1. Take it easy. Don’t brake suddenly or accelerate quickly—doing so can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE). 
2. Don’t skimp on vehicle upkeep. Keeping your tires properly inflated and your trunk free of junk can also increase fuel efficiency. So can regular tune-ups, fixing faulty oxygen sensors and regularly replacing air filters. 
3. Slow down. Gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour. “Each five miles per hour over 60 mph is like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon of gas,” ASE reports. Use cruise control to help you maintain a constant speed.
4. Shop around: In some cities, gas prices can vary by 20 percent from one side of town to the other. AARP Bulletin Today offers links to some gas-saving Web sites to help you find the best deal in your area.  
5. Think small. SUVs may be fun, but maybe it’s time to switch. Smaller cars and hybrids are more fuel-efficient. If you’re in the market for a new car, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fuel Economy site (www.fueleconomy.gov) or the EPA’s Green Vehicle Guide (www.epa.gov/greenvehicles) for information on which vehicles get the best gas mileage.
6. Think smaller. Bikes are cheaper than even the most fuel-efficient cars.
7. Avoid idling. Having “no particular place to go” may have been okay for Chuck Berry, but it can cost you money, especially if you have a larger car.
8. Get more for less driving. Sure, driving less helps you save on gas. But it can also help you save on car insurance. The Consumer Federation of America reports that driving less can help consumers save an average of 5 to 15 percent on insurance rates. If you’ve started taking the bus to work instead of driving, for instance, your classification may change and you may be eligible for an immediate rate reduction.

For Immediate Release                                              Contacts:

July 10, 2008                                  David Irwin                 312-458-3621

                                                     Gerardo Cardenas             312-458-3609

AARP FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 2^ND ANNUAL WOMEN’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Lower Income, 40+ Women in Illinois Are Eligible for Scholarships

CHICAGO, Illinois – The AARP Foundation today announced a call for entries to its second annual Women’s Scholarship Program.  The scholarships will provide funds to women 40+ who are seeking new job skills, training and educational opportunities to support themselves and their families. 

“The AARP Foundation is pleased to be offering the Women’s Scholarship Program again this year,” said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director. “AARP Foundation is committed to elevating opportunities for women. Last year, we were able to provide valuable resources that enabled 74 deserving women to have access to the educational tools to advance their professional goals.”

While many individuals benefit from the work of the AARP Foundation, research shows that women are disproportionately at risk of having insufficient resources in the second half of their lives due to lower earning and different work patterns. The AARP Foundation first announced the Women’s Scholarship Program in August of 2007 to help women 40+ overcome financial and employment barriers by allowing them to participate in education and training opportunities they could otherwise not afford.

The scholarship program is made possible by the AARP Foundation, the organization’s affiliated charity, with generous support from Bank of America and the AARP Foundation Women’s Leadership Circle (WLC).  The Women’s Leadership Circle is a national network of volunteer leaders that champion and provide direct support to AARP Foundation programs, including the Women’s Scholarship Program. The AARP Foundation Women’s Scholarship Program is available to eligible individuals with moderate to lower incomes and limited financial resources. To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must:

• Be female age 40 or over (as of August 31, 2008);
• Be able to demonstrate financial need; and
• Be enrolled in an accredited post-secondary school or training program within 6 months of the scholarship award date.

Priority consideration is given to women in three categories: 1) women raising children of another family member (such as grandparents raising grandchildren, or those raising siblings or nieces/nephews); 2) women who have been out of the workforce for an extended period of time; and 3) women in dead end jobs (those with no opportunity for advancement, low pay and lacking either health or retirement benefits).

Scholarships may be used for any course of study at a public or private secondary school, including community colleges, technical schools, and four-year universities. The program does not provide assistance for graduate degree programs.  It seeks women who are entering two to three year technical or skills enhancement programs, or who are in the final stages of their college experience.  Funds are payable to the institution and may be used to pay for tuition, fees, and books.

Interested applicants can submit their application online beginning July 1, 2008 at http://www.aarpfoundationwlc.org. The application process closes on August 22, 2008 and scholarships will be awarded in early 2009.

Scholarship winners will be chosen by an independent selection committee established by the AARP Foundation.  They will be chosen on the basis of financial need, personal circumstances and achievements, educational goals, and the likely impact of the scholarship on their lives and their families and communities.  The Foundation will award up to 100 scholarship awards ranging from $500 to $5,000, depending on financial need and the cost of the education or training program. 

For more information about the AARP Foundation, please log on to www.aarp.org/foundation.

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For Immediate Release                           Contacts:   David Irwin 312-458-3621

Wednesday, June 25, 2008                                               Heather Underwood 312-458-3623                   

PROPOSED BUDGET REDUCTIONS TAKE HARSH TOLL ON OLDER ILLINOISANS

Critical Funding in Jeopardy -Could Mean Increase in Cost of Long-Term Care and Senior Services in State   

CHICAGO, Illinois – Older adults across Illinois are bracing for a harsh blow today as the Governor introduced proposed reductions to the state budget if an agreement on state revenue enhancements cannot be reached.  Programs that help to ensure the safety and well-being of Illinois seniors are particularly at risk. 

The cutbacks could also prove to be more costly for Illinois.  Reducing funding for important home and community based services could force many individuals into expensive alternatives such as nursing homes – meaning Illinois ends up paying more money.    

“Older adults in our state deserve to live with independence and dignity in their communities,” said Bob Gallo, AARP Illinois State Director.  “These budget reductions fly in the face of their ability to do so.  Our elected leaders must work together to ensure that the needs of seniors are not forgotten in the state budget.”

Services set to be impacted by the proposed funding decreases are:

§         $2M in funding for the Elder Abuse and Neglect Program – a program that provides prevention and intervention services for seniors who have been victims of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.

§         Approximately $500,000 in funding for the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program – a program that advocates for the rights of individuals living in the state’s long term care facilities.

§         $25M in funding that was intended to cover aging service program deficits from Fiscal Year 2008. 

§         Approximately $70M that was earmarked for rate increases for home care workers and adult day services.

The AARP-led Alliance for Home and Community Care worked together to ensure that funding for critical home and community based services was included in the budget that passed the General Assembly.  AARP and the Alliance urge our elected leaders to come together and craft a budget solution that will protect the needs and rights of older Illinoisans. 

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  Bankruptcy Rates Rise Among Older Americans

  For Immediate Release           Contacts:   David Irwin  312-458-3621

For Immediate Release                     Contact: Heather Underwood (312)458-3623

June 12, 2008                                                     Gerardo Cardenas (312)458-3609

LIBERTYVILLE RESIDENT TO COMPETE IN AARP NATIONAL SPELLING BEE IN CHEYENNE, WYOMING

Event Draws Contestants Age 50+ from Across the U.S.

CHICAGO, Illinois – A Libertyville resident will travel across the country to compete in AARP’s National 50+ Spelling Bee.  AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world’s largest-circulation magazine, is sponsoring the 13^th annual National Spelling Bee on June 14, 2008 at the Little America Hotel and Resort in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  Up to 250 competitors age 50+ will have the chance to compete against spellers from across the country in this full-day event.

“It’s always an exciting event with an impressive display of knowledge and skill. The competition is fierce, but fun too,” said AARP Illinois Director Bob Gallo. “It’s great to see so many people challenging their mental fitness.”

In the AARP The Magazine-sponsored bee, the 50+ aged spellers are allowed to miss three words before being knocked out of the competition.  The day begins with a written competition in the morning, narrowing the field to the top 15 who go on to compete in the oral spelling rounds. Contestants of AARP The Magazine’s National Spelling Bee are competing for more than $1,000 in prizes. Additionally, the winner will be flown to New York City to appear on national television.

AARP The Magazine’s National Spelling Bee was founded in 1996 by a group of Cheyenne AARP members who wanted to challenge the 50+ community to keep their minds sharp as they age.  Over the years, it has grown into a highly competitive and challenging event attracting adult spellers from all over the country and Canada.  It is open to anyone age 50 or older, except previous winners, and is supported by NRTA: AARP’s Educator Community and the Staying Sharp program.

About AARP The Magazine

With more than 33 million readers nationwide, AARP The Magazine (www.aarpmagazine.org) is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. Reaching over 22.5 million households, AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through in-depth celebrity interviews, health and fitness features, consumer interest information and tips, book and movie reviews and financial guidance. Published bimonthly in print and continually online, AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is the flagship title of AARP Publications.

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 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 39 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.