AARP Foundation and Washington Nationals Team Up to Strike Out Senior Poverty

We celebrated our volunteers and programs with a special night at Nationals Park

Miriam Cross,

AARP

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Published May 06, 2026

a photo shows Claire Casey, president of AARP Foundation, throwing the first pitch

Claire Casey, president of AARP Foundation, throws the first pitch of the Washington Nationals home game against the Minnesota Twins on May 5, 2026.

Cheriss May for AARP

Key takeaways

AARP Foundation analysis shows 1 in 3 older adults live in poverty or are at risk of slipping into it..
Volunteers for Tax-Aide, the largest free tax assistance program in the U.S., do not need tax backgrounds and can serve in many support roles.
AARP is using its partnership with the Washington Nationals baseball team to draw attention to its fraud resources and more.

Lori Evers wears several hats as a volunteer with AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide, from running a local tax preparation site to planning the program’s future tax seasons. At the Washington Nationals baseball game on May 5, the 69-year-old baseball fan earned an unusual perk for her efforts: holding one end of the finish line tape during the midgame race of U.S. president mascots.

“It was awesome!” said Evers, after returning to her seat by her grandchildren.

The Tuesday night home game against the Minnesota Twins in Washington, D.C., doubled as an occasion to highlight the work of AARP Foundation, a charitable affiliate of AARP that serves older adults living in poverty or who are at risk.

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“We want everyone here tonight to leave as a champion for low-income seniors in their community,” said Claire Casey, president of AARP Foundation, before the game. “Just knowing that this is a solvable problem makes a difference.”

Volunteering, donating and sharing AARP Foundation’s mission to end senior poverty are also crucial ways to provide support. “We need people in the game with us,” Casey said.

AARP is in its second season as the first Community Impact Partner and jersey patch sponsor for the Washington Nationals. AARP uses this platform to educate fans about our fraud and caregiving resources and AARP’s advocacy work for older adults around Social Security and Medicare.

A photo shows AARP Foundation staff and guests cheereing on the Washington Nationals.

More than 800 AARP and AARP Foundation staff and guests cheered on the Washington Nationals.

Cheriss May for AARP

The May 5 game was all about AARP Foundation. More than 800 AARP and AARP Foundation staff and guests attended; if all 30,000 AARP Foundation volunteers had joined them, they could have filled almost every spot in the 41,000-seat stadium.

The first 5,000 fans to arrive received branded rally towels, while a mobile cart stationed near the entrance enticed passersby to learn more about the value of AARP membership with a Plinko board and giveaways. QR codes that attendees could scan to make immediate donations to AARP Foundation dotted the stadium. Casey threw out the first pitch.

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a photo shows AARP Foundation members at the Nationals-Twins game

AARP Foundation's presence was felt all over the park, from digital signage to red rally towels.

Cheriss May for AARP

How we combat poverty

One in 3 older adults live in poverty or are one life event away from slipping into it, according to AARP Foundation analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. AARP Foundation runs programs that help older adults find employment or get their tax refund, advocates for the rights of people over 50 in court and makes grants to organizations that support this population.

“We believe everyone deserves to age with dignity and security,” Casey says.

a photo shows Lori Evers, a Tax-Aide volunteer, after the president mascot race

Lori Evers, a Tax-Aide volunteer, held one end of the finish line for the president mascot race.

AARP

Tax-Aide is the largest free tax assistance and preparation service in the U.S. Other AARP Foundation programs include Experience Corps, which connects volunteer tutors with children who are learning to read, and Back to Work 50+, a free career coaching service. AARP Foundation is also among the nationwide nonprofits that run Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), a job-training initiative managed by the U.S. Department of Labor that places older adults in paid positions to hone their skills.

Renée Russell, 73, typically donates to AARP Foundation on Giving Tuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving when charitable donations are matched. But she decided to make a separate donation to AARP Foundation’s SCSEP program earlier this year.

“People need a leg up,” says Russell, who spent her working years as a photographer, graphic designer and architect. “I like how AARP Foundation allows people to discover new ways of applying their skills and positively contributing to their communities.”

a photo shows a young fan at the AARP Foundation's night at Nationals Park.

A young fan gets into the action during AARP Foundation's special night at Nationals Park.

Cheriss May for AARP

Filing taxes, finding community

Evers started volunteering for Tax-Aide in Atlanta 11 years ago, after she retired from her job as a certified public accountant. She kept the gig when she moved to Reston, Virginia, in 2020 to be closer to her daughter’s family.

Volunteers do not need a background like Evers’ to contribute. Aspiring tax preparers receive training and mentorship. People can also pitch in as “client facilitators” to manage the flow of taxpayers through the door of each site, information technology support or to spread the word on social media. Evers herself does not handle taxes; instead, she coordinates with volunteers at a local site in Herndon, Virginia, oversees nearly a dozen other sites in her northern Virginia “district,” and plans future seasons. The May 5 game coincided with two days of meetings she attended in D.C. about the 2027 tax year.

The sense of community that Evers feels volunteering for Tax-Aide is strong; she sometimes runs into clients while shopping at her local Wegmans. The experience has also enriched her personal life, including new friendships she formed as a result of Tax-Aide.

“I moved to Northern Virginia six years ago basically knowing nobody,” Evers says. “My 70th birthday is coming up, and all of a sudden, I have all these people to invite.”