AARP Maine Announces Winner of Annual Andrus Award for Community Service

AARP Maine Announces Winner of Annual Andrus Award for Community Service

Honor Goes to Orono Resident Linda Dougherty

AARP Maine announced today that Orono resident Linda Dougherty is the winner of the 2025 Andrus Award named in honor of AARP’s founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. The Andrus Award celebrates and honors those who make a difference in the lives of others, and it is the most prestigious and visible award AARP presents each year.

Linda Dougherty’s extraordinary public service actively embodies Dr. Andrus’ motto “To Serve, Not to Be Served.”

Noël Bonam, AARP Maine State Director, stated, “The AARP Maine Andrus Award acts as a symbol that every single person can make a difference, and that each person can bring about positive social change. We are deeply proud to be presenting this year’s award to Linda Dougherty, whose record of achievement, service and commitment provides an excellent example of the power of giving back to others.”

Linda Dougherty is the lead volunteer for many of AARP Maine’s programs in Greater Bangor, hosting meaningful community events, providing welcoming opportunities for local residents and volunteers, inspiring others to volunteer, and raising awareness about the everyday challenges of older Mainers. Linda also serves as an AARP volunteer advocate at the State House, testifying before legislative committees and speaking up for Mainers everywhere.

“In giving older Mainers a voice at the State House, Linda has become a significant part of our community and a key leader on critical advocacy advancements as well as local initiatives in Maine,” said Bonam. “She sets herself apart with her generous spirit and dedication to help others above all else.”

Born in Danbury, Connecticut, Linda’s family moved when she was a child to North Berwick where her father had grown up. She holds a B.S. in Animal Veterinary Sciences and raised two children, Allyson and Sean, with her college sweetheart, Michael. She has held a variety of enjoyable positions such as working for ten years with the Bangor L.L.Bean outlet, five years managing five McDonald’s restaurants and working part-time at local plant nurseries and catering establishments. Linda says she is a gardener by summer and a quilter by winter, two of her favorite hobbies.

Linda volunteers in a variety of capacities in addition to her work with AARP Maine. She devotes time to the Orono Health Association, which includes the Orono community giving garden, the town thrift shop, the Orono food cupboard and the Orono school backpack weekend food program. She also volunteers at the Rogers Farm run by the Cooperative Extension, growing and harvesting food for four local food cupboards. In addition, Linda works at the polls each Election Day and assists with absentee voting in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities. For ten years, she served as a volunteer EMT for the town of Orono.

“I volunteer because I love giving,” she says. “It sure beats receiving, and I feel it pulls communities together making us all feel safer and happier.”

AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism, and the important contributions AARP volunteers make to their communities, neighbors and the programs they serve. We welcome new volunteers to serve in a variety of roles with AARP Maine and hope you will visit our website or call our office at 1-866-554-5380 if you would like to join our volunteer team.