ATLANTA – As Jimmy Carter gets ready to celebrate his 100th birthday on Tuesday, the occasion marks a significant milestone. He is the first American president to have lived a full century, showcasing a life that began in humble beginnings as the son of a farmer during the Great Depression, and went on to serve as a Nobel Peace Prize-winning humanitarian and a staunch advocate for democracy worldwide.

Despite spending the past 19 months in home hospice care in Plains, Georgia, Carter continues to defy expectations. Rising from a family peanut farming and warehouse business, he became the 39th President of the United States, serving from 1977 to 1981. Following his presidency, he dedicated over four decades to leading The Carter Center, which he co-founded with his wife Rosalynn in 1982, with a mission to “wage peace, fight disease, and build hope.”

Jason Carter, the former president’s grandson and chair of The Carter Center governing board, expressed his sentiments, saying, “Not everybody gets 100 years on this earth, and when somebody does, and when they use that time to do so much good for so many people, it’s worth celebrating.”

Throughout his life, Jimmy Carter has left an indelible mark on the world, touching the lives of countless individuals. He was born on October 1, 1924, in Plains, where he has spent the majority of his 100 years. It is expected that he will celebrate his birthday in the same home he and Rosalynn built in the early 1960s.

The Carter Center recently hosted a musical gala in Atlanta to honor the former president with performances spanning various genres and artists, some of whom campaigned with him in 1976. The event raised over $1.2 million for the center’s programs and will be broadcast on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Meanwhile, in St. Paul, Minnesota, volunteers from Habitat for Humanity are paying tribute to Carter by embarking on a five-day initiative to build 30 houses. The Carters have long been involved with the organization, serving as prominent ambassadors and leading annual building projects well into their 90s.

Despite health challenges, including a cancer diagnosis at age 90 and multiple falls and surgeries in his mid-90s, Carter remains resilient. Even in facing the prospect of hospice care at 98, he continues to inspire others with his unwavering spirit and dedication to service.

As the world celebrates his milestone birthday, Jimmy Carter’s legacy serves as a testament to the power of compassion, resilience, and commitment to making a difference. Here’s to a remarkable individual who has touched the lives of many and continues to inspire us all.