AARP has won the Public Affairs Council's prestigious 2002 Grassroots Innovation Award for its nationwide "Medicare Monday" campaign. The award was presented at ceremonies during the Council's 25th National Grassroots Conference in Orlando, Florida.

AARP was recognized for the unique innovate grassroots campaign it conducted last year to impress on Congress the need to add "the critical missing piece"—a prescription drug benefit—to Medicare coverage.

Last July 30, Medicare's 36th anniversary, AARP hosted a series of grassroots programs in each state to ensure national coverage of its appeal for the prescription drug benefit. That day, Medicare birthday cakes were delivered to each member of Congress' state office. Each cake was missing a slice to symbolize Medicare's "missing piece." Similar slice-missing cakes also were delivered to the district offices of all 535 members of Congress.

"We are delighted that the Council has recognized AARP's innovative and creative national efforts to raise public awareness of the critical need for prescription drug coverage in Medicare," said Kevin Donnellan, director of AARP's Office of Grassroots and Elections, who accepted the award on behalf of the association.

The Grassroots Innovation Awards are made annually by the Public Affairs Council, the professional organization of the nation's corporate and trade association public affairs executives. The awards recognize excellence in grassroots advocacy campaigns.

The American Health Care Association and Citizens for Better Medicare received the council's "outstanding achievement" awards for grassroots advocacy. Nearly 30 organizations were nominated for Grassroots Innovation Awards this year.

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