AARP Purpose Prize Honorees
Left to Right: Stephen Voss for AARP (6); Craig Mulcahy for AARP
En español | You live. You learn. You give back. No one knows this better than people ages 50 and older, who have spent decades accumulating a wealth of knowledge that only life experience can bring. Armed with this wisdom, they are a powerhouse of innovation tackling some of the greatest societal challenges of our time and inspiring others to do the same.
The AARP® Purpose Prize® award supports AARP's mission by honoring extraordinary people ages 50 and older who tap into the power of life experience to build a better future for us all.
“We are proud to salute our AARP Purpose Prize winners who are using the experience they have gained over a lifetime not only to fulfill their own purpose in life, but also to create new solutions for how people live and age and solve pressing social problems,” said AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins.
AARP Purpose Prize winners receive $50,000 for their founded nonprofits and a year of technical support to help broaden the scope of their organization’s work. Examples of current supports include one-on-one leadership coaching for founders, data and evaluation consulting, succession planning, prospectus development, social media and branding support, and more.
The call for applications for the next AARP Purpose Prize award will open in January 2025. Learn more here.
Honorary Award
Courtesy Taraji P. Henson
AARP is presenting award-winning actress and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson with an honorary Purpose Prize Award for her founding of the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation (BLHF). Founded in 2018, the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation was born out of a deeply personal journey of loss and frustration. Henson, alongside her best friend Tracie Jade Jenkins, embarked on a mission to honor the legacy of Taraji's father, Boris Lawrence Henson, who battled untreated mental health issues after returning from the Vietnam War. They established BLHF with a clear mission: to destigmatize mental health within marginalized communities and enhance accessibility. With a focus on providing vital mental health resources and fostering an environment of understanding and acceptance, BLHF encourages marginalized communities to seek help and support without fear or shame.