JERSEY CITY, N.J. | Forrest Elliott '82 and ‘85 M.A., an NJCU alumnus with a B.A. in Political Science and an M.A. in Urban Education/Administration/Supervision, was honored with the 2022 AARP Andrus Award for Community Service. Each year one volunteer across the entire state of New Jersey is recognized. Elliott, a Wood-Ridge, N.J. resident, is a retired special education teacher at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Clifton, N.J.
Thanks to his volunteer efforts for veterans, mothers in need, and humanitarian support for Ukraine, he influenced 44 Rotary clubs in Bergen, Passaic and Hudson Counties to adopt similar acts of kindness. Each year, he runs an annual clothing drive that collects clothes, blankets and coats for veterans and food drives. Among his volunteer activities, he also fundraised to bring 13 Marines home for the holidays and a 99-year-old Pearl Harbor surviving veteran to the memorial site in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Each year, the selection committee chooses one nominee aged 50 or older for achievements, accomplishments, or service that reflect the AARP vision and purpose, and inspire others to serve.
In a year of recognition for Elliott, in 2022 he also received The Daughters of the American Revolution Distinguished Citizen Award for community service and Rotary’s highest award — the Arthur A. Fenniman Memorial Award in recognition of a "life dedicated to the principles of the 'Four Way Test.”
Please view the brief video of the AARP award presentation at: https://states.aarp.org/new-jersey/2022-andrus-award-winner
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