AARP Hosts Community Events to Support Older Adults

Nonprofit sponsors awards program and shredding event to benefit seniors in West Michigan

Apr. 1, 2026 at 3:21pm

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AARP, the nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering and supporting older Americans, is hosting several community events in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. This includes sponsoring the Brilliance Awards, a 'People's Choice' awards program where the public can vote for their favorite honoree, as well as a free document shredding event for seniors.

Why it matters

AARP plays a vital role in providing resources, advocacy, and community engagement for the growing population of older adults. These events demonstrate AARP's commitment to improving the lives of seniors in the Grand Rapids region through educational programming, financial services, and opportunities for social connection.

The details

The Brilliance Awards allow the public to vote for their favorite honoree, with the winner announced at a ceremony on April 23. Additionally, AARP is sponsoring a free document shredding event on April 29 from 1pm to 3pm at the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan office. Both events are open to the public and aim to serve the needs of older adults in the community.

  • Brilliance Awards voting is open through April 3 at 11:00pm.
  • The Brilliance Awards ceremony will take place on April 23.
  • The AARP document shredding event is scheduled for April 29 from 1pm to 3pm.

The players

AARP

A nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age, strengthening communities and fighting for the issues that matter most to families, such as healthcare, employment, and income security.

Jennifer Feuerstein-Divita

The Associate State Director for AARP Michigan, responsible for overseeing community engagement and programming in the state.

Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan

A nonprofit organization that provides services and resources to support older adults and people with disabilities in the Grand Rapids region.

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What they’re saying

“AARP works every day in our communities to improve the lives and help expand opportunities for older Americans.”

— Jennifer Feuerstein-Divita, Associate State Director, AARP Michigan

What’s next

The winner of the Brilliance Awards 'People's Choice' vote will be announced at the ceremony on April 23.

The takeaway

AARP's community events in Grand Rapids demonstrate the organization's commitment to supporting the needs of older adults through educational programming, financial services, and opportunities for social connection. These initiatives help improve the quality of life for seniors and strengthen the local community.