Look To The Stars News: American Association of Retired Persons

Meredith Vieira Talks MS With AARP Magazine

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 13:45:00 +0000

Meredith Vieira and her husband Richard M. Cohen are the December/January cover of the upcoming AARP The Magazine, discussing how their family deals with Richard’s MS, their extraordinary marriage, family and more.

The couple offer AARP The Magazine a deeply personal and moving glimpse into their relationship, her reasons for leaving the Today show, and their family’s struggle with Cohen’s multiple sclerosis.

The couple and their children share the daily challenges the family faces due to Richard’s disease. In a series of moving interviews, Meredith, Richard and their children discuss how they make the most of life despite his chronic illness. Personal friends and colleagues, including Vieira’s Today co-host Matt Lauer, also provide insight into one of America’s most successful couples.

Steve Jobs And Jane Goodall Honored With Inspire Awards

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:30:00 +0000

AARP The Magazine has announced the recipients of its tenth annual Inspire Awards, featuring some famous faces.

Each year the Inspire Awards pay tribute to outstanding individuals who inspire others to action through their innovative thinking, passion and perseverance. This year’s list of distinguished honorees includes Jane Goodall (The Conservationist), Steve Jobs (The Game Changer), Andy Czerkas (The AARP Foundation Hunger Hero), Sen. Daniel K. Inouye (The Chief Compromiser), Pat Summitt (The Alzheimer’s Advocate), Irene Zola (The Advocate for the Elderly), Toby Keith (The Supporter of U.S. Troops), Hilton Kelley (The Environmental Advocate), Emilio Estefan Jr. (The Latino Promoter) and Ret. Army Col. Bill Badger, Patricia Maisch, and Roger Salzgeber (The Arizona Shooting Heroes).

“Through their extraordinary efforts to lead, innovate, and give back in ways that make a real impact, this year’s honorees motivate our readers to make a make a difference in their own communities,” said Nancy Perry Graham, Vice President and Editor of AARP The Magazine. “This daring dozen are compassionate and forward-thinking individuals who define inspiration.”

Tavis Smiley To Put A Face To Poverty

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Tavis Smiley will put a human face on the alarming new data about poverty in America with special programming on both his national public television and radio programs.

With nearly 50 million Americans, or one in six, now living in poverty, “The Poverty Tour: A Call to Conscience” will kick off with a roundtable discussion on The Tavis Smiley Show from PRI on Friday, October 7 (check local public radio listings), and be the focus of five special episodes on the PBS program Tavis Smiley Monday, October 10 through Friday, October 14 (check local listings).

Tavis Smiley is a co-production of THIRTEEN and The Smiley Group, Inc. in association with WNET New York Public Media. For nearly 50 years, WNET has been producing and broadcasting national and local documentaries and other programs to the New York community.

Tony Bennett To Be Surrounded By Stars At Charity Concert

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:00:00 +0000

AARP today announced that Carrie Underwood, Diana Krall, John Mayer and Stevie Wonder will join American icon Tony Bennett for a landmark concert event in Los Angeles to benefit Drive to End Hunger, a national effort by AARP and AARP Foundation to end hunger among older Americans.

This musical spectacular will take place at the STAPLES Center on Saturday, September 24th and also celebrates the singer’s milestone 85th birthday. To date, Drive to End Hunger has organized food and cash donations to provide more than 2.7 million meals through local hunger relief organizations.

Billed as AARP Presents: TONY BENNETT LIVE IN CONCERT – Benefit for Drive to End Hunger, this one-night-only event will feature songs from Bennett’s anxiously awaited new album, Tony Bennett: Duets II, slated for a September 20th release.

AARP To Host Film Festival As Part Of Life@50+ Event

Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0000

AARP today announced it will bring its Movies for Grownups Film Festival to Los Angeles, CA, as part of the organization’s annual National Event & Expo, Life@50+.

Taking place September 22-24, this year’s lineup features some of the season’s great new films, including a few pre-release titles and a Hollywood premiere. Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Seth Rogen and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar are just some of the actors confirmed to attend the screenings and participate in panel discussions throughout this three-day event.

Other speakers at the Life@50+ event will include Leeza Gibbons, Jane Goodall, Tim Gunn, Spike Lee, Martina Navratilova, Richard Simmons and many others.

Tony Bennett To Headline Celebrity Charity Hunger Concert For AARP

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

Tony Bennett will team with the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) to take part in a celebrity charity concert to help end hunger – as well as to celebrate his 85th birthday.

The Drive To End Hunger concert will take place at Los Angeles’ Staples Center on September 24, just days after the release of his new album of duets.

“It is terrific to be working with AARP once again, especially for a cause like ending hunger among our older Americans, which often does not get much attention,” Bennett said. “I know this event will make a big difference and I am thrilled to be a part of it and have some of my favorite musical performers join me for the concert.”

Michelle Obama Talks Charity In AARP Magazine

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

First Lady Michelle Obama graces the September/ October cover of AARP The Magazine and talks candidly about her charity work.

On being a role model for African American girls:

Leeza Gibbons Named As Ambassador For Care

Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:30:00 +0000

One of the most recognizable faces on television, Leeza Gibbons, is teaming up with AARP to once again connect with millions of people across the country.

As the organization’s new Ambassador for Care, she will bring information and resources to the more than 44 million Americans who are caregivers, along with her own personal experiences. Additionally, Gibbons will return to TV as the new host of AARP’s 30-minute lifestyle TV show, My Generation, which airs nationally on PBS.

“Leeza’s personal experience as a caregiver and the work she has done to aid others in this role make her a great fit as our new Ambassador for Care,” said Emilio Pardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, AARP. “Add to this her new role as the host of My Generation, a role that obviously goes hand in hand with her expertise and success on TV, and we’ve got a powerful new arsenal of information available to AARP’s members and 50+ America.”

Kellie Pickler Picks A Tune For The AARP

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Country singer Kellie Pickler is well known for her support of charities such as the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the USO, but lately she has had the elderly on her mind, and has been devoting her time and money to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

“I love working with different charities, but the big foundations and organizations already get so much exposure and so much attention,” Pickler told CMT recently. “I wanted to bring awareness to a smaller charity that might not have gotten that kind of attention had I not helped them. The AARP is amazing, and I can really relate to it. My grandparents raised me, so I know the struggles that they have to go through financially and legally and all that.”

And the 19-year-old singer has certainly been putting her money where her mouth is – she donated $25,000 of prize money from her appearance on Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader to the charity, and recently performed at the AARP-sponsored Grand Rally outside the Capitol building in Washington, DC.

Stars Record Public Service Announcement

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 15:44:27 +0000

Ben Affleck, Dakota Fanning, Eva Mendes, Garth Brooks, Jeremy Piven, Joaquin Phoenix, Morgan Freeman, and Reese Witherspoon have filmed a Public Service Announcement for all Americans, stating that the country’s health care and financial security crisis is about to explode. But if people on both sides of the issue would start a dialogue, the problems are not insurmountable.

The video is part of the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) “Divided We Fail” project, an initiative that has just garnered support from the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF).

“We need to build a national conversation around these issues,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli, who is more than happy with the union. “The entertainment industry is uniquely suited to help us do that.”