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

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with more than 35 million readers, today announced the recipients of its ninth annual Inspire Awards. The Inspire Awards pay tribute to extraordinary people who inspire others to action through their innovative thinking, passion and perseverance. The 2011 honorees include 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 beginning November 24th and available online now at www.aarp.org/magazine. The honorees will receive their awards at a private gala in Washington D.C. on December 9th, 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."

THE 2011 INSPIRE AWARD WINNERS

Maya Angelou – AARP Andrus Award Winner

Maya Angelou is no stranger to adversity— after being sexually molested as a young child, she prevailed to become one of the most revered voices of the century. With a life full of extensive achievements as a poet, author, playwright and civil rights activist, Angelou is undoubtedly one of the most influential voices of our time and is still expanding her influence at age 82. Shedding 40 pounds in the past year, she shares her wisdom on nutritious food in her 31st book entitled, "Great Food, All Day Long: Cook Splendidly, Eat Smart."  With predictable poignancy, she stresses the importance of love; "The only way we can heal and grow hearty is if we know love."

Tony Danza – Motivating Students

Former "Taxi" and "Who's the Boss?" star Tony Danza shattered all skepticism about his teaching capacities at the Philadelphia high school where he taught 10th grade English for a year while filming the A&E documentary series "Teach: Tony Danza." After winning over the school's stern principal, Danza continues his career in public education. He returned to Philadelphia in October to promote the Obama administration's TEACH initiative, which seeks to recruit gifted teachers. The actor, who is in the midst of writing a book about the experience, draws a passion for teaching from his mother. Said Danza, "My mother used to say every kid should have someone who is irrationally committed to their future."

Joy Behar & Eve Behar Scotti – Fighting Heart Disease

A family history of cardiovascular problems motivated this mother-daughter duo to become advocates for heart health. As leaders of the Mom's Second Chance campaign, Joy and Eve have teamed up with the nonprofit WomenHeart and the makers of Bayer Aspirin to encourage women to talk with their doctors now to be better prepared should a heart attack strike, and help increase their odds of surviving by keeping aspirin on hand.  

Lisa Niemi Swayze – Searching for a Cancer Cure

A year after her famous husband Patrick Swayze died from pancreatic cancer, Lisa Niemi Swayze, who is a talented author, choreographer and director in her own respect, has added "cancer crusader" to her list of accomplishments. As a spokesperson for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and activist for federal legislation to increase research funding, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the disease. Niemi Swayze, whose goal is to see her husband's name attached to a breakthrough drug for pancreatic cancer, asserts, "I know Patrick would hold that in higher regard than his entire acting career."

Pedro Jose Greer Jr., M.D. – Caring for the Poor

Greer found inspiration from personal experience to open the Camillus Health Concern, a medical clinic that cares for 10,000 homeless patients in Miami each year. Of his good deeds, the son of Cuban immigrants is humble about his work: "There was a huge need out there and the only thing I knew how to do was be a doctor." Greer, who is also co-founder of the St. John Bosco Clinic to treat destitute immigrants, has little to be modest about—he has received a 1993 MacArthur award, the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom and three papal medals.

Helene Gayle, M.D. – Fighting Global Poverty  

As head of the humanitarian organization CARE, Gayle has played an active role in huge charitable initiatives in the devastated areas of Haiti and Pakistan. Despite these large scale projects, she has a defined view of philanthropy: "I see change at the community level." Gayle, who is focusing her work on empowering women in the developing world, is passionate about helping others: "We touch 60 million lives. But every one of those 60 million people goes on to change others. That's the power of what we do."

Henry Winkler – Helping Stroke Victims

Best known for his role as the jovial Fonzie on "Happy Days," award-winning actor Henry Winkler is serious about alleviating the suffering of stroke victims. After watching his mother suffer from a condition called upper limb spasticity due to a stroke, Winkler is helping the estimated 1 million Americans affected by this condition. He travels the country as a spokesperson for Open Arms: Raising Awareness of Upper Limb Spasticity, which highlights a promising new Botox treatment.  

Sandy Chen Stokes – Breaking Cultural Taboos

Sandy Chen Stokes has dedicated her life to broaching the subject of death with the families of terminally ill Chinese American patients, whose cultural ideology considers the discussion bad luck. As a founder of the Chinese American Coalition for Compassionate Care (CACCC), Stokes works with more than 60 different health care organizations, including the American Cancer Society, to train health care workers about this little-known, yet pressing issue for Chinese Americans.

Elizabeth Warren – Fixing Finances

Elizabeth Warren has endless knowledge about the effect of debt on families; she has published more than eight books on the subject and was appointed to oversee the government's bank-bailout program in 2008. Now, with more than three million homes in foreclosure, Warren is serving as the head of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, the Obama administration's new consumer-watchdog agency. Despite criticism from opponents of the new agency, Warren is passionate about its goal to protect Americans from fraud: "This is ultimately about people who work hard and shouldn't have to worry about credit cards and mortgages that rip them off."

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 more than 35.1 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 over 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 over 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