Caesars Foundation: Supporting Older Individuals through AARP

Since 2002, the Caesars Foundation has provided sustained, long-term support totaling $15 million to organizations dedicated to bettering the lives of older individuals, including $3.3 million to the AARP Foundation, an organization that works to influence positive change and improve the lives of those aged 50 and older.

The Foundation’s support for AARP spans several years and has included numerous gifts targeted to improve and expand the organization’s services. In 2009, the Caesars Foundation funded many of the AARP Foundation’s current care-giving programs, including “WorkSearch,” “Prepare to Care,” “Benefits Outreach” and “Money Management.”  Seniors who participated in these programs receive enhanced employment and training opportunities, improved employer outreach and caregiver connections, and increased access to benefits. Foundation dollars also supported the expansion of the AARP’s vital money-management program.

Most recently, the Caesars Foundation provided a $150,000 gift to the AARP Foundation to assist in increasing awareness of and support for senior hunger. The funds will help create a tablet-based Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment project in collaboration with the Meals On Wheels Association of America. This initiative will pilot the use of tablet-based technology on a variety of platforms, such as iPads, Samsung Galaxy, or Microsoft Surface, to older adults for SNAP eligibility and, where possible, to complete and submit applications.  AARP currently facilitates SNAP enrollment in 15 states, and helped more than 20,200 older adults submit their SNAP applications in 2013.

AARP also plans to pilot tablet-based SNAP application assistance workshops at Caesars Entertainment resorts. Sites that are being considered include Horseshoe Casino Hammond, Harrah’s North Kansas City Casino, Harrah’s Resort Southern California and Harrah’s Phoenix Ak-Chin Casino. HERO volunteers will have an opportunity to lend a hand by teaching older adults to use tablet-based technology and/or conducting pre-screenings for the SNAP program.

Nearly nine million people age 50 or older face the risk of hunger every day. This pilot project will leverage previous expertise to expand AARP’s reach to a segment of the older adult population that has not yet been involved in the current SNAP initiative, including those with limited mobility who are receiving meals either in their homes or in congregate settings through local Meals on Wheels programs throughout the country.

Since AARP and AARP Foundation launched their Drive to End Hunger, the program has donated nearly 29.5 million meals and driven institutional and individual donor commitments with an expected value of $21.2 million.

For more information about the Caesars Foundation’s support of older individuals, visit caesarsfoundation.com. 

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