Roanoke resident Shannon Abell was among the AARP volunteers who were applauded for their
work at the 2024 AARP Virginia Awards Celebration in Richmond on April 24.
Associate State Director Brian Jacks of Montvale, Gordon Morton Award
recipient Shannon Abell of Roanoke, and AARP Virginia Executive Council member Sue
Franklin of Amherst (photo courtesy of AARP)
Dedicated to recognizing AARP Virginia’s most committed volunteers, this year’s awards
honored individuals committed to community service and helping older adults’ money, health,
and happiness live as long as they do.
Nearly 100 AARP volunteers from across the Commonwealth participated in the celebration.
Top volunteers were recognized with special awards.
Abell was presented with the Gordon Morton Award for Community Service. The award is
named for Morton, who served as the first president of the Kempsville Chapter, and served a
four-year term as AARP Director for Virginia before there was a state office or staff in the
Commonwealth.
Shannon Abell and his wife, Kit, are familiar faces in the Vinton community and beyond,
advocating for and empowering seniors through presentations such as their annual Medicare
updates. A recent focus has been on fraud prevention for seniors.
The award states in part that, “Abell’s willingness to engage with various audiences, from live
interviews to large conferences, demonstrates his versatility and effectiveness as a
communicator. His leadership roles, such as serving as a project lead for Grandparents Day at the
Virginia Museum of Transportation and assisting with Movies For Grownups , highlight his
multifaceted contributions beyond fraud prevention. His efforts not only raise awareness but also
facilitate opportunities for other volunteer presenters to contribute, thus fostering collaboration
and community engagement. Abel’s credibility, stemming from his years of work at the Local
Office on Aging , adds weight to his advocacy efforts.”
Abell spent his career supervising the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program for
Roanoke’s Local Office on Aging . When he retired in 2020, he continued to advocate for
seniors.
Many Vinton seniors look forward to Abell’s talks on Medicare and other topics of interest to
aging adults at Thrasher Memorial each fall and at the Vinton Senior Expo—always honest,
straight forward, and succinct. Others remember his insightful guidance in planning their
retirements through AARP services.
AARP Virginia volunteers provide outreach and advocacy for nearly 1 million AARP members
in Virginia as well as all Virginians age 50-plus and are committed to community service and helping everyone age with dignity and purpose. With nearly 1 million members in Virginia, AARP is the largest organization serving older adults and the families in the Commonwealth.
~ Submitted by AARP
