Dr. Harold Collins Named 2004 Andrus Award Recipient
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2004-12-22 00:00:00-05:00
Jane Pitruzzello Receives Honorable Mention
Dr. Harold Collins of Mobile is the recipient of AARP Alabama's 2004 Andrus Award for Community Service. The Andrus Award, AARP's most prestigious volunteer award, annually recognizes one outstanding volunteer or member in each state who is making a powerful difference in his or her community in ways that support AARP's vision and strategic direction.
AARP's commitment to community service can be traced to the life and vision of AARP's founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, after whom the award is named. From the beginning, her motto "to serve, not to be served" has shaped AARP's community service efforts at the national, state and local levels.
With more than 20 years of service to AARP, including five years as state president and almost 10 years as AARP's Mobile Information Center coordinator, Collins has devoted his retirement years to community service by working full time to improve the lives of older Alabamians.
Collins is a familiar face in Mobile, having spent much of his career as an educator, and retiring as superintendent of Mobile City and County Schools in 1976. He taught or worked as an administrator at all levels of the Alabama education system, from elementary to university graduate level. He was an adjunct professor at the University of South Alabama and at Spring Hill College. Collins was awarded his doctorate of education by the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa; he completed post-graduate work at Columbia University in New York.
Jane Pitruzzello of Athens received honorable mention for the 2004 Andrus Award. Pitruzzello was recognized for her efforts to organize the Athens chapter's Day of Service activity, which is preparing and serving lunches for Habitat for Humanity workers. In addition to her work with her chapter, she volunteers for the Red Cross and Meals on Wheels. She is described as a model of community service for her Athens neighbors and her fellow chapter members.
The selection of the Andrus Award recipient is made by an award selection team. To qualify, nominees must be current AARP volunteers or members, or must have been AARP volunteers or members during the preceding year. Their accomplishments, achievements or service on which the nomination is based must have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay.
The awards were presented Nov. 18 at the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon in Montgomery.
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