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AARP Alaska Earns Five Honors at PRSA Alaska Aurora Awards
AARP Alaska received a first-place Aurora Award for a Social Security campaign, with additional recognition for an Alaska Work and Save campaign, fraud prevention and creative communications
Katie Severin for AARP Alaska
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — AARP Alaska earned recognition for all five entries it submitted to the 2026 Aurora Awards, the premier awards program of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Alaska Chapter. The awards recognize excellence in public relations across Alaska, including comprehensive campaigns and individual communications tools.
Katie Severin for AARP Alaska
The Aurora Awards honor comprehensive public relations campaigns that integrate multiple communication tools and strategies. AARP Alaska received first place in Public Service for its Social Security 90th Anniversary campaign and an honorable mention in Public Affairs for its Alaska Work and Save campaign.
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Awards of Excellence recognize individual public relations tools and materials. AARP Alaska earned second place in External Publications for its fraud-alert campaign, third place in Video Materials for its Alaska Work and Save business-owner videos, and an honorable mention in Creative Tactics for its 4-by-6-foot Social Security 90th Anniversary card.
“Alaskans need clear, accessible information to stay informed about retirement security, Social Security, and fraud protection,” said AARP Alaska Communications Director Katie Severin. “That mission drives our communications work, and this recognition from PRSA Alaska reflects the commitment our team brings to that work every day.”
The Social Security 90th Anniversary campaign turned the program's 2025 milestone into an education and advocacy effort for Alaskans. Events, partner activities and digital outreach connected people with Social Security's role in retirement security. A 4-by-6-foot anniversary card collected over 200 written messages from people explaining why Social Security was important to them.
The Alaska Work and Save campaign focused on expanding access to workplace retirement savings and elevating the voices of Alaska small-business owners. The campaign helped advance bipartisan Alaska Work and Save legislation through the Alaska House and Senate and to the governor's desk.
The business-owner video series supported the broader Work and Save campaign by addressing concerns about cost, complexity, and administrative burden through Alaska business perspectives.
The fraud-alert email campaign used localized articles, subject-line testing, and links to AARP Fraud Watch Network resources to help Alaskans recognize and avoid scams.
AARP Alaska is honored by the recognition from the PRSA Alaska Chapter and is dedicated to building on this work to inform, empower, and advocate for older Alaskans across the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Alaska Work and Save?
Alaska Work and Save is a proposed portable retirement savings program for private-sector workers who lack access to an employer-sponsored retirement savings plan. AARP Alaska supports expanding access to workplace retirement savings to help more Alaskans build financial security for the future, reduce reliance on public assistance, and help Alaska business owners retain employees.
What is AARP Alaska doing to protect Social Security?
AARP Alaska advocates for protecting and strengthening Social Security and for cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that more accurately reflect the rising expenses older Alaskans face. Nationally, AARP works to protect earned Social Security benefits, preserve the COLA, and strengthen the program’s finances so Social Security remains reliable for current and future generations.
How can Alaskans protect themselves from scams and fraud?
Alaskans can reduce their risk by pausing before acting on an unexpected request, independently verifying who is contacting them, and refusing to send money or personal information under pressure. AARP Alaska’s localized fraud-alert campaign connects Alaskans with articles about emerging scams and resources from the AARP Fraud Watch Network.
Sources
AARP Alaska. “Alaska Work and Save.” AARP, Updated February 18, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/alaska-work-and-save/.
AARP Alaska. “Alaska Fraud Prevention.” AARP. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/fraud-prevention/.
AARP Alaska. “Help Alaska Workers Save for Retirement Pass Alaska Work and Save.” AARP, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/politics/advocacy/states/2026-work-and-save-fact-sheet.pdf.
AARP Alaska. “From 1935 to Today: Celebrating 90 Years of Social Security.” AARP, August 13, 2025. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/90-years-of-social-security/.
AARP Alaska. “Small Business Owner Video Endorsements.” AARP, YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnkU0PVxUx8&list=PLvlgnkc2asSlOkysFFPa4chqORZI0EkS0&index=2.
Holt, Teresa. “COLA Helps, But Older Americans Need More Than an Adjustment.” AARP Alaska, October 22, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/states/alaska/cola-helps-but-older-americans-need-more-than-an-adjustment/.
Paulin, Emily and Shesgreen, Deirdre. “5 Ways AARP Is Fighting for Social Security Right Now.” AARP, Updated October 22, 2026. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/aarp-fight-for-social-security-2026/.
PRSA Alaska Chapter. “2026 Award Information.” PRSA Alaska Chapter. https://prsaalaska.org/awards/2026-award-information/.
PRSA Alaska Chapter. “Public Relations Society of America, Alaska Chapter.” PRSA Alaska Chapter. https://prsaalaska.org/.
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About AARP
AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to the 125 million Americans 50-plus and their families: health and financial security, and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest-circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and the AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit aarp.org, aarp.org/espanol or follow @AARP, @AARPLatino and @AARPadvocates on social media.
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