Ideas for a 100th Birthday Gift

• Turning 100 is one of the biggest milestone birthdays a person will ever have and is something worth celebrating. This is a time for family friends to come together and let their loved one know how appreciated he is. A gift for this type of birthday is not about spending a lot of money for material objects. Instead, a gift for a 100-year-old should be something thoughtful that celebrates and honors an amazing life.
  
  

Surprise Party

• One of the best gifts for someone turning 100 years old is gathering all her friends and family in one place, and organizing a surprise party is one way to do that. Invite friends and family from near and far, and try to include as many people from the guest of honor's past you can think of, such as coworkers and neighbors. Ask guests to prepare a story to share about the birthday celebrant, and use your camcorder to record all the speeches. Give the 100-year-old a copy of the video so he can listen to the stories as much as he likes.
  
  

Capture Memories

• Scrapbooks are a thoughtful way to capture memories and for the birthday celebrant to take a look back on his life. Include photos from over the decades and consider including newspaper articles covering major events from the last 100 years. A scrapbook like this is something that will be passed down through the generations. If you're not the crafty type, hire someone to create a photo slide show. Play the slide show if the 100-year-old is having a party or family gathering, or simply wrap the DVD and give it to the celebrant.
  
  

Donation

• Instead of buying a gift, try to think of something more thoughtful. Chances are if you're 100 years old you have accumulated a lot of things and don't really need anything else. Instead of adding to the clutter, make a donation to honor the birthday celebrant. Contribute to the person's favorite charity or to a club she used to be involved with. To provide a gift with lasting effects, create a college scholarship in your loved one's name at his former high school. This is a gift your loved one will feel proud of and appreciate.