AARP announced that Leeza Gibbons has returned to TV as host of the organization’s 30-minute lifestyle TV show, “My Generation,” which airs nationally on PBS. She will also serve as AARP’s new Ambassador for Care.
“Leeza’s personal experience as a caregiver and the work she has done to aid others in this role make her a great fit as our new Ambassador for Care,” said Emilio Pardo, Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, AARP. “Add to this her new role as the host of My Generation, a role that obviously goes hand in hand with her expertise and success on TV, and we’ve got a powerful new arsenal of information available to AARP’s members and 50+ America.”
Best known for hosting “Leeza,” “Entertainment Tonight” and “Extra,” Gibbons has become a well known social entrepreneur and philanthropist creating her national nonprofit “Leeza’s Place” (leezasplace.org) for family caregivers. After losing both her mother and grandmother to Alzheimer’s, Gibbons was inspired by her family’s emotional journey to help others who were facing similar concerns and situations. “Leeza’s Place” now serves as a haven for those looking for support and guidance, offering free services for family caregivers of loved ones with any chronic illness or disease.
Now, through www.aarp.org/leeza, Gibbons will connect with millions more through interactive Web casts featuring exclusive videos, editorial content, personal blogs and online chats. She will also serve as a contributor to AARP’s online caregiving portal, www.aarp.org/caregiving.
“To nurture another without any expectation of reward or acknowledgement is humanity in action. My mom was her mom’s ‘Ambassador for Care’…not just because she was a ‘caregiver’ to help her journey through the fog of dementia, but because she offered those soft, special moments that transcended the time in which they were given. I think that’s how we get to live forever through the way we care,” said Gibbons.
My Generation, with Gibbons as the new host, will kick off its second season in late January 2011 with inspirational and personal stories from great guests such as pop icon Olivia Newton John, opera superstar Denyce Graves, celebrity chef Guy Fieri, filmmaker Rob Reiner and actress Valerie Bertinelli. Throughout the season she’ll also talk with Martina Navratilova about health and fitness, Peter Greenberg about travel tips, as well as other AARP Ambassadors. Seen on over 200 public TV stations nationwide, My Generation currently airs in 18 of the top 20 U.S. markets.
