2024 Honorees

Innovator Award

This award recognizes an individual or organization who has created innovative solutions to improve the health and economic security of older adults in the community.  It is in honor of Jack Ossofsky, a former NCOA president who launched numerous successful programs and promoted the true promises of an aging society.

City of Santa Monica, California

After hearing from older residents that transportation was a top concern, the City of Santa Monica decided to take a different approach to increase mobility. The city’s Big Blue Bus partnered with Lyft and MV Transportation to launch Mobility On Demand Every Day (MODE). Replacing the traditional dial-a-ride service, MODE offers residents greater freedom by leveraging Lyft’s flexible network of drivers and dispatching algorithm.

Users can take on-demand trips to medical appointments, shopping, social events, and services with curb-to-curb, on-demand transportation, convenient payments, and more. Big Blue Bus met with stakeholder groups, conducted workshops, and trained a call center to assist members with ride reservations. Under the same budget constraints, MODE increased ridership by 41%. The program has become a lifeline for older adults and people with disabilities in Santa Monica, and members frequently express gratitude for their improved mobility and well-being.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of MODE members is a top priority, and we thank the National Council on Aging for recognizing these efforts.” – Alfredo Torales, Planning and Performance Manager with the City of Santa Monica Department of Transportation   

Change Agent Award

This award recognizes an individual or organization working to ensure that every person—regardless of race, income, or background—has the resources to age well. It is in honor of Frankie Freeman, a civil rights attorney and former NCOA Board member who was the first woman appointed to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Commissioner of the New York City Department for the Aging

Throughout her career, Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez (shown at far right in the photo below) has pushed for change through advocacy, strategic actions, community building, and passion.

Appointed Commissioner for the New York City Department for the Aging in 2022, she has prioritized equity and diversity in older adult centers and worked to make New York a city where its 1.8 million older residents can age well.

Cortés-Vázquez established the Cabinet for Older New Yorkers as a cross-disciplinary approach with 24 city government agencies working collaboratively to leverage resources and shape services to better meet the needs of older adults. Initiatives include launching an anti-ageism resource guide in public schools and designating police officers in every precinct to serve as liaisons for older adults in communities across the city. In 2023, Cortés-Vázquez was invited to sound the alarm about ageism by ringing The Opening Bell® at the New York Stock Exchange.

"I am deeply honored to receive the 2024 Change Agent Award from the National Council on Aging, Cortés-Vázquez said.

To me, there is no greater honor than being recognized by my peers for work that enhances the dignity and quality of life for older adults and reinforces our shared vision for an age-inclusive society.

"On behalf of the 1.8 million older adults in New York City and the nonprofit network that serves them every day, thank you.”

NISC Founders Award

This award recognizes exemplary and long-standing service to the senior center field. It is in honor of the nine founders of NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers.

Jenna Hauss, President and CEO of ONE generation

Jenna Hauss has spent 18 years working with older adults and is dedicated to the continued growth of community-based services and intergenerational connections to promote healthy aging. Hauss led California’s first senior center to earn national accreditation from NCOA’s National Institute of Senior Centers, and she serves as a NISC leadership collaborative member.

Her senior center ONEgeneration has won national awards for its unique approach to intergenerational services. The center serves all generations in one cohesive organization. Programs target low-income and homebound older adults, families facing food insecurity, immigrants, caregivers, at-risk youth, and individuals with disabilities, among other populations in need. Participants reflect the diversity of the San Fernando Valley, and services range from adult day health and a mobile food pantry to a preschool center and homelessness prevention. Hauss continues to give senior centers positive visibility at the local, state, and national levels.

It is my honor and privilege to be able to serve as a community leader for senior centers, recognizing the value and impact they have for thousands of older adults throughout Los Angeles County.” — Jenna Hauss, President and CEO, ONEgeneration

Champions Award

This award recognizes members of Congress or the administration for their leadership in protecting and improving public policy and programs for older adults. It is in honor of Claude Pepper, a former U.S. Representative and Senator who was a vocal champion for older adults, sponsoring the Older Americans Act, urging passage of Medicare and Medicaid, and working to prevent elder abuse.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD

As ranking member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Senator Bill Cassidy is a strong advocate for affordable health care, including under Medicare and Medicaid. For over 25 years, he worked in Louisiana’s charity hospital system as a doctor treating the uninsured and underinsured. One of his top priorities is to increase price transparency and use competition to lower health costs.

Cassidy is the leading congressional policymaker on issues relating to integrating care for low-income beneficiaries dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Prior to introducing legislation in 2024 that would facilitate the integration of care, Cassidy and colleagues provided multiple opportunities for NCOA and others to share thoughts on how best to coordinate care among the two programs. NCOA is grateful for Cassidy’s leadership on this important issue for low-income older adults.

As Cassidy said during a Senate HELP Committee Hearing on the Older Americans Act,"Congress has historically come together in a bipartisan manner to reauthorize OAA, strengthening its support for seniors each time.

In a post-pandemic environment, we need to look at and evaluate the efficacy of existing programs, identify areas for improvement, and ensure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively.” 

Champions Award

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel is a passionate champion for programs to prevent falls, which are the leading cause of fatal injuries among older adults. Representing Florida’s 22nd District, she knows first-hand the tremendous negative impact falls can have on older adults’ quality of life. As a member of the Labor, Health, and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, Frankel leads efforts to increase funding for falls prevention programs through the Administration for Community Living and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She advocated for a new Research, Demonstration, and Evaluation Center to disseminate innovative Older Americans Act services that foster older adult health and better coordination of federal programs that empower them to remain independent. She continues to pursue policy changes to address falls, including a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional taskforce, and works to protect and improve Medicare and Social Security.

"Thank you to the National Council on Aging for this honor and for the tremendous work you do on behalf of older adults," Frankel said.

Older Americans have made a lifetime's worth of contributions to their communities; it's our responsibility to ensure they're able to age with comfort, dignity, and financial security.

"I remain committed to protecting hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits, advocating for affordable elder care, and working in Congress to provide resources and funding for programs to prevent falls among older adults."

Public Private Partnership Award

This award recognizes organizations that have established powerful partnerships that build bridges between the public and private sectors to empower every person to age well. It is in honor of Arthur Flemming, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Eisenhower, U.S. Commissioner on Aging under President Nixon, recipient of two Presidential Medals of Freedom, and a tireless advocate for older adults.

Novo Nordisk Inc.Since its founding in 1923, Novo Nordisk’s purpose has been to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases through scientific breakthroughs and expanded access to medicines. Nearly 95% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Older adults of color are more likely to live with a chronic disease and face negative health and financial impacts.

With Novo Nordisk’s support, NCOA and the National Consumers League held town halls to understand the lived experiences of older adults with obesity. This work led to the development of the nation’s first Obesity Bill of Rights, designed to eliminate widespread weight bias and ageism within the health care system and ensure that all people living with obesity have access to the full contingent of treatment options as prescribed by their physicians through health insurance that is widely available, comprehensive, and affordable.

“We are honored by this recognition, and we are proud to work alongside NCOA in ensuring access to care for chronic diseases that adversely impact older adults’ ability to age well.” - Leslie Platt Zolov, Executive Director, Alliance Development, Sustainability & Social Impact, Novo Nordisk, Inc.

Distinguished Service Award

This award recognizes NCOA employees and volunteers who have made major contributions to NCOA’s mission and social impact. It is in honor of Geneva Mathiasen, NCOA’s first executive director who spent her career building the foundation for a lasting organization.

Barbara Shaheed, Senior Coordinator, NCOA Center for Benefits AccessBarbara Shaheed has dedicated 40 years of her career to NCOA’s mission to ensure the dignity and well-being of older adults. Her passion for aging started early as she watched her mother compassionately care for her grandmother while also raising 12 children. After serving in various roles within the federal government, Shaheed found her true calling at NCOA in 1984.

She helped establish the Access to Benefits Coalition, which has since transformed into the National Center for Benefits Outreach and Enrollment, connecting thousands of low-income older adults to programs that help them afford food, medicine, and more. Shaheed’s ethos of compassion, kindness, and respect is evident throughout her professional and personal life. Her steadfast dedication to NCOA’s mission has left an indelible mark on her colleagues and on older adults across the nation.

In any organizational role, each of us serves as a vital component of a cohesive team, united in purpose to achieve our collective mission.” – Barbara Shaheed, Senior Coordinator, Center for Benefits Access, National Council on Aging

Check out our previous Trailblazers in Aging Award winners!