AARP honors outstanding volunteer

RALEIGH, NC – Bill Lamb of Raleigh was presented with the AARP “Andrus Award,” in November. This award recognizes the volunteer in North Carolina who has done the most to share their experience, talents, and skills to enrich the lives of others.

Most recently, Lamb worked with Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care to help raise the monthly allowance residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities receive as a stipend to pay for personal items like toiletries and postage stamps. He has also worked to strengthen resident councils at facilities - an important voice for patients, and he successfully advocated for facilities to allow visitation after doors were closed to visitors and families due to COVID-19.

Lamb, among other volunteer leadership roles, is also a current member of the Senior Tarheel Legislature representing Wake County, and a strategic advisor for the Center for Excellence in Assisted Living.

AARP North Carolina Director Michael Olender said, “Bill has been a longtime AARP advocate and an important voice for North Carolinians as they age. He has also been an active volunteer for many other worthy causes. Bill’s background in health and social services is critical for AARP when it comes to expressing the needs of older adults to local, state and federal policymakers.

He also played a big role in the development of the state’s multisector aging plan, ‘All Ages, All Stages NC,’ that will serve as a roadmap guiding state leaders when it comes to helping North Carolina meet the needs of a state where there are more old people than young,” Olender said.

In 2025, Lamb plans to work with lawmakers to implement parts of the plan and adopt strategies to help local communities best meet the needs of all ages.

Lamb’s career in social services started as juvenile court counselor at the 21^st District Court in Winston-Salem. He has a long history in state employment supervising people and programs at the NC Division of Social Services, the NC Division on Aging, and the University of North Carolina Institute on Aging.

In his free time, Bill enjoys gardening, beekeeping, concerts, going to the beach and mountains, and spending time with his wife Marty, his son Bert, daughter in-law Ashley and two his grandchildren.

About AARP Volunteers:
Join AARP’s community of 50,000-plus volunteers and donate your time and talent — in person or from home — to improve the lives of older Americans and their families.