Fredericksburg AARP Chapter Recognized with Esteemed Chapter Service Award

Virginia Volunteers Honored for Community Service

 

FREDERICKSBURG_ AARP Virginia has presented the AARP Fredericksburg Chapter with the esteemed AARP Chapter Service Award.

 

Embodying the words of Dr. Andrus, "do what you can, with what you have, where you are today," the AARP Chapter 3396 Corley/Burt Community Service Committee leads Chapter efforts to identify and respond to essential social needs in their community and provide meaningful and rewarding volunteer opportunities for Chapter members.

 

In order to maximize the impact of Chapter support for community organizations, at the end of 2014, members started a practice of designating a specific organization to support each month at its meetings. From December 2014 to December 2015, they chapter will have supported The Holiday Project, Micah Ministries, Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic, SECA - Spotsylvania Emergency Concerns Association & empower HOUSE, Bragg Hill Family Life Center, Rappahannock Area Agency on Aging, Thurman Brisben Center, Alzheimer's Association, Interfaith Community Council School Dressing Days, Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, TRIAD, and Home Instead Senior Santa.

 

In addition to these monthly- selected organizations, the Chapter also supports Disability Resource Center, Fredericksburg Area Food Bank, Fredericksburg Parks & Recreation, Goodwill Goodskills Literacy Corps, Hope Center, Operation Medicine Cabinet, Recovery in Motion, Senior Visitor Program, and SERVE - Stafford Emergency Relief through Volunteer Efforts.

 

During the 2014 calendar year, the Chapter contributed goods and funds valued at $3,124, plus the value of 850 pounds of food, to local non-profit organizations. By June 2015, the chapter contributed goods and funds valued at $3,150.

The Chapter Service Award was presented to the chapter at the All-Volunteer Assembly Recognition Awards Banquet in Staunton on November 12, 2015.

 

The Chapter Service Award is given to a chapter which has contributed to the well-being of their community by sponsoring or participating in local community service activities or events. Community service activities are limitless and can include food and clothing drives, tutoring and mentoring, friendly visits, meals-on-wheels, housing repair, and scholarships and donations, to name a few.

 

AARP Virginia also recognized volunteers with the following awards at the banquet:

 

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.
Elvira B. Shaw Advocacy Award : The Elvira B. Shaw Advocacy Award was created in 2013 in memory of Elvira Beville Shaw’s outstanding service as an advocate for over 40 years on behalf of AARP Virginia. The annual recipient of this award may be an individual or a team who has demonstrated dedication to AARP’s legislative priorities, effectiveness in advocacy outcomes, and exceeded the call of duty in their willingness to serve.

Gordon Morton Award : The Gordon Morton Award is presented 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.

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.

President's Awards: 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 social impact agenda.

Blancato, who has served as AARP Virginia’s state president for three years, is the chief volunteer representing more than one million AARP members in Virginia and an advocate for all Virginians age 50+. He lives in Arlington and is President of Matz, Blancato, & Associates, a full-service firm integrating strategic consulting, government affairs, advocacy services and association and coalition management based in Washington, DC. He is the National Coordinator of the Elder Justice Coalition.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 35.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.