Help

Register

Login

Login

Rolling Stones Presale

Games

Car rental

AARP daily Crossword Puzzle

Hotels with AARP discounts

Life Insurance

AARP MEMBERSHIP — Limited Time Offer-Memorial Day Sale

Join AARP for just $9 per year with a 5-year membership. Join now and get a FREE Gift! Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

AARP en Español

Back 

Health

Close Menu

Wellness

Conditions & Treatments

Drugs & Supplements

Health Care & Coverage

Health Benefits

AARP Eye Center

Tips to Protect Your Eyesight

AARP Hearing Center

Ways To Improve Your Hearing

Mental Health Resources

Coping with Depression and Anxiety

AARP Smart Guide

Prepare for a Good Night's Sleep

Back 

Money

Close Menu

Scams & Fraud

Personal Finance

Taxes

Retirement

Money Benefits

Scams & Fraud

View and Report Scams in Your Area

Taxes

Take the Charitable Giving Quiz

AARP Money Map

Get Your Finances Back on Track

Budget & Savings

Make Your Appliances Last Longer

Back 

Work & Jobs

Close Menu

Job Search

Careers

Small Business

Employers

Age Discrimination

Flexible Work

10 Part-Time Jobs to Beat Inflation

AARP Skills Builder

Online Courses to Boost Your Career

Job Search

Age Proof Your Resume

Share Your Story

Stand Up to Age Discrimination

Back 

Social Security

Close Menu

Webinars

Get More out of Your Benefits

Enrollment

When to Start Taking Social Security

Basics

10 Top Social Security FAQs

Tools

Social Security Benefits Calculator

Back

Medicare

Close Menu

Medicare Made Easy

Original vs. Medicare Advantage

Enrollment Guide

Step-by-Step Tool for First-Timers

Prescription Drugs

9 Biggest Changes Under New Rx Law

Medicare FAQs

Quick Answers to Your Top Questions

Back 

Caregiving

Close Menu

Basics

Care at Home

Medical

Financial & Legal

Life Balance

Local

LONG-TERM CARE

​Understanding Basics of LTC Insurance​

State Guides

Assistance and Services in Your Area

Prepare to Care Guides

How to Develop a Caregiving Plan

Care at Home

How to Find the Right Caregiver

Back 

Games

Close Menu

All

Recently Played

Word & Trivia

Rewards

Atari® & Retro

Mahjongg

Members Only

Staying Sharp

Solitaire

Strategy

Arcade

Puzzles

Card

Juegos

Daily

Mobile Apps

More About Games

Right Again! Trivia

Right Again! Trivia – Sports

Atari® Video Games

Throwback Thursday Crossword

Back 

Travel

Close Menu

Travel Tips

Vacation Ideas

Destinations

Travel Benefits

Back 

Entertainment & Style

Close Menu

Movies

TV

Music

Celebrities

Beauty & Style

Books

Editors' Picks

Best New Shows and Movies

The Weekly Read

Hot New Book Releases

Free Online Novel

Read 'Midnight at the Blackbird Café'

Back 

Family & Relationships

Close Menu

Sex & Intimacy

Make Your Bedroom More Romantic

Grandparenting

4 Ways to Connect With Grandchildren

Family

Making Lasting Memories With Mom

Back

Personal Tech

Close Menu

Privacy

Store Medical Records on Your Phone?

Tech Tips

Maximize the Life of Your Phone Battery

Virtual Community Center

Join Free Tech Help Events

Back 

Home & Living

Close Menu

Your Home

​10 Things to Clean in 10 Minutes

Home Improvement

​Your Home Checklist for Aging in Place

AARP Smart Guide

38 Ways to Boost Home's Curb Appeal

Back 

Auto

Close Menu

Car Buying

Driver Safety

Maintenance & Safety

Trends & Technology

Car Buying

Is Now the Time to Buy an Electric Car?

We Need To Talk

Assess Your Loved One's Driving Skills

Driver Safety

AARP Smart Driver Course

Back 

Staying Sharp

Close Menu

Assessment

Challenges

Articles

Videos

Recipes

Building Resilience in Difficult Times

Tips for Finding Your Calm

Weight Loss After 50 Challenge

Back 

Podcasts

Close Menu

Cautionary Tales of Today's Biggest Scams

7 Top Podcasts for Armchair Travelers

Jean Chatzky: ‘Closing the Savings Gap’

Back

Videos

Close Menu

Quick Digest of Today's Top News

AARP Top Tips for Navigating Life

Get Moving With Our Workout Series

Ila Plasencia Honored as 2017 AARP Iowa Andrus Award Winner

By Jeremy Barewin , November 20, 2017 03:40 PM

Ila Plasencia of West Des Moines was named the 2017 recipient of the AARP Andrus Award for Community Service — the Association’s most prestigious and visible volunteer award — at AARP Iowa’s annual volunteer recognition event in Des Moines on Nov. 8. She is the first Latina recipient of the Andrus Award in Iowa. In addition to the award, Plasencia received a check for $1,000 to donate to her charity of choice, the Midwest Educational Resources Development Fund. Plasencia, 90, was selected for her distinguished service and leadership. Her work has involved the establishment of scholarships and educational achievement award recognition for Latino students. She initiated the development of a medical clinic, has done translation work and taught English classes, while also helping others to obtain municipal services, and has established community festivals that enhance ethnic pride.

“This award acts as a symbol to members, and the public, that volunteers can make a significant difference for positive social change,” said AARP Iowa State Director Kent Sovern. “Ila embodies the spirit of volunteerism and the important contributions volunteers make to our society. We are proud to present this tangible recognition for her outstanding work.” Among Plasencia’s accomplishments: • She founded the Latino Student Awards Recognition Ceremony, held every year at North High School in Des Moines for the past 23 years. • Formed the Latino College Expo, which was created with the purpose of decreasing the number of Latino high school drop outs. • Worked to establish an early childhood learning center that would eventually become Head Start. • Created a health clinic for the Latino community. • Helped establish the Brown and Black Coalition. • Established the Valley Junction Cinco De Mayo celebration and the Hispanic Heritage Parade in Des Moines. • Was fundamental in starting the United Mexican American Community Center (UMACC). • With the help of others, she was instrumental in establishing the La Casa at Drake University, which is an off-campus house for Drake University Latino students.

“When I decided to nominate Ila for this award, I was flabbergasted at the wealth of experience that she has,” wrote Brena Corona, who presented Plasencia for the Andrus Award. “Ila has generously volunteered time, energy, guidance, and sometimes money, for her community, the youth, and families of Iowa Latino. She has helped motivate the youth to have pride in their heritage, to excel in school and to expect to attend college. Ila’s volunteerism has been broad and benefited many ages and served many needs.” AARP’s highest award for community service, the Andrus Award, honors the work and legacy of AARP founder, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. From the beginning, her motto, “to serve, not to be served,” has shaped AARP’s community service efforts at the national, state and local levels. The Andrus Award winner is nominated by his or her peers and the award recipient is chosen by the local AARP Iowa Executive Council. Andrus Awards are presented in every state to acknowledge the volunteer work members engage in that enhances the lives of AARP members and prospective members, improve the community for which the work was performed, and inspire others to volunteer. Finalists for the 2017 Iowa Andrus Award were also honored at the event, including: Hazel Kout of Hazelton, Tom and Elaine Howard of Hamburg, Michael Herman of Waterloo, Donald “Jake” Daley of Mount Ayr, Eileen Moos of Marion, and Brad Barber of Clear Lake. Nominations for the 2018 Andrus Award will open in the spring.

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age.

Membership

Newsletters

AARP En Español

AARP樂齡會

AARP Foundation

Wish of a Lifetime

OATS

Senior Planet

AgeTech Collaborative™