Do you know someone over the age of 50 who works hard to improve the lives of others? Who spends their time delivering meals or taking their peers to appointments? If so, then the AARP wants to hear about them!

AARP is currently accepting nominations for its Andrus Awards for Community Service. One award is given out per state each year and is named for Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who founded AARP in 1958 at the age of 73.

Current AARP Maine Volunteer President Rich Livingston told me that in 1958 Dr. Andrus was a retired educator in the state of California who found one of her former colleagues living in a chicken coop. At that time, teachers were not part of the social security system and had no health insurance. Dr. Andrus was so shocked and outraged that she worked to unite teachers for the first time in California and find ways to offer some health and financial aid to them. That was the beginning of AARP.

The Andrus Award pays tribute to her by recognizing other senior citizens who volunteer in ways that make better the lives of others over the age of 50. The requirements for nominees include:

  • Nominees must be 50 or older
  • The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nominations are based must reflect AARP's visions and mission
  • Couples or partners who perform service together are eligible; however, teams are not
  • The recipient must live in the awarding state
  • This is not a posthumous award

The application deadline is June 1st, 2014. For nomination forms and further information, go to AARP Maine's website.

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