AARP Boston Life@50+ Three-Day National Event and Expo A Success!

Mrs. Laura Bush, Barbara Pierce Bush, Whoopi Goldberg, Jay Leno, Moody Blues, The Spinners, Mary Wilson, Linda Ronstadt, Luis Tiant, Bill Russell, Steve Grogan, Mike Eruzione, James “JB” Brown, and Dan Marino entertained more than 13,000 attendees!

AARP’s Life@50+ National Event & Expo, held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center May 8-10, 2014, was a resounding success!

AARP, the leading organization for people 50+ with nearly 38 million members, gave 13,000 attendees at Life@50+ Boston access to some of today’s most renowned celebrities and experts on lifestyle, health, sports, travel, and finance.

Life@50+ Boston began on May 8 with a Community Day of Service, kicked-off by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and several celebrities, including NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback Dan Marino, who is AARP’s Men’s Life Ambassador; AARP Community Ambassador and award-winning broadcaster James "JB" Brown; and AARP Love and Relationship Ambassador and author Dr. Pepper Schwartz.

After the three celebrity ambassadors participated in a Q & A panel discussion, they joined more than 700 Life@50+ attendees and donated their time and effort, serving various community organizations in the greater Boston area.

 

The Life@50+ event officially opened the next day, on May 9, with greetings from Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, AARP Massachusetts State Director Mike Festa, and AARP Massachusetts President Linda Fitzgerald. AARP and AARP Massachusetts then presented Mayor Walsh with a certificate adding Boston to AARP's network of age-friendly communities.

The morning lineup next featured First Lady Mrs. Laura Bush and her daughter Barbara Pierce Bush in a conversation moderated by journalist Soledad O’Brien. Later, New England sports legends Mike Eruzione, Steve Grogan, Bill Russell, and Luis Tiant participated in a panel discussion moderated by James "JB" Brown.The afternoon session featured a Life Reimagined panel moderated by Soledad O’Brien with singer Linda Ronstadt, as well as Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman and the man who rescued him, Carlos Arredondo.

The evening wrapped up with a Dance Party featuring the Spinners and Mary Wilson of the Supremes.

 

 

 

 

Saturday’s events began with a conversation between Jay Leno and Whoopi Goldberg in the morning, followed by the AARP Foundation/Drive to End Hunger Meal Packing Activity, where 50,000 meals were assembled by volunteers and donated the Greater Boston Food Bank. The meal packing was done in conjunction with the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger event on May 10.

Life@50+ Boston then closed with a ticketed concert by rock ’n roll legends, The Moody Blues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next national AARP event, Ideas@50+, takes place in San Diego this fall, from Sept. 4-6, 2014, at the San Diego Convention Center.