiling, in a decorated indoor space.
A group of senior adults sitting around a table at a celebration or gathering, with some people smiling and others engaged in conversation in a decorated room with artwork on the walls.
People gathered at a birthday party celebrating a 50th anniversary, with seated guests, standing in line, and a decorated table with candles and a 'Happy 50th Anniversary' sign.
Women in colorful traditional Korean hanbok dresses performing a drum dance indoors.
Decorated entrance to a banquet hall with black, white, and gold balloons, and signs indicating sections for last names A-M and N-Z, leading into a room set up with round tables and chairs for an event.
Group of seven diverse adults standing together indoors, smiling, with a presentation screen and red curtains in the background.
Three decorated birthday cakes on a table with flower arrangements behind them. The cakes have a message celebrating a 50th anniversary, with one cake saying "Happy 50th Anniversary", another simply saying "and", and the third saying "here's to 50 mo
Senior citizens dining at a formal banquet with white tablecloths, decorated with flower arrangements and numbered table signs, in a hall with artwork on the walls.
A group of women dressed in traditional Korean hanbok performing a fan dance on stage, with some women seated watching in the background.
Four women dressed in traditional Korean hanbok performing a dance indoors, with a red curtain in the background and a wooden floor.
Four women performing a dance or exercise routine on a stage with a red curtain backdrop, flowers, and equipment in the background, celebrating a 50th anniversary.
An elderly woman with gray hair leaning on a table, speaking at a celebration event with many people seated and standing in the background, decorated with flowers and tableware.
An elderly woman with short white hair speaking into a microphone and holding a paper, standing in a room with a wood floor, red curtains, and other people in the background, some listening and some talking.
An elderly woman in pink standing behind a seated man wearing a navy shirt and a black cap, at a gathering or celebration with other elderly people in the background. The room has framed pictures on the wall and a table with floral decoration.
Three women standing together indoors at a celebration, with balloons in the background, smiling at the camera.