There’s a misperception that since our nation’s greatest wealth lies
with the 50+ population, everyone over 50 is financially secure. If
only that were true!
While some have achieved health and financial security, uncontrollable
factors like major illness, job loss, divorce or widowhood cause instant,
long-term instability for millions of older Americans. For people who’ve
always lived with health and financial insecurity, the battle with poor
health, stress, debt and despair generally escalates at 50 and beyond.
They need our help.
The AARP Foundation is part of the solution. We help protect Americans
from discrimination and abuse, develop training and employment opportunities
and help eligible individuals get desperately needed public benefits.
We help society’s most vulnerable members, and encourage and rely on
support from like-minded organizations and individuals to achieve our
goals.
Increasingly, more people shoulder the burden of retirement savings
and out-of-pocket healthcare spending – at one time, costs largely covered
by employers. We all face these challenges, but for some, the burden
is far greater.
Millions are impoverished or near poor, struggling to pay medical bills,
even forced into bankruptcy. They're not irresponsible; they simply
don’t have the resources to improve their circumstances. For them, the
American dream is fading. It shouldn’t.
With each new donor or volunteer, the AARP Foundation increases opportunities
to bring positive change to vulnerable, hurting people in their later
years.
It’s our partnership of committed volunteers, staff, board members,
donors and associate organizations that brings life to our long-term
strategic plan and helps people build-up their personal pillars of health
and financial security.
All Americans should have access to affordable, quality healthcare,
and the peace of mind of retirement security. These are basic needs.
We know we are making a huge difference when, in 2007, our Tax-Aide
volunteers helped to put $159 million in Earned Income Tax Credits into
the pockets of the 2.2 million people whose tax returns they completed.
Moving forward, we know we can do even more.
The AARP Foundation stands with supporters nationwide to improve the
quality of life for current and future generations. The challenge is
to build on prior successes and find additional ways to uplift vulnerable
50+ Americans.
Like our founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, we boldly accept this challenge,
and welcome courageous men, women and organizations with a vision for
the future to join us in improving life for the people who need it most.
Robin Talbert, President |