American Association of Retired Persons

AARP is a United States-based non-government organization (a special interest group) dedicated to the interests of persons aged 50 and over. It was originally entitled American Association of Retired Persons, but as the activities of AARP diversified, it became broader than only retired people. With over 35 million members, AARP is the leading nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization for people age 50 and over in the United States. Membership is expected to approach 70 million via baby boomers by 2015.

Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a retired high school principal, founded AARP in 1958. AARP evolved from the National Retired Teachers Association (NRTA), which Andrus had established in 1947 to promote her philosophy of productive aging, and in response to the need of retired teachers for health insurance. After ten years, Andrus opened the organization to all Americans over 50, creating AARP. Today, NRTA is a division within AARP.

AARP is widely known for defending and advancing the interests of aging populations through a multitude of initiatives, including lobbying efforts at the state and national governmental level, an activity permitted by its 501(c)(4) status. AARP is non-partisan and does not support, oppose or give money to any candidates or political parties.

Its AARP Services (ASI) division negotiates and offers reduced rates for members at various tourist attractions, automobile rental companies, motel and hotel chains, etc. ASI provides programs for reduced-cost medical and automobile insurance, opportunities for managing retirement and scam alerts about predatory lending and refinancing. AARP Services founded AARP Financial Incorporated, a subsidiary that manages AARP-endorsed financial products including AARP Funds. AARP Foundation is also the 501(c)(3) non-profit AARP division raising donated money for such elderly causes as legal assistance, job training, driver education, etc.

AARP's public stances influenced the United States Congress' passage of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, which authorized the creation of Medicare Part D, in 2003, and the Congress' resistance to changes to Social Security in 2005.

The organization also publishes AARP The Magazine (known until 2002 as Modern Maturity ^*, a magazine focusing on aging issues. The editor is Steve Slon. Established in 1958, the magazine, distributed bi-monthly, is sent to every AARP member, giving the magazine a circulation AARP claims to be the "world's largest". AARP also publishes the AARP Bulletin, Segunda Juventud, Live & Learn, and has a books division.

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Political advocacy groups in the United States | Non-profit organizations | Magazine companies of the United States

American Association of Retired Persons

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