You’re invited to attend a complimentary advanced screening of

THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN 

Regal Waterford Lakes Stadium 20

541 N. Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL

TONIGHT, Thursday, August 9

7:00 PM 

Academy Award®-nominated director/writer Peter Hedges (“Dan in Real Life,” What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”) brings enchantment to the screen with “The Odd Life of Timothy Green.” It’s the inspiring, magical story of a happily married couple, Cindy and Jim Green (Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton), who can’t wait to start a family but can only dream about what their child would be like. When young Timothy (CJ Adams) shows up on their doorstep one stormy night, Cindy and Jim-and their small town of Stanleyville-learn that sometimes the unexpected can bring some of life’s greatest gifts.

Disney presents “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” with Ahmet Zappa, Scott Sanders and Jim Whitaker producing, story by Ahmet Zappa and screenplay by Peter Hedges. “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” is slated for release on August 15, 2012 and is rated PG.

 In order to attend, you must print out the pass for admission.

Please arrive early as the theater is overbooked to ensure capacity.

How it Works:

It’s easy!  Simply follow this link: www.voucherry.com/invitation/floridaseniorprograms  and sign up as a user.   That way Florida Senior Programs will receive credits for every dollar that you spend through the Voucherry channel and so will you! When you shop online through Voucherry you can feel good about every purchase you make! These credits can be cashed out, donated, gifted or used as credits towards all or part of a purchase.

Featured Categories:

• Groupon: yes, that’s right; all the great Groupon Daily Deals are now on Voucherry.
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• Car Supplies – The Tire Rack, Auto Anything, etc…
• Electronics – Apple products (IPods, IPads, and accessories), DELL computers, IBM components, Logitech etc…
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For any questions you may have about Voucherry.com, don’t hesitate to contact us  or you can email the Voucherry team direct at support@voucherry.com

We hope that you will accept our Voucherry Invitation today and help us make a difference!

 www.voucherry.com/invitation/FloridaSeniorPrograms

Every year, the Foster Grandparent Program of Southwestern Pennsylvania hosts a Volunteer Recognition Luncheon that honors a few volunteers whose efforts have stood out in the community.

This year, four women were honored for their exceptional service to the community as Foster Grandparents and their stories are detailed below.

• Almeda Pryor of Washington, Elementary Education Director’s Award
• Shirlee Dreistadt of Washington, Early Education Director’s Award
• Eleanor Martorano of New Brighton, Pre-K Education Director’s Award
• Mary Calloway of Allegheny, Community Education Director’s Award

Foster Grandparents are very special volunteers who work as many as 20 hours a week in schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers, Head Start Programs, and day care centers with children that are considered to be at-risk, exceptional and/or special needs. At their respective location, the Foster Grandparents work with the children, helping them learn how to count, reading to them, playing, or simply offering the presence of a kind, loving grandparent figure that the child might need.

The Foster Grandparent Program is composed of many amazing volunteers who dedicate their time and energy into helping children in need. The dedication and service of every volunteer is appreciated to the utmost and this year, the outstanding efforts of Almeda Pryor, Shirlee Dreistadt, Eleanor Martorano and Mary Calloway went above and beyond in the community.

Almeda Pryor volunteers as a Foster Grandmother at theDonoraElementaryCenter inWashington,Pa. helping children with special needs. She assists the children with tasks stemming from working with numbers, to correcting their writing, as well as offering love and support to any and all.  Working with special needs children involves paying much attention to each and every one, and Almeda was up for the task.

Almeda’s experience as a Foster Grandmother has impacted her life greatly.

“I’m 86 years old. Those kids keep me going,” she said.

Not only do the children benefit from this program, but the Grandparents do as well because of the appreciation and affection radiated back from the children.

Almeda states that her favorite part of volunteering at Donora was the bombardment of hugs she would always receive from the children as soon as she stepped through the doorway.

Her enthusiasm and supportive nature has made a difference in the lives of many children and that is why Almeda has rightfully been given the Elementary Education Director’s Award.

After her 14 years of volunteering, Almeda believes that the time has come to give herself a break.

 “It’s time for me to sit down!” she stated.

Although her years as a Foster Grandparent are over, the impact she made will not be forgotten.

Shirlee Dreistadt has kept herself busy over the years by volunteering as a Foster Grandparent at the First Christian Child Alert program inWashington,Pa. Shirlee spends her time reading to the children, playing and even helping teach the children how to write.

Shirlee recounts that one boy in particular entered the program unable to write at all, so she took on the task of working with the boy and helping him learn to write his name. Shirlee proudly says that by the end of his time at First Christian, the boy was able to write his first and last name, even without looking!

Some of children that enter this program stay for only a year, and others come in at age 3 and graduate at age 5 or 6, but regardless of the amount of time she spends with them, Shirlee’s favorite part of being a Foster Grandmother is watching the kids grow more confident in their abilities over time.

“Some of the children who come in have a lot of difficulty, but to see them improve is absolutely wonderful,” Shirlee stated.

Shirlee has impacted the lives of many children throughout her years as a volunteer, and her outstanding service at First Christian Child Alert this year has fittingly earned her the Early Education Director’s Award.

Shirlee has been a Foster Grandparent for 14 years, and although she may be moving, she is already thinking about ways to remain involved in a similar program in her new area.

Eleanor Martorano has spent her last year as a Foster Grandmother volunteering at the Central Elementary Pre-K program. Here, Eleanor engages the children by reading to them, helping them learn their letters and offering comfort when distress arises.

Since her time at Central, Eleanor now sees these young children in a different light—realizing how much attention they really need in order to help them learn and develop skills necessary to succeed in their school years to come.

Additionally, working with these children and seeing firsthand the amount of mind that must be paid to each individual child has given Eleanor a whole new appreciation for her children and grandchildren.

Eleanor says that the most fulfilling aspect of being a Foster Grandmother is being able to offer a little bit extra to the kids she can tell needs it.

“Some children need a little more attention, and I enjoy being able to give them that attention,” she said.

She also says that helping the kids learn is a great feeling and that there’s nothing better than hearing, “I got it, Grandma!” when something begins to click in a child’s mind.

With the outstanding job Eleanor has done at Central Elementary in volunteering with these children, she has deservedly been honored with the Pre-K Education Director’s Award.

Her five years of service and dedication have been heavily appreciated by instructors and children alike, and the Foster Grandparent Program hopes to keep her on board for the coming year.

Mary Calloway and her upbeat spirit have made her presence at the Sojourner House an important one.

The Sojourner House is a compassionate home for mothers recovering from addiction and their children. As a Foster Grandparent volunteering at the Sojourner House, Mary helps with the regular tasks of assisting the children in everyday activities, playing, teaching them their ABC’s and colors, and even brightening up their day with a song.

Mary says that her favorite part of being a Foster Grandparent is just being able to spend time with the kids.

“It’s a great eye-opener and a learning experience,” she said.

“Her positivity is a thing that keeps our children stable in a very unstable environment that they live in with their Mom’s who are dealing with recovery,” said her nominator Elizabeth Wasel.

Her notable contributions include her selfless ability to put other’s needs before her own, her dedication to the children she works with and her ability to remain helpful and calm in the turbulent atmosphere of the Sojourner House.

Her commitment to the Sojourner House and the children that she works with has rightfully earned Mary Calloway the Community Education Director’s Award. The Foster Grandparent Program is appreciative for the six years of service Mary has provided and is pleased to know that Mary plans to continue being an active volunteer.

The Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter is a sponsor of the Foster Grandparent Program and the phenomenal services it locally provides in six counties including Allegheny, Beaver,Butler, Fayette, Greene andWashington.

I’ll just let the Foster Grandparent Program take it from here:

A program that grew from a pilot project in the late 1960s, The Foster Grandparent Program places seniors into schools, juvenile detention centers and transitional housing facilities “to focus on helping at risk youth of all ages,” says Mary Brock, Executive Director.  

The volunteers come from all backgrounds and are often brought to the program after hearing about its successes from their friend. Some of the seniors are retired teachers but Brock explains that “we have some volunteers that have not have worked, they were housewives growing up and raised their own children and grandchildren and want to continue helping children.” 

The grandparents are placed predominantly in Title I schools, where children are most likely to need some extra support from the school, and they already serve over 2,500 students across Northern Nevada. 

The students benefit in many ways from the presence of these foster grandparents. As Brock says, “there’s little to no contact with the older generation” and the potential benefits from relationships between young and old are not being fully explored. 

via Bus 52 Presents: Foster Grandparent Program of Northern Nevada – YouTube.

Take three and  half minutes to watch this.  Watch out for all the dust in your room it might make your eyes water a bit.

This idea isn’t new but to see it implemented with success and to know that it is making a differences for EVERYONE is pretty great.  It kind of restores your faith in schools, community, and humanity.

“For the foster grandparent, it’s making a difference in children’s lives and senior’s lives. These children receive a lot of benefit from the inter-generational contact and patience and love and mentoring and tutoring. So it’s a win-win situation.”

To learn more visit their Facebook page  (https://www.facebook.com/TheFosterGrandparentProgramOfNorthernNevada)

Related articles

• 84 year volunteer serve as a foster grandma to special needs students (4goodnews.wordpress.com)
• Volunteer for Foster Grandparents helps preschoolers at Head Start preschool (columbiamissourian.com)
• Harris’ Heroes: Virginia McLaurin (wjla.com)
• Grandparenting in the Digital Age (education.com)

The Foster Grandparent Program is nationwide and the following story highlights just one of the thousands of excellent Foster Grandparent volunteers nationwide.

You can read her story, here: Foster grandmother, 89: ‘I hug them and tell them how special they are’.

Like so many incredible volunteer, Erma continues to give back to children in her community after a lifetime of service.  To see her story, click here or watch below.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32545640

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Senior Corps Week – May 7-11 – honors volunteers for “Making A Difference for Generations” and encourages more communities to harness the talent and skill of Americans 55+

(Washington, D.C.) – The Corporation for National and Community Service is joining with organizations across the country to honor the powerful impact of Senior Corps volunteers and encourage more Americans 55+ to serve their communities through the third annual Senior Corps Week, taking place May 7-11.

For more than four decades, Senior Corps volunteers have used their lifetime of skills and experience to meet community needs. Today more than 330,000 volunteers age 55+ are serving through Senior Corps’ three programs – Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions, and RSVP.

“At a time of increased need and declining resources, volunteers age 55 and over are stepping in to fill the gaps,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Today, more than ever, communities need the talents and skills of all Americans to help move this nation forward. Senior Corps volunteers are delivering enormous social and economic benefits to our communities and demonstrating that service is good for the nation and those who serve.”

In addition to helping others, older volunteers are also helping themselves by living active, healthy lives through volunteering. A growing body of research points to mental and physical health benefits associated with volunteering, including lower mortality rates, increased strength and energy, decreased rates of depression, and fewer physical limitations. With nearly one in every five Americans projected to be age 60 or older by 2030, a great opportunity exists to engage older Americans in service to meet critical community needs while contributing to longer, healthier lives.

“As the leading edge of the boomer generation reaches the traditional retirement age of 65, nonprofits and communities should be poised to take advantage of this extraordinary wave of human capital that has the potential to transform our nation,” said Dr. Erwin Tan, Director of Senior Corps at the Corporation for National and Community Service. “America’s baby boomers are the largest, healthiest, best-educated generation in history, and they can leave an incredible legacy through service to others.”

Last year, 337,000 Senior Corps volunteers served 96.2 million hours, making a difference in the lives of more than 700,000 elderly who received assistance to remain independent in their homes; and more than 300,000 young people who received tutoring and mentoring that improved their academic performance, self-esteem, and overall social behavior.

• Serving at-risk youth. Last year 27,900 Foster Grandparents served as tutors and mentors for more than 232,300 children and youth with special or exceptional needs. A performance survey found that 81 percent of the children served by Foster Grandparents demonstrated improvements in academic performance; 90 percent demonstrated improved self-image; and 59 percent reported a reduction in risky behavior.
• Supporting independent living. Senior Companions enable tens of thousands of frail and elderly adults to live independently in their own homes by transporting them to medical appointments, shopping for groceries, assisting with bills and paperwork, and offering respite care. Last year 13,600 Senior Companions provided more than 12.2 million hours of service for 60,940 clients.
• Meeting critical community needs. More than 296,000 RSVP volunteers assist survivors of natural disasters, tutor and mentor children, improve the environment, conduct safety patrols, mobilize additional community volunteers, and provide business and technical expertise to nonprofits. In many communities, RSVP is the only program matching older volunteers with service opportunities. Last year RSVP volunteers provided 60 million hours of service through more than 65,000 organizations. These volunteers provided mentoring, academic, and other service to more than 80,000 children and youth and helped more than 676,000 elderly to remain in their homes as long as possible.
• Supporting America’s veterans. Senior Corps volunteers, many of whom are themselves veterans, provide counseling and other support to veterans and their families. In 2012, Senior Corps will dedicate more than 35,000 volunteer hours to our nation’s veterans. Currently Senior Corps volunteers serve at 84 Department of Veteran Affairs facilities nationwide, and Senior Corps presence in such facilities will expand under a recently announced partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to data from the Corporation for National and Community Service, 18.7 million older adults – nearly a quarter of those 55 and older – contributed on average more than three billion hours of service in their communities per year between 2008 and 2010. The yearly economic benefit of this service to the nation equals more than $64 billion.

With the theme “Making a Difference for Generations,” Senior Corps Week highlights the powerful impact of 55+ volunteers and inspires others to get involved. The initiative recognizes that service by older Americans benefits everyone – it helps volunteers by keeping them active, healthy, and engaged; it helps our communities to have millions more skilled volunteers; and it helps our nation by saving taxpayer dollars and strengthening civic participation.

“During Senior Corps Week, as we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of older volunteers, let us also redouble our efforts to engage more 55+ Americans in serving their communities,” said Spencer. “Volunteering is a great way to stay active and healthy, learn skills, make friends, and experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from serving others. Visit GetInvolved.gov to find volunteer opportunities in your community.”

Throughout Senior Corps Week, volunteers, project directors, community leaders, and residents from across the nation will take part in recognition events and service activities to honor the remarkable volunteer work of Americans age 55+ who help solve problems, fill critical community needs, and provide a model for lifelong national service.

###

Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service each year through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information visit NationalService.gov.

Senior Corps Week, May 7-11, celebrates the commitment and contribution made by Senior Corps volunteers and recognizes their critical impact on addressing tough challenges across our nation. For more information about Senior Corps visit GetInvolved.gov.

Follow Senior Corps on Facebook.

 Press Release: Volunteers 55 Are Meeting Critical Needs; Represent Powerful Resource for Communities.

Checking In Foster Grandparents

Foster Grandparents waiting for the Program to begin

Grandma Jennell Simmons celebrates 31 years as a Foster Grandparent!

Deputy Mayor Gary Brender from the City of Lake Mary presents a Proclamation honoring May 7 as Foster Grandparent Day

Thank you to everyone who was a part of the day, and thank you to our tremendous volunteers for their dedication, selflessness, and hard work throughout the years.

To view all the photos from the day, click here.

To view the Program from the event including a list of Foster Grandparent volunteers, click here.

Video coming soon!

The Foster Grandparent Program is an intergenerational program which matches local senior citizens with special or exceptional needs children in elementary schools, Head Starts, Boys and Girls clubs, and other child caring organizations throughout Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia, and Flagler counties, Florida.  The children are served one-on-one, receiving extra attention, and support from a caring, positive adult role model.  During the 2010-2011 fiscal year, 385 Foster Grandparent volunteers served 318,977 hours one on one with 2,439 area special needs children at 115 sites across Central and East Central Florida.

“BJ’s Charitable Foundation is proud to support organizations that provide care and crucial services for individuals and families in need,” said Jessica Newman, Manager of Community Relations for BJ’s Wholesale Club.  “The funds distributed to organizations that focus on…education will have a positive impact in BJ’s communities.”

A check presentation will take place on Monday, April 16 at 10:30 am at the BJ’s Wholesale Club located at 4697 Millenia Plaza Way in Orlando Florida.

The Foster Grandparent Program is funded nationally by the Corporation for National and Community Service and sponsored locally by Florida Senior Programs, Inc.  The Foster Grandparent Program is dedicated to providing seniors and children with positive experiences.  For more information, please visit www.bjs.com/charity or www.fostergrandparentprogram.org.

The recipients were:

Grandma Annie Herbert and granddaughter Jadya

Grandma Vicki Harden and grandsons Tyrone and Tyrell

Margarita and Karla Rosas

Thanks United Healthcare!

To see more pictures and video (coming soon!) visit our Facebook page!

Image via Wikipedia

Party with a Purpose

Eat, drink and shop at Appalachian Brewing Company while raising money for the Foster Grandparent Program and learning about Decorating Den Interiors. 

Thursday, April 12, 11am-10pm

Appalachian Brewing Company, 50 West 3rd Avenue, Collegeville, PA

11 a.m.-10 p.m.    Order from a special fundraising menu, bid on silent auction items, and receive a free design consultation from Decorating Den Interiors

5-9 p.m.    Shop with local vendors (Silpada, Tastefully Simple, and many more!)

For more information, call the Foster Grandparent Program at 610-630-0201. The Foster Grandparent Program, a program of Family Services, provides volunteer opportunities for limited-income seniors over the age of 55 to help children with special needs.

Good Search works just like your favorite search engine– but donates donate about a penny to your favorite cause every time you do a search!

Like to shop online? They’ve also got GoodShop.com, where you can shop at more than 2,400 top online retailers and a percentage of your purchases will go to the charity of your choice. You pay the same price as you normally would (or sometimes less with thousands of online coupons available) but a donation goes to your cause!

Visit their website and select the Foster Grandparent Program (Orlando, FL) as your charity of choice, and we will  benefit, by you just doing what you would do anyway! It’s just that easy!

Voting is easy! Simply click the Vote for us Today button below!

Help us spread the word to your friends and family, and thank you for your support!

Right now, as I mentioned in the last post, we are entered in two contests: one is sponsored by CITGO to win free gas, and the other through Albertsons.  You may realize we were in the CITGO competition earlier in the summer, and we placed in the top 100, but this time, we need more votes to win!

If you are not already familiar, Foster Grandparent volunteers are low-income seniors, in our case, who reside throughout Central and East Central Florida.  Our program gives them a chance to get out of the house, to explore and interact with their communities, schools and other institutions.

The most recent class of Foster Grandparents to complete Orientation are ready to get to work!

When they are in the sites, most spend 20 hours per week one on one with special needs children hand selected by the school or child care site.  Together, they work on reading, literacy, homework, skill building, and the grandparents show a genuine love and appreciation for the children they serve.

Income eligible Grandparents also receive a small, non-taxable stipend for the time they spend as a volunteer.  In addition to this, they receive mileage reimbursement within a certain number of miles.

Those who volunteer may realize that volunteering is not free.  I think we all understand that volunteering is the right thing to do, and giving back is important, but many things stop us.  Is it time? Is it money?

The Fueling Good Contest gives a $5,000 gift card to the winning charity.  This would help our program significantly when reimbursing Grandparent volunteers for their travel expenses to and from their volunteer station, where they have an invaluable impact on the lives of children.

The Albertsons contest is a little bit different.  Albertsons supports the communities it is in all the time by issuing Community Partner Cards.  If you shop at Albertsons for your groceries and scan our barcode, a percentage of your sale will benefit the Foster Grandparent Program.  How cool, and easy!

If that wasn’t enough, the good people at Albertsons have a contest to give back even more to those charities that are lucky enough to have Community Partner Cards– The Community Partners Challenge.

In the challenge, eligible charities provide a small essay on the impact of their programs, and community members such as yourselves can vote for your favorite.

Our request will directly benefit the OTTER Program.  OTTER is a division of the Foster Grandparent Program of Central Florida, and stands for Older Teachers Training Early Readers.  This program allows seniors who may not qualify to be a Foster Grandparent either because of time commitment, or income eligibility, to spend a few hours a week reading to young children.  The OTTER Program is currently active in three child care centers in Orange and Seminole counties, where OTTER volunteers go and read to children at risk of poor literacy skills.  Together they read, tell stories, ask questions, draw pictures, and complete other fun and educational activities.

OTTER continues to thrive for its volunteers and the children who get the love and attention, but needs the support of you and Albertsons to grow.

We hope you have learned a little bit more, and truly appreciate you taking the time to vote, and realizing the difference a dollar makes in the life of a caring volunteer.

It’s easy to support the Foster Grandparent Program of Central Florida.  You are already at your computer and you will be doing good at the same time!

We are currently entered into two contests through CITGO and Albertsons which will help us raise funds.  We need and truly appreciate your support.

http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed&videoId=us/2011/09/24/jones-foster-grandparents-pkg.cnn

Visit this link to read Volusia County Public Schools’ coverage of the event!

http://blackboard.volusia.k12.fl.us/bbcswebdav/pid-90360-dt-content-rid-314472_3/orgs/WEB.DEPT.communityinfo/September%2019%2C%202011.pdf

Read the Corporation’s Blog post about it here: It’s Senior Corps Week!

From left front, Theresa Spruill, 23 years, and Romaine Parker, 24 years; back, Lucy Harris, 19 years, Lorraine Hall, 18 years, and Pam Jordan, interim director, Department of Aging and Disabilities. (Courtesy Photo)

At the 2011 Mardi Gras Masquerade Recognition nearly 60 volunteers were honored for their service in the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) at the Anne Arundel County Department of Aging and Disabilities. The event was held Sept. 9 at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church in Severna Park, with games and food. Guests came attired in their best party attire and wore their handmade masks.

Foster Grandparent (FG) Romaine Parker was recognized for volunteering for 24 years and FG Theresa Spruill for 23 years. Kristin Plumer, program director, also honored FG Lucy Harris for 19 years and FG Lorraine Hall for 18 years of service as well as 54 other volunteers.

FGP volunteers age 55 and older mentor children with exceptional needs, serving at schools, family support centers, Head Start and other youth facilities. Call 410-222-4464 for information.

According to their website at http://www.fpg-florida.com,

Founded in 1987, Family Physicians Group was created to ensure you receive the most comprehensive, preventative and proactive health care services from a team of experts. Our health care model includes you, your family, a primary care physician, hospitalist, case manager and social worker and results in a personalized care plan that focuses on your lifestyle and unique medical needs. 

Their gorgeous new facility is huge, bright, and open.  This space will allow seniors access to the Doctor’s office, and a Senior Center all in one spot.

A big thank you to Family Physicians Group for allowing us to participate as well as all the people who came through and learned about the Foster Grandparent Program!

]]> http://fgpcfl.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/winning-the-future/ Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:17:06 +0000 fgpcfl http://fgpcfl.wordpress.com/2011/08/11/winning-the-future/ On August 8, 2011, I had the pleasure of attending a White House Roundtable on aging issues, located inWinter Park,Florida.  Hosted by the Corporation for National and Community Service alongside Florida Senior Programs’ Foster Grandparent Program, leaders in the aging community were able to join together in order to discuss and problem solve issues arising for our older adults.

Foster Grandparent Program, Department of Transportation, and Corporation for National and Community Service hosted Monday's Roundtable

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America, and President Obama’s United We Serve.

SeniorCorps under the umbrella of CNCS strongly believes that Americans ages 55 and better have a world of experiences and knowledge to share and pass on.  SeniorCorps’ three core programs, Senior Companions, RSVP, and the Foster Grandparent Program connect people and organizations that utilize their knowledge, skills, and experiences.

The Foster Grandparent Program connects volunteers ages 55 and older with children who have special or exceptional needs. The Foster Grandparent Program began its legacy inCentral Floridain 1972 and, in 1977 Florida Senior Programs, Inc. became the sponsor.  Foster Grandparents are low income 55+ volunteers who serve special needs children daily in public elementary schools, Head Starts, Boys and Girls club, and other child caring agencies.  The Foster Grandparent Program has grown to 380 grandparent volunteers strong serving more than 3,000 children throughoutOrange, Osceola, Seminole, Volusia, and Flagler counties.

Deputy Director Bill Bronrott led our discussion

The Honorable William Bronrott, Deputy Director of the Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) led our discussion by giving us an introduction into the work of the FMCSA which enforcesADAlaws and strives for bus and truck safety, with 1,100 employees all throughout the country.  Bronrott also is familiar with aging issues, as he has aging parents and recognizes the challenges that many Americans will soon have to face with the growing aging population.  FMCSA is “keenly aware,” Bronrott states, “the number of older drivers will double over the next 30 years.  Drivers over age 85 will quadruple over the next 30 years.”

Transportation is something that has a great effect on seniors, including Foster Grandparents. Jane Watkins, Executive Director of the Foster Grandparent Program of Central Florida knows that almost 400 Foster Grandparent volunteers have to get to their volunteer stations.  Bus stops tend to be too far, sidewalks are not suitable for canes or walkers, and the Florida weather can be extreme.

ITN Orlando, Dignified Transportation for Seniors offers a service where seniors can be picked up and given a ride to the doctor’s office, beauty salon, and countless other places, in a vehicle driven by an ITN Orlando volunteer.  Executive Director Kimber Threet says this service is “so much more than a taxi” enabling seniors to remain independent.

Florida Senior Programs Board Members Sheri Merriam and Rob Bridger

Rob Bridger points out that we face “unique and critical transportation problems.  We told people to come down and retire inFlorida, and they did”

Another important issue facing seniors is the task of being safe in their own home, or moving on to an assisted living facility or nursing home.  The Fair Housing Act of 1991, mentioned byPatricia Newtonfrom the City ofOrlando, requires certain accommodations based onADAlaws, but not all.  Hue Jacobs of CNCS shared that all homes should be built toADAcompliance.  This would allow seniors to stay and age in their own home.  Otherwise cabinets and light switches must be lowered to accommodate different needs that come with aging, and finding volunteers with those carpentry skills, Jacobs states, can be tough to find.

Mimi Reggentin of the Orange County Department on Aging and Patricia Newton, City of Orlando Community Affairs

Seniors face other barriers if they have an accident and have had to leave and return to their home.  Mimi Reggentin of the Orange County Office on Aging mentions that our local agencies have had to create “emergency” programs, in order to provide crucial in home services, such as access to meals and community assistance.

By the close of our discussion, the topic was clear that these programs are not to be cut.  With the economy in such uncertain times, the programs run by CNCS and Florida Senior Programs are critical to our community. Suzanne Richards, Florida State Director explains, these programs support nonprofits, city and state governments, engage seniors, and utilizes trained volunteer administrators to meet community needs; seniors help fill the gaps.

Hue Jacobs, Florida State Program Specialist for CNCS reminds us that the Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Programs have a 16 time federal return on investment and RSVP has 39 times return on investment. “This speaks for itself.”

Photos courtesy of Adrienne Frankenfield Photography

By voting, you are showing your support for our cause.  Grandparent volunteers receive mileage reimbursement, which is critical in allowing them to reach the children and volunteer stations they serve.

Vote once per day, per email address, today and tomorrow. We have almost reached 250 votes!

Thanks for your support!

http://fuelinggood.com/rewardinggood?id=803548

Volunteer Position: Foster Grandparent at Penn Hills’ Lincoln Park Head Start

Age: 97

Family: Two daughters (Toni and Donna), three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren

Hometown: Penn Hills

Hobbies: Dorothy loves sewing, crafts and writing. She is working on a few written projects. “The first project started out as a book about my life, but it has expanded into four of five different topics, like the changes that I’ve seen, progress, segregation and World War II.”

Career History: Dorothy is a retired nurse who specialized in tuberculosis and communicable diseases.

Community Work: Intercessor and choir member at Covenant Church of Pittsburgh

So why does the spotlight shine on Dorothy Beavers this month?

No one reading over Dorothy Beavers’ active resume would ever expect this involved and vibrant woman to be 97-years-old. This passionate Penn Hills resident volunteers 20 hours a week to help children through the Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) at the local American Red Cross. The FGP is an opportunity for seniors to work with and mentor at-risk children through placement in schools and other nonprofit organizations. She works in Penn Hills’ Lincoln Park Head Start Preschool with a class of about 18 children who call her “Grandma,” ranging from  four and five years of age.

“It is important to me that I interact with and communicate with other people,” said Dorothy. “I think that’s what has kept me sane all these years. I need to keep busy. Being a Foster Grandparent has given me that.”

A friend who is a member of FGP herself introduced Dorothy to the program, and she has been a member ever since. Dorothy was recently awarded a Five Year Service Award from the local Red Cross and the Director’s Award in Head Start Education for her work at the Penn Hills’ Lincoln Park Head Start. The Director’s Award honors a select few volunteers each year who go above and beyond for their community. The awards were given at the annual FGP Volunteer Recognition Luncheon held in Washington, Pa. in early July.

“The Director’s Award was a total surprise,” said Dorothy, “My daughters even hid it from me, they knew the whole time.”

Dorothy’s daughters, Toni and Donna, attended the luncheon and Toni gave the invocation for her mother’s award.

The goal when working with preschoolers, Dorothy explained, is to get them adjusted and ready for kindergarten. Children are not always used to having to focus their attention on the teacher for an extended period of time, so that is one of the habits Dorothy tries to reinforce. During her day with the preschoolers, she supports their teacher by reading stories, reviewing what they’ve been taught with the alphabet and numbers, helps set up and clean after meals and even helps with toilet training.

“Whenever possible, I like to improvise and use different objects to help the kids learn,” said Dorothy, “I brought in spare shoe strings and showed them how they can tie their own shoes with them.”

Dorothy worked with children previously as a nurse at a summer camp and as a volunteer teacher through her church, the Covenant Church of Pittsburgh.

Her spirit of generosity and giving back did not begin with the Foster Grandparent Program. During World War II, Dorothy was one of the first African-American nurses in Pittsburgh. She specialized in tuberculosis and communicable diseases and had to be taught in Richmond because African-Americans were not trained in Pennsylvania at that time. Because she was a nurse during the war and had limited materials and money to work with, Dorothy recalled the need to improvise on a daily basis to get people the care they needed.

Dorothy has been caring for people and giving back to the community ever since. She still currently volunteers at her church as an intercessor and as a member of the choir.

“I love working with children. There was a time I didn’t like working with people. But one day I was turned around and I’ve learned to love everybody no matter what their circumstance is,” said Dorothy. “This has brought me a lot of favor. I think that is how I got the Director’s Award. If you love people, they will love you back. That’s what makes me enjoy what I do.”

“I would like to continue volunteering, but I can’t be sure if I’ll be able to. I will probably just take it year by year,” said Dorothy. “I would really like to get the Ten Year Service Recognition Award.”

The Foster Grandparent Program is an opportunity for any income-eligible senior over the age of 55 to help at-risk children and to stay active in the community. Volunteers work up to 20 hours a week helping children in schools, hospitals, drug treatment centers, Head Start Programs, day care centers and in many other non-profit agencies. For more information or to get involved with the Foster Grandparent Program call 412-263-3163.

For those of you who are not familiar, the Foster Grandparent Program began its legacy in Central Florida in 1972 with 80 volunteers at Sunland Center in Orlando serving children with mental retardation or physical handicaps.  In 1977, Florida Senior Programs, Inc. became the sponsor of the Foster Grandparent Program of Central Florida.  Our mission is “To provide, promote, and encourage intergenerational relationships benefitting the older volunteer and the child” and goals are to provide older volunteers meaningful opportunities, promote intergenerational relationships, and acceptance of cultural diversity.

Foster Grandparents are low income volunteers who serve special needs children daily.  The Foster Grandparent Program has grown to 380 grandparent volunteers strong serving more than 3,000 children throughout Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Flagler, and Volusia counties.

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