Hawaii — Peggy Sanches

Idaho — Gary Willett

Gary Willett has a long history of volunteering. Early on, he worked with a telephone crisis hotline team and helped with volunteer training. Upon moving to Idaho, he trained as an AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteer and moved into leadership positions both as a district coordinator and the district technical coordinator. When time permits, he helps with volunteer projects for the Idaho state AARP office, along with occasional work with local charities and events.

Illinois — Nell Blastick

Nell Blastick’s work with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide over the last 12 years has made a tremendous difference in the financial lives of low- to moderate-income residents of Southern Illinois. With her leadership, the program has expanded and annually provides over 15,000 free tax returns at many sites. By empowering others to improve skills and learn new information, she makes volunteers more confident and enthusiastic. She also serves her community through the Centralia Community Benevolent Association and its food pantry as treasurer.

Indiana — Robert Jackson

Bob Jackson has more than a decade of volunteer service with AARP, including as a member of the AARP Indiana Executive Council, as AARP’s representative to the Indiana Debate Commission and as congressional district coordinator for VOTE. His strong communication skills and understanding of Social Security, Medicare and complete streets have enabled him to improve the lives of many Indiana seniors by providing information and education. He has served on the Senior Advisory Committee for Congressman Joe Donnelly and was instrumental in the passage of a complete streets policy.

Iowa — Larry and Ruth Neppl

Larry and Ruth Neppl of Cedar Rapids have championed mobility safety for seniors across the state through their dedicated work as AARP Driver Safety Program state coordinator and state volunteer coordinator from 2005 to 2011. Together they put in hundreds of hours reaching out through numerous modalities and continually improving the Iowa Driver Safety Program in the process. With their contagious passion and enthusiasm for senior mobility issues they led Iowa Driver Safety to a new level of service and excellence.

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