On August 13, Northwoods Partners will celebrate 25 years of serving older adults in the Ely community. Since opening its doors in 2001, the organization has remained committed to helping older adults live independently, stay active, and remain connected.

Northwoods Partners' mission is to provide resources that promote independence and healthy aging, with a vision of creating a community where everyone can age with dignity.

Over the past 25 years, the organization has expanded its programs and services to meet the changing needs of older adults. Transportation services help individuals get to local destinations as well as long-distance medical appointments. A variety of wellness programs—including Chair Yoga, Tai Ji Quan, Strength Training, Dance for Health, and Walking Club—encourage participants to stay active and improve their health.

Programs such as Coffee & Connect, Men's Memories and Movement, Tasty Tuesday Cooking Class, and Card & Coffee with Evelyn provide opportunities for friendship, learning, and community engagement.

Support from the Victory Fund helps Northwoods Partners sustain these programs and continue providing opportunities for older adults to stay healthy, connected, and engaged in their community.

This work closely aligns with the Victory Fund’s mission of helping communities find solutions to chronic health issues in northeastern Minnesota. By supporting healthy aging through physical activity, social connection, access to transportation, caregiver support, and other community-based resources, Northwoods Partners puts that mission into action—addressing factors that can help older adults manage their health and maintain their independence and quality of life.

In 2025 alone, the organization provided more than 15,000 hours of service with the support of over 100 volunteers, demonstrating the tremendous value of community involvement.

As Northwoods Partners celebrates this milestone anniversary, it also celebrates the volunteers, participants, partners, and supporters—including the Victory Fund—who have helped make this work possible. Together, they continue to build a community where older adults can age with independence, purpose, and dignity.

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