AARP Honors Peabody Volunteer
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2006-11-30 15:44:19.000886-05:00
Peabody resident Gerald Stepner is this year's recipient of AARP's most prestigious volunteer award, the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. More than 60 friends, colleagues and any special guests helped AARP honor Stepner on Nov. 16 during a luncheon ceremony at Angelica's in Middleton.
"Mr. Stepner inspires people to believe in themselves," said AARP Massachusetts State Director Deborah Banda. "In doing so, he has not only been their leader, he has helped them become leaders in their own right."
Honoring Volunteers Who Help Others
"AARP has long celebrated and recognized the achievements and important contributions of dedicated volunteers across the country," Banda continues. "It's through the efforts of Mr. Stepner and all volunteers in the state that AARP has been able to enhance the lives of members and their families and addressed community concerns in Massachusetts."
Meet Gerald Stepner
After working as a registered pharmacist and co-owner of community pharmacies in Lynn and Medford for over 30 years, Stepner decided he wanted to continue honoring the message he heard as a young boy.
"My mother brought me up to believe I should share my gifts and talents," Stepner shares. "It has been my life's work to contribute to my community."
Stepner provides ongoing leadership for seven community programs, devoting hours of his time each week. For tax wizard Stepner, his favorite place is in front of a spreadsheet. As a partnership and communications specialist for the AARP Tax-Aide Program and former New England regional coordinator, Stepner has pursued his passion for numbers while contributing to local communities. "I like numbers and I want to help people overcome their form phobia," says Stepner. He and his late wife managed the AARP Tax-Aide site at the Lynn Public Library for 17 years.
AARP Tax-Aide
The AARP Tax-Aide program is the nation's largest free, volunteer-run tax counseling service; it is available for low- and middle-income older residents. In Massachusetts, more than 550 AARP Tax-Aide volunteers counseled 23,000 people in 2006. The AARP Foundation administers AARP Tax-Aide in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service.
Bonnie Speedy, national director of AARP Tax-Aide adds, "Jerry didn't just bring his generous donation of time when he signed on as a Tax-Aide volunteer 29 years ago, he brought an enthusiasm for learning that keeps him looking forward to his work to this day. He is a compassionate, intelligent, and dedicated volunteer. His enthusiasm for the challenge of his work and the opportunity to learn new subjects has not diminished one bit over the years."
Massachusetts Money Management Program
Stepner also focuses a great deal of his time and energy volunteering to help those in the Boston area. He has volunteered in the Massachusetts Money Management Program for 15 years and currently serves as a statewide monitor.
As a Money Management volunteer, Stepner joins a corps of more than 1,100 individuals in Massachusetts who donate time to help older adults and people with disabilities pay routine bills, balance their checkbooks, plan their budgets and keep track of financials. The program is co-sponsored by the AARP Foundation, the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and Mass Home Care.
"In a program in which all volunteers go above and beyond what's required of them, Mr. Stepner's involvement and dedication is remarkable," says Richard Hylan, Statewide Coordinator, Massachusetts Money Management Program. "Some people have no idea about the programs they may be entitled to and what benefits they could be missing, and Stepner makes sure his clients remain independent and lends a hand monitoring their finances."
Focus on Bringing Financial Assistance to Older Adults
Stepner serves on a number of boards and advisory committees including:
- Board of Registration of Physician Assistants
- North Shore Pharmacy Association
- North Shore-Cape Ann Emergency Responders Coalition
- North Shore Elder Services' Money Management Advisory Council
- Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition of Boston
- North Shore Elder Services Board of Directors.
About the Award
The AARP Andrus Award for Community Service is given annually to one AARP member in every state.
In Massachusetts, the selection committee for this year's award included:
- Charles Desmond, State President, AARP Massachusetts
- Judy Goggin, Executive Council Volunteer, AARP Massachusetts
- Kurt Czarnowski, Regional Communications Director, Social Security Administration Shirley Selhub, Discovering What ' s Next
- Claire Redmond, AARP Volunteer on Massachusetts Service Alliance Board
- Joyce Williams, Associate Director, Central Boston Elder Services
- Carol Greenfield, Discovering What's Next
The committee evaluated 17 nominees based on a range of criteria, including how their volunteer work positively impacts the lives of individuals 50 and over, how their work improves the community, and how they inspire others to volunteer. To be eligible for the award, nominees must be AARP members, must have accomplished the volunteer service for which they are nominated during the period of Jan. 1—Dec. 31, 2005, and must have completed the service without pay.
Learn More
For more information about the 2006 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service, please email AARP Massachusetts, or call 1-866-448-3621.
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