Ann Garvin Receives Prestigious AARP Andrus Award

Each year, AARP presents its most prestigious award, the Ethel Percy Andrus Award for Community Service, to an individual or individuals who, through volunteer service, significantly enhance the lives of those in their community. This award symbolizes that individuals have the power and ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

In November 2016, AARP Kansas presented its Andrus Award to Ann Garvin of Topeka. Garvin, a long-time AARP Kansas volunteer, is a retired teacher and businesswoman. For 22 years, Garvin taught in the USD 501 Topeka Public School District where she was elected a member of the National Leadership Team for the National Educators Association (NEA). She also owned and directed Midwest Business Consultants.

“Ann is most deserving of the award that honors AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus,” said Glenda DuBoise, AARP Kansas Volunteer State President who presented the award to Garvin along with AARP Kansas Director Maren Turner. “Her record of service to her community demonstrates her commitment to making a difference in the lives of others."

Garvin volunteers for her church, St. John A.M.E. Church, where she has held many leadership positions on local and national levels. She has volunteered at the regional and national level with the Kansas-Nebraska Conference Women’s Missionary Society, the Fifth District Women’s Missionary Society and the Connectional Women’s Missionary Society.  She has served as National President for both Women in Community and Church Women United.

When Garvin is not busy with her church work, she has volunteered with many other community organizations.   Her volunteer work in Topeka includes serving on the Washburn Board of Regents for 12 years, as well as terms on the Topeka YWCA Board of Directors, United Way of Greater Topeka Board of Directors, and the Shawnee County Community Corrections Advisory Committee.  She chaired the Aldersgate Village Nursing Home Board of Directors, was active on the Topeka Black Republican Council, Kansas Black Republican State Committee, the Northeast Kansas Health Systems Agency and was a National Republican Convention Alternative Delegate.

Garvin has won many awards for her volunteer work, including the Northeast Kansas Health Systems Agency Member of the Year, Junior League of Topeka Volunteer of the Year, Monroe Award for Community Service, Washburn University’s President Award and the Fifth District Lay Community Service Award.

Garvin began working with AARP as a charter member of the Executive Council where she served for six years, including several stints as interim volunteer state president.  Garvin has also served as the lead state trainer and the lead for the Volunteer Support Team.  At the national AARP level,  Garvin has served as a trainer and a diversity training specialist.  In this role she traveled around the country presenting diversity trainings to volunteers and staff in other states.

Garvin was raised in Kentucky and graduated from Kentucky State University with a B.S. in Mathematics and Chemistry; she then earned a Masters in Mathematics from Fisk University. While Garvin has proven herself as a dedicated community servant, her true passion is her family. Garvin married her college sweetheart, Leroy Garvin, and together they share two children, Michael and Denise, and 47 years together before his death.  They have four grandchildren: Ryan, Christopher, Alexander and Olivia.