James A. Wall Sr. wins AARP's highest award for community service

GREENSBORO -- Oxford resident James A. Wall Sr., former president of AARP North Carolina, was honored with AARP’s Andrus Award for Community Service for his work to improve the health and financial security of North Carolinians. The Andrus Award, presented to Wall at the AARP Multicultural Outreach Awards Ceremony, is the association's most prestigious volunteer tribute recognizing outstanding individuals who are sharing their experience, talents and skills to enrich the lives of others.

Wall, a retired hospital administrator, was AARP North Carolina’s President in 2012-2014. As AARP’s top state volunteer, Wall helped lead AARP’s efforts to cover the uninsured, keep electric utility and auto insurance rates affordable, preserve important state funding for services that help people age in their own homes, and to end adult hunger, to name just a few his accomplishments.

AARP North Carolina Director Doug Dickerson said, “James Wall’s deep understanding of health care helped people better understand their coverage options. As a former hospital executive, he provided unbiased information to people across the state to help them learn what the new health care law can do for them and their families.”

AARP is a volunteer led organization with hundreds of volunteers working in communities across the state who advocate on issues that matter most to the state’s 50 plus, provide information and resources to family caregivers, fight fraud that targets older adults, help people save more for their retirements, and support AARP Foundation programs like Tax Aide and the Smart Driver program.

Dickerson said, “Wall has consistently strived to ‘create the good.’ He has worked with AARP volunteers, elected officials and other leaders to address the specific needs of older adults and to make our communities more age-friendly. Most importantly, he has been an inspiration for others to volunteer.”

For those who want to help make a difference, AARP has volunteer opportunities where you live. To learn more about volunteering with AARP or other community organizations, visit www.createthegood.org