AARP Virginia Honors Warren Stewart with President's Award; Introduces Melvin Evans as New State President

MELODY ROBBINS 434.214.0382

AARP Virginia has presented Warren Stewart of Norfolk with the President’s Award for Community Service and introduced Melvin Evans of Windsor as the organization’s volunteer State President.

 

The President’s Award for Community Service is given to deserving individuals or groups chosen at the AARP State President’s discretion. Past recipients have included exceptional chapter presidents and community outreach, advocacy, and training volunteers who have furthered AARP’s socialimpact agenda. AARP Virginia State Director Jim Dau presented the 2016 awards to three AARP volunteers.

Stewart served as AARP Virginia State President from 2007-2012 and was an AARP Virginia volunteer for seven years prior to his term. A retired educator, Stewart has served in numerous community and public service roles, including the Norfolk School Board. Bob Blancato of Arlington and Bill Lukhard of Richmond also were recognized with the award.

MELODY ROBBINS 434.214.0382

 

“We thank all of these gentleman for their tireless commitment and service to AARP's mission and vision and congratulate them on receiving this award,” Dau said.

More than 100 volunteers participated in the awards event, where they met new AARP Virginia State President Melvin Evans of Windsor, who assumes the role on Dec. 2.  Evans takes over from Lukhard, who served as interim state president for six months after Blancato joined the national board.

Evans has been an active member, volunteer, and leader with AARP for the last 12 years. His work has primarily come through his involvement with AARP Windsor Chapter #5309, of which he was chapter president for more than 10 years. In that role, he not only led his own chapter, but he also committed his time to helping support and strengthen other chapters in his area. He also has served in leadership positions with the Southeastern Virginia Council of AARP Chapters (SEVAC).

AARP Virginia held its annual All-Volunteer Assembly in Richmond on Dec. 1, where volunteers were lauded at a banquet. The All-Volunteer Assembly honors AARP Virginia’s most dedicated volunteers. AARP Virginia volunteers provide outreach and advocacy for more than one million AARP members in Virginia as well as all Virginians age 50+, and are committed to community service and helping everyone age with dignity and purpose.

AARP’s commitment to volunteer service can be traced back to its founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, whose motto “to serve, not to be served” has shaped our community service efforts at the national, state, and local levels. Each year, AARP honors the legacy of Dr. Andrus with the AARP Virginia Andrus Award for Community Service.

The annual Andrus Award for Community Service is AARP’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award. It recognizes individuals who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich their communities in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission, vision, and commitment to volunteer service, and that inspire others to volunteer. Only one Virginia volunteer (or couple performing service together) can receive the Award.

The 2016 Andrus Award winner, Don Creamer, is President of AARP Blacksburg Chapter #2613.

Keynote speaker for the event was Dr. Bob Holsworth, political analyst and managing principal of Virginia Tomorrow LLC.

AARP Virginia also recognized volunteers with the following awards at the banquet:
Chapter Awards: The purpose of the Chapter Awards is to recognize the education, advocacy, and service work of chapters that contribute to achieving AARP’s mission by highlighting outcomes and impact on their communities regardless of Chapter size or demographic. These awards give Chapters the opportunity to showcase their work for countless hours of service devoted to enhancing the experience of aging and AARP’s mission. The 2016 awards recognized AARP Blacksburg Chapter #2613 headed by Creamer, and AARP Richmond North Chapter #5356, whose president is Oscar Covington.

Community Partner of the Year:  The Community Partner of the Year Award recognizes an organization or agency that has made outstanding contributions to the work of AARP by collaborating with AARP volunteers and staff to enhance the quality of life for members of the community. The 2016 Community Partner of the Year is the Beard Center on Aging at Lynchburg College. Named in honor of Lynchburg College alumna and gerontologist Belle Boone Beard, the Center strives to promote positive aging through intergenerational activities, educational programs, information and referral services, and professional training. The Center also hosts one of Virginia’s largest annual geriatric conferences and provides leadership for Region 2000’s ninety-member Consortium on Aging.

Gordon Morton Award : The Gordon Morton Award is given to an individual AARP volunteer who has made outstanding contributions to the work of AARP in a manner consistent with the dedication and quality of work modeled by Gordon Morton, an AARP volunteer who passed away in 2002. Denise Coates of Herndon is the 2016 recipient of the Gordon Morton Award for Volunteer Service. Coates serves as a Community Ambassador, Congressional District Liaison, and is a co-lead of the Northern Virginia New Volunteer Orientation team with Carol Downs and Pat Killeen. She is also a member of the Capitol Hill Strike Force Team and participated as a volunteer Ambassador in the 2016 Take a Stand campaign for Social Security.

AARP Virginia has more than 1 million members in the commonwealth, with a volunteer corps that provide outreach, education, and advocacy across the state. Learn more about AARP in your community by liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter @AARPVa.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million that helps people turn their goals and dreams into 'Real Possibilities' by changing the way America defines aging. With staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and promote the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare security, financial security and personal fulfillment. AARP also advocates for individuals in the marketplace by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name.  As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the world’s largest circulation magazine, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. To learn more, visit  www.aarp.org  or follow @aarp and our CEO @JoAnn_Jenkins on Twitter.