AARP Nebraska Names Ira Nathan Recipient of the 2025 Andrus Award for Community Service

Omaha Headshot Company

Longtime volunteer Ira Nathan of Omaha, Nebraska, has been selected to receive the 2025 AARP Nebraska Andrus Award for Community Service. Named after AARP’s founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, the award honors outstanding volunteers from each state who dedicate their time and talent to enrich their communities.

AARP Nebraska selected Ira in recognition of his decades-long dedication to volunteer service, which has made a lasting impact on communities across the state, inspired fellow volunteers, and advanced AARP’s mission and vision. He serves on AARP Nebraska’s Executive Council and also as a Volunteer Portal Champion, training volunteers in Nebraska and nationwide on how to use AARP’s Volunteer Portal and access its resources.

“Ira’s commitment to strengthening communities across Nebraska through a wide range of meaningful initiatives is truly commendable,” stated Joyce Beck, AARP Nebraska Volunteer State President.

From the plains of Scottsbluff to the heart of Omaha, Ira’s journey has been one of deep roots and meaningful connections. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Nebraska, he settled in Omaha in 1971. He has been happily married to his wife, Carol, for 54 years and is the proud father of three sons and grandfather to four grandchildren. Now retired from a career as an actuary, Ira has applied his analytical skills to meaningful advocacy—volunteering with AARP and other nonprofit and government organizations.

As a representative of the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging (ENOA), Ira plays a key role on the State of Nebraska’s Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Medicaid and Long-Term Care Aging Advisory Committee. This 12-member advisory group includes eight representatives from Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) like ENOA and four At-Large members. The committee helps shape policy and advocacy efforts that promote dignity, independence, and freedom of choice for older Nebraskans and individuals with disabilities, supporting DHHS’s work with partners to help Nebraskans remain in their homes and communities.

Ira is also an active member of the Greater Omaha Genealogical Society (G.O.G.S.), driven by a deep passion for uncovering his family’s heritage. His journey into ancestral research has led to significant discoveries at Nathan’s Lake, which he has shared through a series of well-received presentations. In 2023, Ira was honored with a nomination for the Nebraska State Genealogical Society’s Genealogist of the Year, recognizing his volunteer leadership in G.O.G.S. outreach efforts to promote genealogy and grow membership throughout the community. For Ira, genealogy is more than a hobby, it’s a meaningful way to honor and preserve the legacy of his loved ones.

“We’re proud to spotlight Nebraskans who are drawing on their life experiences to make a meaningful difference in their communities. Ira Nathan embodies that spirit of service and leadership, and this recognition is well deserved,” said Todd Stubbendieck, State Director of AARP Nebraska.

Ira will be awarded the 2025 Andrus Award for Community Service, accompanied by a $2,500 donation to his selected nonprofit organization, the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation. The foundation supports a range of impactful programs at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, part of the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

Ira shared, “I’m deeply honored to receive this award. This recognition is truly meaningful to me, and I’m sincerely grateful for AARP Nebraska’s generous support of the Hattie B. Munroe Foundation.”

The foundation will direct the donation to the Rhoda Davis Blatt Scholarship, which supports college students pursuing careers helping developmentally disabled children. Established in honor of Ira’s mother-in-law, Rhoda Davis Blatt, the scholarship carries forward her legacy of compassion and service. AARP Nebraska’s gift will help sustain this meaningful impact.