Rose Nakamura, founding administrator of a grass-roots project in Moiliili, was absolutely dumbfounded when told she won a national “;Compassionate Caregiver”; award from AARP The Magazine, putting her in the sterling company of other honorees this year like actress Glenn Close and composer Quincy Jones.

Nakamura, who co-founded Project Dana to assist the elderly with daily needs in 1989, will be presented with one of 10 2009 Inspire Awards in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 8.

For the fifth year, AARP, an advocacy group focused on issues affecting Americans 50 and over, is recognizing those who inspire others to action through innovative thinking, passion and perseverance.

“;I was speechless when the call came. I thought - me? I'm so grass roots. I was dumbfounded. ... It just blows my mind. People like Caroline Kennedy won the award last year,”; said Nakamura, who was so thrilled she couldn't stop giggling.

“;I have a passion”; to help frail, disabled seniors who have “;such a great need (for help),”; she said. “;The more involved in the project I am, the greater the need (I see). I want to inspire others, especially my staff.”;

At 80, she is still a full-time administrator of an interfaith project that helps about 1,000 senior citizens each year. She has always worked without pay, but has a staff of several part-timers who are paid and dozens of volunteers. They focus on meeting the daily needs of those who are homebound, assisting with transportation, shopping, home visits, caregiver respite and the like.

She credits co-founder Shimeji Kanazawa, 93, with originating the idea for Project Dana (the Sanskrit word for “;selfless giving”;), based at Moiliili Hongwanji Mission. Nakamura is taking Kanazawa, who is frail and in a wheelchair, with her to the Washington ceremony.

The 10 winners will be featured in the January/February issue, but are already profiled online at www.aarpmagazine.org.

The other 2009 honorees are Glenn Close (mental health advocate), Richard M. Cohen (voice for the chronically ill), Martin Eakes (lending to the poor), Katherine Freund (transportation activist), Peter Gallagher (Alzheimer's advocate), David E. Hayes-Bautista, Ph.D. (Latino-health researcher), Quincy Jones (global poverty fighter), Dr. Susan Love (cancer crusader) and Alma Powell (children's advocate).