A YEAR OF INNOVATION, INVENTION
AND COLLABORATION
2010
Although 2010 brought many older Americans relief from the
economic storms of 2008 and 2009, millions remained at
sea, buffeted by waves of foreclosure, unemployment and, for
six million, hunger. Yet to more than five million people, AARP
Foundation was a life preserver.
Under the leadership of our new president, Jo Ann Jenkins, we refined and
refocused our efforts to help struggling seniors, developing:
•;A new vision: A country free of poverty where no older person feels
vulnerable;
•;A new mission: AARP Foundation is dedicated to serving vulnerable people
50+ by creating solutions that help them secure the essentials and achieve
their best life; and
•;Our four focus areas: hunger, income, housing and isolation.
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Some highlights:
•;AARP Foundation Litigation helped negotiate the largest age-discrimination settlement in legal history—$70 million for older television writers,
ensuring the invaluable perspectives of age and experience will continue
to weigh in when scripts are created.
•;35,300 volunteers from AARP Tax-Aide Program, administered by AARP
Foundation—the nation’s largest, free, volunteer-run tax return assistance
and preparation service—helped 2. 6 million taxpayers in every state and
the District of Columbia.
•;AARP Foundation held its first forum about senior hunger, where national
experts discussed its causes, consequences and possible solutions.
•;Keeping the focus on hunger, one of our biggest impacts will come from
AARP’s sponsorship of four-time NASCAR® Sprint® Cup champion Jeff
Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports in an exciting collaboration with AARP
Foundation to capture the engagement and enthusiasm of NASCAR fans
in raising awareness and funds to end hunger.
•;After a catastrophic earthquake struck Haiti, AARP Foundation launched
its online Haiti Relief Fund to help thousands of elderly earthquake victims. We raised $1.4 million provided through HelpAge USA to its international parent organization to meet basic needs such as water, food and
shelter for older Haitians unable to walk to emergency relief centers. The
program also provided medicine, walking sticks, eyeglasses and clothing.
