Letter from the Chair - N. Joyce Payne

If we are courageous and creative, we can scale any height to make life better for others. It is a motto I live by, and one reason why I support the essential work of the AARP Foundation. The quiet triumphs of a Louisiana woman who survived Hurricane Katrina by escaping to Baton Rouge with her pregnant daughter—and little else—demonstrate why.

Shortly after her relocation, the woman suffered another blow. Her daughter, who was developmentally disabled, died during childbirth. As sole caregiver for her young grandson, the woman turned to the Foundation for help, relying on the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren program for crucial support. She then decided to return to school with help from our new Women’s Scholarship Fund.

Her story encapsulates how the AARP Foundation can bolster short-term needs and boost long-term dreams.

In the face of the most challenging economic environment in generations, our work is more important than ever. The people we serve tell the story. For the mother who loses her job, then uses WorkSearch to land a new one, or the grandfather who can live independently with help from a Money Management Program volunteer, the AARP Foundation is a lifeline.

We are in the midst of challenging economic times, but within that challenge lie opportunities for the AARP Foundation to shine even more brightly. With courage and creativity, let us renew our shared commitment to using our time and resources to uplift the grandmother in Louisiana—and millions of older adults across the country—so they can live their lives with dignity and independence.