Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative Honored with AARP® Purpose Prize® Award

October 1, 2025

Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative Honored with AARP® Purpose Prize® Award
National Recognition for Hal Garman and Spence Limbocker’s Intergenerational Program

FREDERICK, Md. – AARP has announced that Hal Garman, 90, and Spence Limbocker, 82, co-founders of the Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI) at Asbury Methodist Village, are recipients of the 2026 AARP Purpose Prize® award. The recognition honors their extraordinary vision in bringing together older adults and immigrant families through innovative intergenerational programs that enrich lives and strengthen community.

The AARP Purpose Prize celebrates nonprofit founders over the age of 50 who use their life experience and wisdom to address critical social challenges. Each honoree receives $75,000 to support their organization along with a year of technical assistance to expand their reach and impact.

“This recognition affirms the power of intergenerational connection. At GBCI, we see older adults and immigrant families come together in ways that transform lives–from mentoring schoolchildren to forming friendships that cross cultures and generations. Our mission has always been about creating a community rooted in love, purpose, and belonging,” said Hal Garman, GBCI Co-Founder.

“We are deeply honored to receive the AARP Purpose Prize. This award shines a light on what is possible when people of different ages and backgrounds come together to support one another. It has been humbling to watch immigrant families and older adults learn and grow side by side, building a stronger, more compassionate community,” said Spence Limbocker, GBCI Co-Founder.

“Hal and Spence’s vision reflects the very best of what community can be. Through GBCI, they have created a dynamic model of intergenerational service that brings renewed purpose to older adults while empowering immigrant families. The Asbury Foundation is proud to support this transformative initiative and ensure its lasting impact for years to come,” said J.D. Shuman, President & CEO of the Asbury Foundation.

About the Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI)
The Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative (GBCI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based at Asbury Methodist Village, is rooted in the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Beloved Community. GBCI nurtures deep, intergenerational connections across 10 distinct programs. The initiative engages more than 150 Asbury Methodist Village residents and community volunteers with immigrant families in Gaithersburg, creating powerful bridges of understanding and mutual growth.

• Children and Youth Enrichment: Tutoring, mentoring, and after-school support help immigrant children from early learning through high school thrive academically and socially.
• Older Adult Engagement: Residents find renewed purpose and joy by serving as mentors, companions, and role models, experiencing the fulfillment of giving back.
• Community Connection: Families and older adults form enduring friendships that cross cultural and generational lines, creating a more compassionate and resilient community.

National Recognition of Purpose
“We are proud to honor our AARP Purpose Prize winners. These remarkable individuals demonstrate how decades of life experience combined with a commitment to serve can be a powerful force for good,” said Dr. Myechia Minter-Jordan, CEO of AARP. “Their work responds to pressing social challenges in their communities and demonstrates what it truly means to live with purpose.”

Recipients and their organizations will be honored during an in-person celebration in Washington, D.C., on October 23, 2025. For more information, visit www.aarp.org/purposeprize.

About Asbury Communities, Inc.
Asbury Communities, Inc. is a nationally recognized not-for-profit organization that manages continuing care retirement communities and provides innovative services to support older adults in living their best lives. Through its mission, vision, and values, Asbury fosters a culture of community, well-being, and intergenerational connection.

About Asbury Foundation
The Asbury Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Asbury Communities, Inc., securing charitable support to enhance the lives of residents and expand community impact. By supporting initiatives like GBCI, the Foundation ensures that older adults find renewed purpose through service and that intergenerational engagement thrives for years to come.

Media Contacts:
Asbury Communities, Inc.: Michelle Curnow, [email protected]
AARP: Daniel Alarcon, [email protected]