But for a startling number of older Americans,

it’s a fact of life.

AARP Foundation ischanging that picture.

We invite you to join us.

Povertyisn’t part of the American dream...

All across this country, older Americans who have worked hardand contributed to their families and communities are facing their later yearsin crisis. Following the worst nationwide recession since the Great Depression,millions have lost their jobs and exhausted recession-ravaged savings.

Many seniors have been forced to seek public assistance for the first time intheir lives. Others are too embarrassed to ask for help.

Not since the Depression era have we seen such a “perfect storm” of eventsresult in so many seniors facing uncertain and unstable futures.

AARP Foundation is helping struggling olderAmericans picture a different future, full of the kinds

of snapshots we all want in our later years… making memories with family,

a secure happy home, opportunities to thrive.

Join us in helping people 50 and older reclaim the future they always pictured.

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Recession-Ravaged Retirement Incomes

Not long ago, many American seniors looked forward to their “golden years” infinancially secure retirements. But during the latter portion of the 20th century, ourcountry moved away from employer-funded pension plans. In the still-new 21st century,most older adults must rely on Social Security and personal retirement savingsaccounts for their income.

Seniors participating in a recent survey reported losing 60 percent of their personalretirement savings during the recession. As a result, nearly 20% of adults over theage of 65 feel they must continue to work — nearly double the number in 1985 —because they cannot pay the bills if they do not. Yet, for many older Americans, findinga job is extremely challenging.

Record Unemployment for Older Adults

More than 2 million Americans age 55 or more are unemployed. This is nearly doublethe number it was just four years ago and higher than at any time since the Bureau ofLabor Statistics began tracking senior unemployment 63 years ago. For those under age64, the situation is especially dire because they lack access to retirement savings,Social Security and Medicare.

Statistics also show that despite being well-qualified applicants, older adults remainunemployed for twice as long as younger workers, approximately 54 weeks. Often, oncea job is secured, the senior is forced to accept lower pay than at their previous job.

Rising Costs for Food, Fuel and Healthcare

Even as wages stagnated and unemploymentdoubled during the recession, the cost of meetingbasic needs has continued to rise. Food pricesrose two to three percent in the United States in2011. For those with limited monthly incomes,these additional expenses require dipping intoalready meager savings or going without.

The skyrocketing cost of health care is ofparticular concern for older Americans. Theimpact of a single catastrophic health crisis canwipe out a lifetime of savings; and the cost oflong-term care can consume entire pensionchecks each month.

A Population Tidal Wave: The Aging of America

We must respond to this crisis with boldness and an extreme sense of urgency. Bornafter 1946, the “baby boomers” number some 76 million people. Every single day, tenthousand boomers are turning 65. By 2030, one in five Americans will be age 65 or older.

Unless we develop solutions now that will allow struggling seniors to meet their basicneeds, the strained safety net of today could soon collapse altogether from the rapidlyexpanding population of older Americans.

Anne, age 54, lost her publishing job three years ago. Since Anne’s unemployment benefits ran out, the family has had to survive on her husband’s intermittent real estate income. “It’s more than tough,” Anne says,“Our daughter has had to give up her studies.” Anne looks away, then down at the floor. “It was her tuition or the mortgage on our home. Telling my daughter we couldn’t afford college was the hardest moment of my life.”

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A DEFINING MOMENTFOR OUR NATION

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Furthermore, since the challengesfacing Americans 50 and older arenot monolithic, they cannot besolved with “one size fits all”solutions. AARP Foundation isadvancing a portfolio of solutionsthat will help get critical resourcesback into the hands of vulnerable,older Americans.

AARP Foundation seeks totransform the landscape forAmericans 50 and older bythinking bigger and taking boldactions that will impact millions ofpeople. We seek donors willing tohelp us take successful programsto scale and leverage the powerof the AARP brand to identify,support and expand solutionsthat already exist incommunities across the country.

Carlos has worked hard throughout his life and always provided for his family.Now, at age 62, he’s walking into a food bank for the first time ever. Hetugs the brim of his baseball cap low to hide his shame. He waits quietly for histurn at the window. “Just a bag of groceries,” he says. “My grandson moved inwith me. Boy can’t find work. He sure eats a lot, but there‘s nowhere else forhim to go.”

We set our vision.

We crafted our mission.

We developed a plan.

This is no little plan.

AIMING HIGH INHOPE AND WORK

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Since its founding in 1958, AARP has built a reputation as the “champion” of olderAmericans. As the affiliated charity of AARP, AARP Foundation is uniquely qualifiedto mobilize our nation’s response to this crisis. We will leverage the trust engenderedby the AARP brand and our enterprise-wide capabilities to move millions ofstruggling seniors out of poverty.

Rather than duplicate the efforts of existing organizations, AARP Foundation willwork side by side with partners in communities across America, providing a powerfulmultiplier effect. With this clear sense of purpose, the Foundation is leading thecharge to implement solutions on a scale that equals the scope of the crisis.

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Over the course of any one person’s life, the opportunity to trulychange our world is rare. We are standing at one of those times.

The ongoing recession has changed everything for older Americans. Millions ofseniors are suffering right here in our prosperous nation. We are witnessing it in ourneighborhoods and, in some cases, our own families. And unless we take bold actiontoday, this crisis will continue to hit closer and closer to home for all of us.

AARP Foundation is moving rapidly toimplement innovative and effectiveinitiatives to transform lives, movingindividuals from vulnerability to stability.But we cannot do this alone. To accomplishthis bold plan, we must more than doubleour support from private fundraising to $46 million by 2014.

THIS IS OUR TIME

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We are asking corporations, foundationsand individuals from across the nation tomake leadership gifts that will supportthese ambitious efforts.

This is our generation’s chance to dosomething really great. Your investmentin the work of AARP Foundation will helpreshape our world, our future so thatseniors do not have to choose betweentheir medicines, a roof over their head,their home heating oil, the care of aloved one or food.

Nothing less is required of us, if we truly want to build a nation in which no olderperson feels vulnerable and all can meet their basic needs.

Our response to these challenges is what will determine how history measures us.

To find out how you can help and learn more about specific opportunities, pleasecontact:

Kate Greiner, Major Gifts Officer(202) 434-6249AARP Foundation601 E Street NWWashington DC 20049kgreiner@aarp.org

THIS IS OUR GENERATION’S CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING REALLY GREAT.

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