NBC's Tom Brokaw will have another award to add to his mantel. The former Nightly News anchor will receive the Andrus Award — the AARPs most prestigious honor — during a luncheon next week. Brokaw who is a Special Correspondent for NBC News, will deliver remarks at the event next Thursday. A video tribute including interviews with Bryant Gumbel and Jane Pauley will be featured.

AARP HONORS TOM BROKAW WITH TOP AWARD

World Renowned Journalist and Author to Receive
2007 AARP Andrus Award During Life@50+ in Boston

Washington – AARP will honor Tom Brokaw with the 2007 Andrus Award, the Association’s highest honor, during its Life@50+ National Event & Expo in Boston, MA on September 6. This award, named in honor of AARP’s founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, is presented to extraordinary individuals in recognition for their significant contributions to society.

“Tom Brokaw has distinguished himself not only as a preeminent journalist, but also as a catalyst for vital social debate,” said AARP CEO Bill Novelli. “Throughout his career, Mr. Brokaw has focused the public’s attention on critical issues facing our nation – helping to foster essential dialogue in the halls of Congress and throughout the world. His remarkable record of achievement in reporting and commentary serves as an inspiration to all who seek out truth in the pursuit of constructive social action.”

The AARP Andrus Award pays tribute to individuals who, like Dr. Andrus and Mr. Brokaw, have generated positive social awareness and positive outcomes throughout the world, and whose work and achievements reflect AARP’s vision of bringing lifetimes of experience and leadership to serve all generations.

“Mr. Brokaw has helped shed light on some of the most pressing challenges of our modern history,” added Erik Olsen, AARP President. “Such focus exemplifies Dr. Andrus commitment to action that ‘what we do, we do for all,’ a theme that remains with AARP today through our commitment to being champions for all people.”

After serving more than two decades as the anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News,” Tom Brokaw continues to build his journalistic legacy as a Special Correspondent for NBC News. Throughout his career, Mr. Brokaw’s work has been recognized with numerous awards and honors. Recently, he received the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award, the Emmy Award for Lifetime Achievement and was inducted as a fellow into the prestigious American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Mr. Brokaw’s reporting often focused on difficult issues facing our nation. In 2006, Mr. Brokaw reported on race and poverty in “Separate and Unequal,” a critically acclaimed account of the ongoing issues of race in America. As an author, Mr. Brokaw may best be known for his best selling publication, “The Greatest Generation,” a reflection of American history through interviews with World War II veterans.

AARP Life@50+ National Event & Expo is an annual event for AARP members, friends and their families will have something for everyone with three unforgettable days and nights of the very best exhibits, experts and entertainment at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in a relaxed atmosphere—part class reunion, part home, travel, health and high-tech expo, part summer concert weekend and all fun. More than 25,000 AARP members and their friends from all 50 states and territories and 10 countries will flock to historic Boston to participate in this unique expo and entertainment weekend, one of the largest events to date in Boston’s new convention center. In addition to top-notch entertainers Earth, Wind & Fire; Rod Stewart; Lily Tomlin; and Tony Bennett, they will also experience extensive exhibits; lifestyle, education and feature sessions with politicians and entertainers; lectures and health and fitness classes. The attendees will also hear renowned actors Kirk and Michael Douglas; Golden Globe winner Hector Elizondo; funnyman Bob Newhart; red carpet duo Joan and Melissa Rivers; basketball MVP Bill Russell; best-selling author Gail Sheehy; fitness expert Richard Simmons; makeup mogul Bobbi Brown; poet Maya Angelou, comedian Whoopi Goldberg and chef Ming Tsai.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization 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, published bimonthly; AARP Bulletin, our monthly newspaper; AARP Segunda Juventud, our bimonthly magazine in Spanish and English; NRTA Live & Learn, our quarterly newsletter for 50 + educators; and our website, www.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.