AARP 2008 Annual Report Download - page 5

• AARP members helped lay the groundwork for future action by elected officials on the nation’s
most pressing domestic problems. Nearly 1.5 million Americans signed the Divided We Fail
pledge—signaling their support of leaders who will act on health care and financial security.
• We celebrated our 50th anniversary with coast-to-coast celebrations that fostered innovation in
high schools, rebuilt communities and brought thousands together for world-class entertainment
and fun.
• Members’ vigorous advocacy persuaded Congress to make more than 25 million lower-income
people eligible for $300 economic stimulus rebates. Thanks to the dedication of AARP
Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers, some 500,000 individuals with modest incomes learned about
and applied for these much-needed payments.
• More than nine million members saw AARP as their channel for giving back to their communities
as volunteers, donors and activists.
• The AARP Andrus Award, our highest honor, was presented to geneticist Dr. Francis Collins, who
led the promising national effort to identify and cure diseases by unlocking the secrets of DNA.
Financial Security
AARP members were hit hard by the financial turbulence of 2008. Many lost their jobs and their health
coverage. Home values plummeted as foreclosures increased. Families felt the economic burn with every
stop at the gas station and grocery store. Investment values dwindled, forcing retirees to go back to work
and midlife workers to postpone retirement.
We helped our members save for the future, find meaningful work, and get the most from their money.
Retirement Savings
Lifetime retirement security is a top concern for AARP members. Saving for the future is a source of
anxiety for many, and half of working Americans don’t have a pension or the opportunity to save for their
retirement at work. We set about changing that by joining with business and labor in urging Congress to
pass initiatives promoting automatic enrollment of workers in 401(k) plans and Individual Retirement
Accounts.
Through the Retirement Made Simpler coalition, AARP provided step-by-step tools to help employers put
more workers on the path to a secure retirement.
Home foreclosures, personal bankruptcies, rising energy costs and dwindling retirement savings were
experienced by a growing number of people, according to AARP studies. This research helped
policymakers and the media understand what was really happening in 50+ Americans’ lives.
Our publications and Web site were packed with information on how to pinch pennies and manage
investments during uncertain times.
To advance financial literacy among young people, retired teachers from NRTA: AARP’s Educator
Community teamed with JA (formerly known as Junior Achievement) to teach money management skills to
students.
Mature Workers
One of our most important financial security efforts involved encouraging more employers to strengthen
their performance by tapping the experience and loyalty of 50+ workers.
More than 700 employers used our new Workforce Assessment Tool to assess the potential impact of an
aging workforce on their organizations and prepare recommendations for creating an “age-friendly”
workplace.