AARP Community Builders

Source: AARP.org | January 14, 2004

The AARP Community Builders program is a natural extension of AARP's annual Day of Service—a day in which AARP volunteers and staff rededicate, renew and celebrate AARP's commitment to community service. On that day, AARP redirects its workforce to volunteer in local communities. As with AARP's Day of Service, AARP employees have another opportunity to take on local community service projects through AARP's Community Builders program.

The AARP Community Builders program, which was launched in January 2003, helps encourage, promote, and support staff participation in community service nationwide. It enables eligible employees to take time each month during normal work hours to do volunteer work at one of several local community-based organizations where they help the elderly, youth, the homeless and other people in need.

In addition, this program seeks to recognize and celebrate the ongoing community service work done by AARP employees in their personal lives. We know that many AARP employees are already stellar volunteers in their everyday lives. And, each month, we acknowledge the special volunteer contributions of AARP staff—for individual or team effort—through a special recognition component of the program. AARP employees also hear about other volunteer opportunities (episodic and ongoing) at other organizations that are available outside of office hours.

AARP continues to "walk the talk," striving for greater community involvement and continuing to lead by example. Through these and other volunteer programs, AARP staff are helping to improve communities and to bring about positive social change in communities where they work and live.