Volunteers Move Mountains

A message for AARP volunteers from AARP Volunteer President Eric Schneidewind.

My term as AARP’s president and a 6-year member of the all-volunteer board of directors is winding down. Although I’m signing off, I’m proud to say that my service as a volunteer will continue.

There is no better time than National Volunteer Week to be anticipating this transition. It has been my great honor to serve alongside AARP’s stellar volunteers, each one a member of the “army of useful citizens” that our founder Ethel Percy Andrus mobilized.

From this mighty battalion, I’ll be taking away some valuable lessons. Most of all, I’ve learned how to confront my doubts when I look at an enormous task that needs doing, wondering how my little effort can make even the slightest dent.

Watching our volunteer army take on mountains of outsize jobs – from preserving Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid to feeding hungry older adults – I see how much power each of us acquires when we band together.

So, the next time you put on that stylish red tee-shirt in order to tackle a mountain, know that it gives you superpowers.

Just look what you achieved in one year alone -- 2017.

• You hosted 238 Operation: Stop Scams events in 51 states, including opportunities to shred sensitive financial records. Over one million pounds of old paper was shredded – about 525 tons. (Imagine two Boeing 747s plus one-half a Statue of Liberty.)
• You championed caregiving by enabling 38.4 million family caregivers to provide care for their loved ones through state legislative action;
• You enabled 3.2 million workers to increase their retirement savings through state legislative action;
• You preserved the 7.5 percent medical expense deduction and protected the additional standard deduction for seniors in tax reform legislation;
• You protected Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) from harmful cuts;
• You engaged 2.4 million Americans age 50-plus in communities across the country and online, with programs including Driver Safety, Movies for Grownups, fraud prevention, technology education, work and jobs, and caregiving;
• You made 35.6 million lives better through AARP’s Livable Communities work and local advocacy; and
• You helped:
  • 2.5 million Taxpayers: Tax returns were filed by nearly 35,000 AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers in 2017. Their collective expertise and stamina secured over $1.37 billion in refunds and $222 million in Earned Income Tax Credits.
  • 500,000 safer drivers: Thanks to more than 4,000 dedicated AARP Driver Safety volunteers, who help keep drivers and riders safe, confident, independent and connected.
  • 31,600 K-3 students: In the last school year (2016-2017), AARP Foundation Experience Corps served 2,220 classrooms in 279 schools. 31,627 students received 387,749 hours of tutoring from 2,336 Experience Corps volunteers in over 20 cities.

Together, you conquered a whole range of mountains.

Just as important, through your commitment, experience and skills, you were able to raise awareness of AARP, build relationships, and deepen our community presence in neighborhoods across the country.

Thank you for the privilege of serving alongside you. It’s been a joy and an inspiration.