The Duncan Awards for Senior Advocacy is going live online this afternoon (5/6) at 4:30 p.m. Named in memory of John J. Duncan Sr., the award pays tribute to people in the community whose support and advocacy of seniors and programs that serve older adults echo those traits exhibited by the late U.S. Rep. Duncan. This year marks the 19th anniversary of this signature event that serves as the major fundraiser for Senior Information & Referral (SIR). The public is invited to this free online event.
Viewers are encouraged to peruse the online Silent Auction and bid on a variety of beautiful packages or purchase Party Bags. Go here to view the Silent Auction (ends Sunday, May 9), donate to SIR, purchase Party Bags, and watch the livestream of the event.
This year’s honorees are Vivian Underwood Shipe for the Community Award and Aaron Bradley for the Professional Award
Aaron Bradley is the director of East Tennessee Area Agency on Aging and Disability, a Division of the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency. Bradley started his career in the field of gerontology over 40 years ago, and his first work in the field of aging was with the Knoxville-Knox County CAC Office on Aging. He has served in his current position for over 25 years. He also serves on the board of directors for the Tennessee Federation for the Aging and the board of directors for the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging. He has served as a delegate on aging to the White House for U.S. Rep. John Duncan Jr. Bradley is the president of the Tennessee Association of Area Agencies on Aging and Disability and has served two six-year terms on the board of directors of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.
Vivian Underwood Shipe is the founder and executive director of I am The Voice of The Voiceless, a nonprofit that serves at risk populations of Knoxville. Shipe served as the union president of the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees (NAPFE) for 25 of her 35 years with the USPS until retiring in 2018. She currently serves on the KUB advisory committee, Knox Renaissance, Mental Health Association of East Tennessee, the Knoxville Suffragist Coalition, the Knoxville/Knox County Elder Abuse Task Force, the state Pre-Arrest Diversion Committee, the Faith Leaders Initiative, co-lead for the Family/Community ALL4Knox substance disease task force and is a charter member of the East Knox Lions Club. She is also a reporter for the state newspaper out of Nashville, the Tennessee Tribune. She was the recipient of the 2019 Martin Luther King Advocacy Award, the 2020 Clara Brown Servant Leadership award, and is a member of the 2021 Leadership Knoxville Class. She recently received Pellississippi State’s Distinguished Alumni Award, as Knox TN Today profiled here.
Proceeds from this event benefit Senior Information & Referral.
Go here for more info and to find links for the livestream, auction and party bag purchases. Livestream begins at 4:30 p.m.