Annual Report AARP 2009

> Throughout 2009, AARP’s Create The Good encouraged
people to make a difference in their communities—whether
they had 5 minutes, 5 hours or 5 days to give. Millions of
Americans took the opportunity to give back through AARP
by helping others complete their tax returns, promoting
driver safety or lobbying lawmakers online.

For example, AARP chapters in Virginia teamed up with Ruritan members to gather and donate 40,000 pounds of groceries to local food banks. A new website enabled personalized searches for service opportunities, such as by ZIP code and type of interest. A companion Spanish-language website emphasized “to give or share is to live.” With AARP’s backing, Congress passed the Serve America Act, which will strengthen and expand civic engagement for people of all ages.

Project Toolkits

Easy-to-use toolkits with steps for helping others were posted online, with projects such as helping a neighbor manage prescription drugs or weatherize a home. A video produced by AARP and American Rivers explained how to organize a river or stream clean-up.

Stars Join In

Create The Good joined Hollywood’s leading charity, the Entertainment Industry Foundation, in a multi-year, nationwide initiative to promote volunteerism. It kicked off in October with a week of service-oriented television programming. To promote the effort, AARP produced two star-studded public service announcements: in English, with five-time Grammy Award-winner Faith Hill and in Spanish, with Jorge Ramos, the ESPN Deportes sportscaster who is also AARP’s Hispanic Ambassador.

serving a need More than 40,000 pounds of food were collected in Virginia by volunteers from AARP and Ruritan, a community service organization, to help stock emergency food banks.

Volunteer Recognition

Volunteer superstars at the state level were honored with 2009 AARP Andrus Awards for Community Service.

Employees Give Back

In an economically challenging year, AARP employees nevertheless dug deep into their pockets and gave from their hearts. During our annual Employee Giving Campaign, employees contributed more than $730,000 to charitable organizations serving their communities and the nation.