RHODE ISLAND - Ed Drew
Ed Drew's record of achievement, service, and commitment in his volunteer role as chair of the Rhode Island Retired Music Educators Group—and as a member of the Rhode Island Retired Teachers’ Association—has revitalized the organizations. Ed spent his career as a teacher and mentor in the music field. Ed and his band donate time entertaining for various organizations and at nursing homes. Together, he and the band bring music into the lives of older and disadvantaged people. He also travels to schools around the state to discuss and perform music for children of all ages. Through a grant from the National Music Educators Association, Ed and his colleagues have developed a mentoring program for new music teachers. Through his dedication, hard work, and tremendous energy, the mentoring and resource program that Ed and his colleagues have developed will help many people, young and old, for years to come. He provides an extraordinary example of the difference that volunteering can make in people's individual lives and in the well-being and vitality of a community.
SOUTH CAROLINA – Jean Bridges
Jean Bridges is no stranger to volunteering. When she went to work at Southern Bell in 1948, she taught craft classes to her female colleagues, led the Women's Activities Committee, joined the Speakers' Bureau, and participated in numerous charitable and cultural activities. Jean and her husband joined and became very involved in the AARP–Atlanta Buckhead Chapter, number 103. Caregiving duties compelled Jean to move to Columbia, where she joined the Capital Senior Center, the Greater Columbia Chapter of AARP, and the Shepherd's Center of Columbia. Soon, she became president of the local Chapter. She is currently an AARP legislative volunteer and has received numerous awards, including the Jane Kennedy Excellence in Aging Award, the Consumer Spirit Award for Excellence in Consumer Advocacy, and the Senior Advocate Award for Outstanding Service and Commitment to the well-being of older people.
SOUTH DAKOTA – Marietta Catlin
Marrietta Catlin’s commitment to service touches the young and the old. She is a kindergarten tutor and reading buddy, helps with the weekend backpack food program for needy students, coordinates entertainment for nursing homes, and serves at the local food pantry. She assists with weekly potluck dinners at a seniors’ center and plays saxophone in a swing band called “Over Forte,” which donates all proceeds to student scholarships. She has held leadership roles in the South Dakota Retired Teachers Association, the Honored Women Educators of South Dakota, and Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood. She leads the South Dakota Retired Teachers Associations efforts in Community and Health Services, writes health-research columns for the state newsletter, and coordinates annual days of service for the state teachers’ units.
TEXAS – Mary Scott
Mary Scott’s remarkable energy and desire to help others has strengthened AARP in the state of Texas and on a national level. She is currently serving as the interim state president, advising the state director in the development of the state plan. She is also a member of the AARP–Texas “Capitol Gang,” helping AARP advance its legislative priorities at the Texas Capitol. In addition, Mary provides leadership to her community as the Legislative Chairman for AARP Hurst-Euless-Bedford Chapter, number 1251. From 2004 to 2008, Mary helped shape the policy and agenda of the Association as a member of the AARP Board of Directors. Prior to her election to the AARP Board, she chaired AARP’s National Legislative Council, a 25-member volunteer legislative advisory body to AARP’s Board of Directors.
UTAH – Carol Huffman
For the last 18 years, Carol Huffman has been involved as a Hot Meal Delivery volunteer at the Utah AIDS Foundation, delivering meals to home bound people infected with HIV/AIDS. Just as important as the meals she delivers are the relationships she has built with each of her clients. The people she serves view Carol as the ultimate team player. She is always willing to trade shifts or substitute for other volunteers so that clients will not miss their meals. She also helps to train new volunteers who come on board. In addition, Carol finds time to lend her efforts to seven other organizations, including as board treasurer and store volunteer for Ten Thousand Villages, as food and door volunteer for the Good Samaritan Program, and as a Taste of the Nation volunteer with Utahns Against Hunger. Her long-term commitment to service speaks to her desire to improve the community where she lives.
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