AARP Hearing Center
PITTSBURGH, Pa. — AARP Pennsylvania has named Kitty Vagley and Jeff Neubauer of Pittsburgh as the 2025 recipients of the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, the organization’s most prestigious state volunteer honor. Named after AARP founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, the award recognizes outstanding individuals or couples who are 50-plus and embody the power of service to enhance the lives of others.
Vagley, 72, and Neubauer, 76, were selected for their leadership in transforming South Side Park, in Pittsburgh, into a vibrant ecological, recreational, and community hub — proving that retirement is not a retreat but a launchpad for purpose-driven impact.
“Kitty and Jeff are living proof of AARP’s belief that people 50-plus are essential drivers of progress,” said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania State Director. “Their tireless work has not only brought new life to a neglected public space but has inspired a movement of senior-led civic leadership that is reshaping their community.”
Together, Vagley and Neubauer head the senior-led volunteer team behind the Friends of South Side Park. Since retirement, they have dedicated themselves to a reforestation effort that has introduced more than 5,000 native trees, shrubs, and perennials to the 65-acre park. They have cleared invasive species, improved accessibility, revitalized trail systems, and forged partnerships with city agencies, businesses, and community groups.
Their commitment to community engagement is equally innovative. Events such as Goatfest, a now-celebrated community gathering featuring goats as natural land-clearing helpers, have drawn citywide attention, fostered neighborhood pride, and sparked volunteer involvement across generations.
For Neubauer, who previously worked in corporate leadership and real estate before turning to full-time volunteerism, the joy lies in collective action.
“I love working with a team of volunteers, all focused on improving our neighborhood one tree at a time,” he said.
He also helped establish a meaningful partnership with the Pittsburgh Police and local Magistrate Court to provide court-ordered community service opportunities in the park — a program that has led some individuals to continue volunteering even after meeting their required hours.
Vagley, a former attorney and nonprofit fundraising professional as well as a lifelong volunteer, finds fulfillment in seeing ecological results take root.
“One of our neighbors mentioned that the park had no mushrooms for foragers years ago,” she recalled. “Today, mushrooms are everywhere — a sign that the mycorrhizal fungal system has returned. That means the underground is healing because of our work above ground. That is deeply rewarding.”
Their work has turned South Side Park into a safe, inclusive, and restorative space that supports mental wellness, physical health, and community connection. Senior volunteers now regularly gather — even during winter months — to continue the restoration. Their leadership has redefined what aging with purpose can look like in Pennsylvania.
“Kitty and Jeff don’t just restore land,” said Nora Dowd Eisenhower, AARP Pennsylvania Volunteer State President. “They restore hope, activate joy, and show us that aging can be a season of renewal — not just for individuals, but for entire communities.”
About the Andrus Award for Community Service
The AARP Andrus Award for Community Service is presented annually to honor individuals or couples age 50-plus who are sharing their experience, talents, and skills to enrich the lives of others. It is the most visible acknowledgment AARP can bestow for volunteerism.
About AARP Pennsylvania
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