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Andrus Award for Community Service Presented to Harvey Epstein

 

AARP New Hampshire honored nearly 120 volunteers at a celebratory luncheon held Thursday, October 22nd at the Manchester Country Club. The most prestigious volunteer award, the Andrus Award for Community Service, was presented to Harvey Epstein, a dedicated AARP volunteer and community leader. Others honored were Andrus Award finalists; Tax-Aide, Driver Safety and Information Center Volunteers of the Year; Retired Educator of the Year; and Community Partner of the Year.

 

The Andrus Award for Community Service, named after AARP’s founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, recognizes outstanding AARP volunteers who are making a powerful difference in their communities in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission, vision and strategic direction.

 

“We’re thrilled to bestow upon Harvey Epstein the most celebrated volunteer award given by AARP,” said AARP New Hampshire State Director Kelly Clark. “Harvey has spent an incredible amount of time and energy helping people and is very deserving of this award.”

 

As AARP’s Tax-Aide State Coordinator, Harvey’s efforts have impacted the lives of thousands here in the Granite State, leading a team of volunteers that provide free tax counseling, preparation and filing services. Last year alone, the AARP Tax-Aide program assisted 16,000 people and filed 10,000 returns, saving low- and middle-income tax payers nearly $2 million in tax preparation fees.

 

“Taking the anxiety out of tax time is no small feat,” stated AARP New Hampshire State President Ally McNair. “The fact that such a large program runs so smoothly is a tribute to Harvey’s dedication, leadership and hard work.”

 

Harvey’s community involvement doesn’t end with Tax-Aide. He also finds time to volunteer for Service Link, helping clients get state property tax relief and advising them on Medicare-related issues. But there’s more. Harvey also serves on the Lee Public Library Technology Committee, putting his professional background to good use as he has worked for big-name companies like AT&T, Raytheon Corporation and Lucent Technologies. 

 

 Others honored at the premier volunteer recognition event were:

 

Andrus Award finalists: Ramona Brooks, Concord; Peter Desautels, Nashua; Eileen Eroszonak, Claremont; Marcia Hazen-Cheever, Milford; Ruth Morgan, Mont Vernon; Les Scammon, Concord; and Jean Stefanik, Manchester

Driver Safety Volunteer of the Year: **** Finer, Bow

 

Tax-Aide Volunteer of the Year: Rita Murphy, Manchester

 

Community Partner of the Year: Cheryl Abel, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (resident of Bow)

 

Information Center Volunteer of the Year: John Genest, Concord

 

Retired Educator of the Year: Peter Desautels, Nashua

 

Special guest Dr. Bill Thomas, internationally-acclaimed geriatrician and expert on aging, made a “house call” to the group, outlining the keys to healthy aging. “As a physician, I want to tell you the key to living a long and healthy life goes well beyond eating well, exercising and not smoking,” stated Thomas. “There’s another key element called civic engagement and every one of you, through your volunteer service to communities across the state, is meeting the real needs of people.”

 

Civic engagement was a hot topic this week when AARP joined the Entertainment Industry Foundation to mobilize 50+ Americans around the ground-breaking, multi-year iParticipate campaign. The campaign promotes a new way of thinking about service and seeks to persuade millions more Americans to volunteer regularly. 

 

Right here in New Hampshire, a cadre of nonprofit organizations, led by AARP New Hampshire’s Create the Good, developed iParticipateNH, bringing the theme of volunteerism to the forefront. Joining this collaboration is Governor John Lynch who declared October 19-25 iParticipateNH Week and encouraged all to get involved and participate in a volunteer opportunity that enhances their lives and the lives of those around them. In his proclamation, Lynch reminds us that “in these tough economic times, volunteers are needed more than ever and iParticipateNH can play a role in keeping New Hampshire a top state in which to work, live and play.”

 

New Hampshire residents can find a volunteer opportunity at www.iparticipate.org and follow iParticipateNH at www.iparticipatenh.wordpress.com. 

 

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