March 10, 2009
Contact: Michelle Alvarez, AARP, 202-434-2555, malvarez@aarp.org
WASHINGTON – AARP, the world’s leading organization for people 50+, today announced the newest addition to its family of Ambassadors with James "J.B." Brown of CBS Sports fame as the organization's new Community Ambassador. In this role, Brown will connect with AARP’s 40 million members to educate them on the importance of giving back to their communities and encourage them to make a difference by living life to the fullest.
“Giving back is one of the cornerstones of AARP's mission and we’re looking forward to working with J.B. to create a national movement towards service and civic engagement,” said Emilio Pardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, AARP. “J.B. joins us in the belief that we can create a path for a better tomorrow by making a difference and we’re excited to have him on board.”
As AARP’s Community Ambassador, Brown will spread the call to action for people to get involved in their own communities by providing information and advice on a range of topics tied to AARP’s five core focuses: health, finances, connecting, giving and enjoying. Through AARP’s community Web portal, www.aarp.org/family, he will also connect with AARP’s members regularly through an online blog and Podcasts, in addition to appearing at various AARP events across the country.
“Giving is about more than just a monetary contribution—it’s about helping to create a better quality of life for others through action,” said Brown. “During these tough economic times, it’s important not to lose sight of giving of one’s self and I hope that by sharing my personal experiences, I will be able to motivate others to get more involved and help them discover the joys that giving back can bring to not only the lives of those they help, but also to themselves.”
Brown is a native of Washington, DC and brings a lifetime of experience and service—both in the sports arena and in his community—to the table. A well known figure in the sports and broadcasting arenas and the host for CBS Television Network's NFL pre-game show, THE NFL TODAY, Brown’s personal passions include an active community and family life, mentoring youth as a Pastor at his church, philanthropy and neighborhood engagement. He considers himself a community servant and participates in numerous charitable organizations including The Marrow Foundation, Darrell Green's Youth Life Foundation, Ronnie Lott's All Stars Helping Kids, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Neimann Pick Disease Foundation and HollyRod Foundation. He is also a National Celebrity Volunteer for the March of Dimes. Through his JB Awards, in partnership with NFL Players, he annually raises in excess of one million dollars for Special Olympics DC.
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
