Three Senior Ride Programs Show Superior Service, Earn Awards

5/7/2003

From: Stephanie Faul of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety 202-638-5944 E-mail: steph@aaafoundation.org Helen Kerschner, Ph.D., of the Beverly Foundation, 626-792-2292 E-mail: hkerschner@beverlyfoundation.org

WASHINGTON, May 7 -- The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety and the Beverly Foundation have given grants and awards to three programs that help older Americans stay independent. Three senior transportation programs in Hawaii, Missouri, and New York were recognized because of their excellence in providing much-needed transportation for people who can no longer drive themselves.

"These programs help seniors stay in their homes and lead independent lives," says Peter Kissinger, President of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. "They provide essential transportation in a caring, compassionate, and effective way." While the three programs differ in their scope and structure, all share a mission of providing essential transportation that helps older Americans continue living in their own homes.

The three award-winning organizations for 2002 are: Project Dana, Honolulu, Hawaii Shepherd's Center of the Northland, Kansas City, Mo. Rensselaer County Department for the Aging, Troy, N.Y.

Full descriptions of the winners can be found at http://www.seniordrivers.org/stps/PRawards2002.cfm

The Beverly Foundation is continuing the STAR awards program for 2003 and will give awards to as many as five outstanding senior transportation programs.

The STAR awards demonstrate one aspect of a unique partnership between the AAA Foundation and the Beverly Foundation, in which the two organizations work together to help meet the growing senior population's transportation needs. The partnership is compiling information on existing senior transportation programs and preparing a guide on how to start a new program. All of this information has been assembled into the enhanced http://www.seniordrivers.org/stps Web site and also can be accessed at http://www.beverlyfoundation.org.

Nearly 400 senior transportation programs have participated in the STAR search effort. These programs serve an estimated 600,000 older adults and provide nearly 5 million rides annually. In addition, a clearinghouse project will help communities organize and maintain supplemental transportation programs for seniors.

Since STAR search was introduced in 2000, the following additional organizations have received Awards of Excellence:

Area IV Agency on Aging Senior Transportation Program - Twin Falls, ID; Gadabout Transportation Service - Ithaca, NY; Gold Country Telecare, Inc. - Grass Valley, CA; Independent Transportation Network (ITN) - Westbrook, MN; Jefferson County Service Organization - Oskaloosa, KS; Lauderhill Transportation Program - Lauderhill, FL; Ride Connection - Portland, OR; San Felipe Elderly Transportation Program - San Felipe, NM; Shepherd's Center Escort Transportation - Kalamazoo, MI; Transportation Reimbursement & Information Program (TRIP) - Riverside, CA; West Austin Caregivers - Austin, TX.

For more information contact the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 202-638-5944 or the Beverly Foundation, 626-792-2292.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a 501(c)(3) public charity located in Washington, DC that is dedicated to research and education about the causes of traffic crashes. It is funded by donations from AAA Clubs, AAA members, and other organizations associated with the American Automobile Association.

Located in Pasadena, Calif., the Beverly Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote quality of life of America's older population through research, demonstration and education that addresses senior transportation and long term care.