Patricia Gellner-Davenport is Winner of 2007 Andrus Award
By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-10-15 16:59:24.189570-04:00
Patricia Gellner-Davenport is the winner of the 2007 Andrus Award for Community Service. She was honored Oct. 17 at The Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.
The Andrus Award celebrates and honors individuals who make a difference in the lives of others, and is the most prestigious and visible award AARP can present to an individual. It is named in memory of the founder of AARP, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, whose motto was "To Serve, Not To be Served."
For the past ten years, Gellner-Davenport's unwavering efforts in various volunteer leadership roles have enhanced the lives of hundreds of AARP Members and many prospective members. As the Grassroots Coordinator of the AARP New Jersey Northwest Region, she was instrumental in engaging hundreds of chapter members in the counties of Sussex, Warren, Morris, Somerset and Hunterdon for community service and advocacy initiatives.
She has spoken publicly and testified in Trenton on many issues of concern to our 1.38 million members. In addition, her work as a volunteer with the AARP New Jersey Speakers Bureau helped to educate hundreds of members and the public at large about the changes in the law for Medicare Part D, protection of Social Security and the need for more funding to support home and community-based services for long-term care recipients and their families.
As the Volunteer State Coordinator of the New Jersey Driver Safety Program, Gellner-Davenport has helped to increase knowledge of safe driving through education. She currently manages 173 Driver Safety Program Volunteers and recently launched the Driver Safety Course in Spanish. As a result of Gellner-Davenport's leadership, it is estimated that close to 6,000 program participants were served in the over 252 New Jersey Driver Safety courses offered in 2007.
"This award acts as a symbol to members and the public that we can all work together for positive social change," says AARP New Jersey State President Sy Larson. "AARP has long valued the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions AARP volunteers make to their communities, neighbors, and the programs they serve."
AARP will also recognize its finest chapters at the event. These chapters have given to their communities through volunteerism and donation, been positive advocates for AARP in Trenton and locally, and have been active in programs such as Tax-Aide and Driver Safety.
The chapters include:
- West Essex #131
- Flemington #3259
- Central Morris #5397
- Wallington #4115
- Lakeview #1995
- Sussex City #44
- Union #4026
- Paterson #15
- Phillipsburg #4704
"The person who uses a portion of his leisure to the unselfish service of his fellow man finds in his purposefulness that he can influence and change existing circumstances for the better." - Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus
Other Resources
- More About the Andrus Award
- Find an AARP Chapter near you! Get involved, make friends, stay in touch.
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