Congratulations! Andrus Winner for 2023 Announced

Congratulations Phil Chin, 2023 WINNER of the Andrus Award for Community Service!

Each year, AARP Maine recognizes one Mainer who continues Dr. Andrus’ legacy by selflessly giving back to their community. Phil Chin retired from a career as a radio producer for a major network and today, he leads our efforts in Maine to combat scams and arm Mainers with the resources they need to be great fraud fighters. For all of the ways you give to others, thank you, Phil, and congratulations on receiving the 2023 AARP Maine Andrus Award for Community Service!

Phil Chin’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 Phil Chin, whose record of achievement, service and commitment provides an excellent example of the power of giving back to others.”

Phil Chin and his wife, Mary Louise, retired to Yarmouth, Maine 17 years ago after a 37-year career as a radio news writer, editor and producer in New York City. He was an adjunct journalism professor at the Columbia University School of Journalism, as well as President of the Board of Directors of the Queens College Chorus. Phil and Mary Louise now live in Falmouth. They have two children and two grandsons.

It was in 2006 when Phil initially began his volunteer work with AARP Maine. Phil used his presentation skills as volunteer instructor for AARP’s Driver Safety Program, where he continues to teach evidence-based safe driving strategies to older adults in Maine. His interest in helping others then led him to the AARP Fraud Watch Network, where he soon became lead spokesperson for fraud prevention in Maine.

Together with other volunteers, Phil helped to establish the AARP Maine Speakers Bureau to better reach vulnerable Mainers around the state. With his volunteer colleague, Pam Partridge, Phil hosts a monthly fraud watch series dedicated to spreading awareness of current scams and how best to avoid falling victim. Phil is also a frequent guest on the WLOB radio network with host Ray Richardson.

“In giving vulnerable Mainers the best methods of avoiding fraud, Phil has become a significant part of our community and a key leader of fraud prevention in Maine,” said Bonam.

Along with his work with AARP, Phil is active in the vibrant world of community theater and choral music. Phil is on the Board of Directors for the Freeport Players and has been in recent productions with various theatre companies. He has performed with many Maine-based organizations, such as Maine’s Mid-Coast Theater Company, the Royal River Community Players, the Studio Theater of Bath, the Children’s Museum and Theater of Maine, the Crow Bait Club, the Polyphonic Theater Ensemble, the Choral Art Society, the Freeport Players, the Freeport Historical Society and the St. Bartholomew’s Choir in Yarmouth.

Phil also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Falmouth Memorial Library.

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.

Get to know us at aarp.org/me.