Volunteer Spotlight: Donato Nieman

Each year, AARP New Jersey recognizes one of its volunteers with the AARP NJ Advocacy Award, which is given to someone who has been an outstanding advocate and has contributed significantly to the AARP policy agenda at the federal, state or local level.

Last year’s Advocacy Award recipient, Donato Nieman, has played a critical role as an AARP New Jersey volunteer and wears several volunteer hats. He began working with our advocacy team back in 2019, and then in 2020, stepped up to become our lead advocacy volunteer for Congressional District 12 and has made a significant impact.

Donato has been very active on our campaign to lower the cost of prescription drugs – both at the state and federal level. He has represented AARP in meetings with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, who represents Congressional District 12. He has also testified before the NJ Legislature about the impact of the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs – not just on a personal level – but also the impact on taxpayers and local governments who cover health care costs for their public employees.

Since the pandemic, Donato has also played a critical role in AARP’s COVID-19 campaign. With well over three decades of service in local government, he has been able to bring real-time, on-the-ground information about state and local vaccine distribution plans. This is instrumental to providing New Jerseyans with timely and trusted information.

Hear from Donato about his experience volunteering with AARP New Jersey below!