For 21 years, Southwest Florida’s seniors have counted on Jo Marshall to help them with their Medicare health insurance issues.  Marshall served those two-plus decades as a volunteer with the SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) Program through both the State of Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) and the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL). 

Marshall provided one-on-one counseling to 450 clients last year, and it was not uncommon for more than 100 people to attend one of her Medicare 101 presentations.  Available reporting data shows that Marshall has counseled 3,541 clients since 2010 and has spent an incredible 2,229 hours assisting those clients. While the numbers speak for themselves, she says it’s the human element that kept her volunteering all these years.

Anne Chansler, the SHINE Statewide Program Director, stated, “Words cannot adequately express how grateful the Department of Elder Affairs is to have had Jo on our team. She has been an advocate of Florida’s Medicare beneficiaries.” Chansler went on to say, “Jo’s willingness to give selflessly to help others speaks to both her strength and quality of her character. She will never be forgotten and will be missed by many in the SHINE Program.”