AARP Texas Has a New Face in the Valley

Verónica de Lafuente will serve as Associate State Director of Outreach for the Rio Grande Valley


With a membership of over two million and offices located in Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio, AARP Texas proudly serves Texans 50+ as an advocate on the various issues that affect their communities. The newest addition to the team, Veronica de Lafuente, will extend AARP Texas’ reach into the Rio Grande Valley, bringing invaluable resources and partnerships to this work.

Ms. de Lafuente comes to AARP with extensive experience working with state agencies in various capacities. She has worked on behalf of county governments for years on critical issues such as indigent health care, transportation, corrections and development. In 2009, Ms. de Lafuente served as the South Texas Political director for former Houston Mayor Bill White as he campaigned for U.S. Senator and Texas Governor. Later, she founded a public strategies company that focused on public affairs and grassroots political campaigns in South Texas.

In her new role, Ms. de Lafuente will bring her 10 years of experience in government affairs to work closely with local Valley officials, non-profits and senior groups in the area. She will serve as the voice to champion issues important to older Americans in the community, such as health and long term care, transportation, Social Security and Medicare.

“My father was diagnosed with sarcoma cancer two years ago and I’ve fought hard to ensure he had the best medical care possible. Having to deal with the complexities of health care, Social Security, and Medicare has really made me more aware of how many other families encountered similar challenges and how many of those families slipped through the cracks. I feel like it’s really come full circle for me, because these issues hit close to home – they affect my family and my community. I want to work as an advocate for people who need a voice to help them through, and I think I can do that here in the Valley,” she says.

Based in Harlingen, Ms. de Lafuente will work within the community to develop partnerships that will help serve seniors in McAllen, Harlingen, Brownsville, Laredo and Corpus Christi.

“We’re proud to welcome Ms. de Lafuente to the team,” says Bob Jackson, AARP Texas State Director. “We look forward to working hand-in-hand with local groups and leaders in an effort to improve the lives of the 50+ population in the Rio Grande Valley.”