MetLife Foundation and the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging
Honor Exemplary Programs Engaging Older Volunteers
Washington, D.C. – The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) has announced the recipients of the 2007 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Program Awards. The program, now in its second year, recognizes organizations nationwide for effective recruitment and engagement of volunteers age 50 and older. Administered by n4a in partnership with MetLife Foundation, the awards build on the two organizations’ shared commitment to healthy aging and volunteerism by strengthening the capacity of service organizations to successfully capitalize on the knowledge, skills and time of older adults.
Award selections were made from nominations submitted by volunteer programs and agencies across the country. Awards of Excellence in Older Volunteer Program Management are being given to three outstanding volunteer programs whose practices in recruitment, training, retention and recognition of older volunteers set a standard of practice for others. Each of these programs receives a monetary award to help further its work. In addition, ten exemplary programs are being recognized with Awards of Achievement in Older Volunteer Program Management. All of the award-winning programs will be profiled in a promising practices publication shared with volunteer programs nationwide.
“The growing older population represents a valuable, but largely untapped volunteer resource,” said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation. “We are pleased to join n4a in recognizing 13 programs for excellence in engaging older volunteers to build healthy communities.”
Sandy Markwood, CEO of n4a, agreed. “With the aging and retirement of baby boomers, it is vital that volunteer programs develop responsive and enhanced organizational supports to maximize the ability of these older adults to address community needs. We are delighted to partner with MetLife Foundation to disseminate the promising practices of outstanding volunteer programs.”
The recipients of the 2007 Awards of Excellence in Older Volunteer Program Management are:
· Interages, Inc. is an intergenerational program that links older adult mentors and tutors with children in the Montgomery County, MD public schools in order to build bridges across generations and cultures;
· Legacy Corps of San Diego County, a program of the San Diego County Area Agency on Aging, is a multi-generational program that provides free respite care to the caregivers of frail and homebound seniors through the use of teams of at-risk youth and older adults; and
· Stroke of Hope Club, Inc., in North Palm Beach, FL, an organization in which 95% of the work is done by volunteers, offers support, information and education in many forms to individuals who are stroke “victors” and their caregivers.
Recipients of the 2007 Awards of Achievement in Older Volunteer Program Management are:
- Centers for Healthy Aging, Senior Friendship Centers, Sarasota, FL
- Volunteer Services Program, Ethos, Jamaica Plain, MA
- Experience Corps Literacy Project, Generations Incorporated, Boston, MA
- Faith In Action Care Program, Shepherd’s Center of Winston-Salem, Winston-Salem, NC
- Foster Grandparent Program, New York City Department for the Aging, New York, NY
- Senior Services Program, Interfaith Community Services, Tucson, AZ
- Light Up Chicago Volunteer Program, Chicago Department on Aging, Chicago, IL
- Volunteering for the Elderly, Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly, Hancock, MI
- Senior Adults for Greater Education, Ivyland, PA
- Senior Companion Program, Audubon Area Community Services, Inc., Owensboro, KY.
The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is the leading voice on aging issues for Area Agencies on Aging across the country and a champion for Title VI – Native American aging programs in our nation’s capital. For more information about n4a, visit www.n4a.org. MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife in 1976 to carry on its longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants support health, education, civic and cultural programs throughout the United States. For more information about the Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, October 8, 2007
Wheaton, MD -based
Interages Chosen for New 2007-08 Catalogue for Philanthropy: Greater Washington
Wheaton, MD -based Interages has been selected as a featured charity in the 2007-08
Catalogue for Philanthropy.
Interages mission is to build bridges across generations and cultures. They are dedicated to developing interactive, intergenerational programs that are mutually beneficial to seniors and children and that meet community needs. Interages’ has programs that bring older adult volunteers to work with children on a range of educational projects in the Montgomery County Public Schools. Volunteers are trained as tutors and mentors for many different programs. Intergenerational Bridges builds relationships between older adults and at-risk immigrant children (ages 10 - 14). Outcomes are to facilitate a child's transition into a new school and community; to improve English communication skills; and, to foster self-confidence. Dialogues Across the Ages presents opportunities for older adults and high school students to engage in cross-age discussions involving various social studies topics that are of interest to both groups. Project SHARE enriches the lives of health-impaired seniors in adult day care centers and assisted-living facilities by linking them with children from pre-school through high school in a number of interactive ways. Global Wizards is an after school academic enrichment program for second, third or fourth graders. Geography is the base subject area where children learn how to use maps, become more conscious of environmental issues, and improve reading and math skills.
Teamwork, enhanced curiosity, and an overall joy of learning is encouraged and developed. Grandreaders is a literacy program for children in second grade. The program is designed to increase a child's ability to read, enhance reading skills and encourage a love of reading; all facilitated by a caring and nurturing older adult. Make Over Madness brings adults from senior facilities to the Edison High School of Technology, School of Cosmetology for serious pampering and friendly conversation
Interages’ was selected from a competitive field of over 250 candidates. "Charities were selected for excellence, innovation, and cost-effectiveness--and for what they can teach us about the extraordinary ways that philanthropy works,” Harman said. “These are certainly among the best small charities in the Washington, DC region.”
According to Barbara Harman, Executive Director of the Harman Family Foundation, "The Catalogue is designed to be a showcase for DC region philanthropy and an inviting way for individuals and families to participate in charitable giving." A single check can be sent to the Catalogue 's DC office, or an online donation at its website, www.catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org. Donors may also contact charities directly. "Because the Catalogue is fully paid for by its philanthropic partners," Harman notes, "100% of every donation goes to the designated nonprofits."
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