Joy Behar, Henry Winkler and Tony Danza Among AARP The Magazine's 2011 Inspire Award Honorees; Maya Angelou Receives AARP's Top Honor

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with nearly 35 million readers, honored the recipients of its ninth annual Inspire Awards last night at the Ronald Regan Building in Washington, DC. The Inspire Awards pay tribute to extraordinary people who inspire others to action through their innovative thinking, passion and perseverance. The 2011 honorees and attendees included Maya Angelou (Andrus Award Winner – AARP's highest honor), Tony Danza (Motivating Students), Lisa Niemi Swayze (Searching for a Cure), Pedro Jose Greer Jr., M.D (Caring for the Poor), Joy Behar & Eve Behar Scotti (Tackling Heart Disease), Helene Gayle, M.D. (Fighting Global Poverty), Henry Winkler (Helping Stroke Victims), Sandy Chen Stokes (Breaking Cultural Taboos) and Elizabeth Warren (Fixing Finances).

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AARP's prestigious Andrus Award pays tribute to the legacy of AARP's founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. This national award recognizes an individual who, like AARP's founder, has generated positive social change in the world and whose work and achievements reflect AARP's vision of bringing lifetimes of experience and leadership to serve all generations.

"Maya Angelou is the epitome of service and inspiration and we are honored to have her accept the 2011 Andrus Award," said A. Barry Rand, CEO of AARP. "Our founder Dr. Andrus was a dynamic woman who fought to enrich and improve the quality of life for older Americans. She lived by the philosophy: To serve, not to be served — and Maya is the perfect example of someone who has done just that.  She remains the standard for selfless action to which we should all strive to achieve."

Honorees are profiled in the January/February 2011 issue of AARP The Magazine, in homes now and available online at www.aarp.org/magazine. The honorees received their awards during a private gala presented by Platinum sponsor VITAS Innovative Hospice Care® and hosted by renowned broadcast journalist Jane Pauley, AARP's Ambassador of Your Life Calling.

"These ten compassionate, forward-thinking and daring individuals define inspiration," said Nancy Graham, Vice President and Editor of AARP The Magazine. "Through their extraordinary contributions to society, this year's Inspire Award honorees motivate our readers to get involved, give back, and make a difference in their own communities."

Exclusive videos of the honorees and additional information on AARP The Magazine's 2011 Inspire Award honorees can be found online at www.aarp.org/magazine.

About AARP The Magazine

With nearly 35 million readers nationwide, AARP The Magazine (www.aarpmagazine.org) is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for Americans 50+. Reaching nearly 22 million households, AARP The Magazine delivers comprehensive content through in-depth celebrity interviews, health and fitness features, consumer interest information and tips, book and movie reviews and financial guidance. Published bimonthly in print and continually online, AARP The Magazine was founded in 1958 and is the flagship title of AARP Publications.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan social welfare organization with a membership that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with 35.1 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's millions of members and Americans 50+; AARP VIVA, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

SOURCE AARP