An Andrus Award Winner With a Drive to Help

When Sharon Hettick and her husband moved to Sun City West 23 years ago, they enjoyed attending football games at Arizona State University. But as they got older, the drive to Tempe became more challenging.

“I kept thinking to myself, ‘Well, why can’t I just get a bus?’ ” says Hettick, 81, who is an AARP Arizona volunteer.

That question launched her nearly decade-long journey of advocacy to help improve public transportation for older adults, veterans and residents with disabilities in Arizona’s Northwest Valley — long known as a transit desert. For her efforts, Hettick received the 2024 AARP Arizona Andrus Award for Community Service, the organization’s highest volunteer honor.

Her work has included meeting with legislators and helping spearhead solutions for underserved communities. Among her most notable achievements was working to help launch Valley WAVE, an autonomous vehicle pilot project in partnership with AARP. The 2023 pilot provided on-demand rides to key locations such as grocery stores, medical centers and recreation centers.

Hettick also served for seven years on the board of Northwest Valley Connect, a nonprofit organization that provided rides to older adults, veterans and people with disabilities.

In nominating her for the Andrus Award, fellow Northwest Valley Connect board member Bonnie Boyce-Wilson described Hettick as “relentless in her efforts,” repeatedly attending hearings and testifying about transit issues at the state capitol.

“I want to make sure that we have transportation out here for seniors, veterans and those with disabilities,” Hettick says. “They deserve to have that.”

—Stacey Shepard