Grandparents Day Profiles: How Did You Do Something Grand?

Throughout the week, people across the country have been joining together to Do Something Grand for Grandparents Day.  We wanted to take a minute to feature some of the great activism projects we’ve heard about. Check out the projects below! 

If you did something grand for Grandparents Day we want to hear about it! Share your story with us and we may feature it after Grandparents Day!

Windsor Place | Coffeyville, Kansas

Windsor Place of Coffeyville hosted a “GRAND” Olympics with an emphasis on “Proud to be an AMERICAN” for the students in their Age-to-Age program and residents of Windsor Place as the main event to coincide with Generations United’s Grandparent’s Week.  Throughout the week, during centers in the classroom, the Elders read books about America to the children.

Olympic activities included: a joint coloring contest of the American Flag for both Elders and children, a day of Olympic events where the children will compete on teams with the Elders to do physical activities, opening ceremonies that include American songs and poetry, and an intergenerational American trivia day.  Additionally, the children invited their natural grandparents to join them and their adopted Grandparents at Windsor for song, games and snacks.  The children also joined the Elders for a reminiscence group where the Elders and the children will discuss memories they have of their Grandma.  On Friday, there will be an Olympic Spirit Social for the students and Elders.

AirForce Village | San Antonio, Texas

Grandparents Week was themed “Patriotic and Proud.” Each day was full of patriotic activities. Below is an example of one of the days -

Friday, September 14 - “Patriots of the Past!” Throwback Day

• USO Dance! Invite residents and grandparents to a dance with 1940s era classics in our classroom. Period “Dress up” will be encouraged.
• Using white fabric, make a large flag to hang in the classroom. The white stars will be infant handprints, and the stripes will be toddler footprints. Talk about how important our flag is to our country and the men and women who serve.
• Learn and sing: “You’re a Grand ‘Ole Flag”
• “War Bond Stand!” Bake sale fundraiser featuring decorated cookies and brownies. Funds will be donated to Fisher House in San Antonio (Children’s drawings and letters to soldiers from earlier in the week will be included with donation to Fisher House)

Chanute, Kansas

This community brought high school students and older adults (RSVP Volunteers) together during Grandparents Week (September 8-15 ) to discuss and share knowledge about voting history, their experiences of voting and the importance of civic engagement through voting.

Students and older adults who shared a classroom experience gained knowledge about the history of voting, heard personal stories, and reflections on voting that assisted students in embracing their civic responsible to vote.

The American Government Instructor at the High School scheduled two classes to include older adults during Grandparents Week. Six or more older adults and approximately 25 students in each class joined together to share history, information and stories on voting in America. Students were involved by asking questions and giving their views on voting.

Topics for the classroom discussions include:

• Women and their history of voting: I remember when my mother talking about when she was first allowed to vote …
• Why people choose a certain party: When President Roosevelt was elected my parents found out …
• Votes make a difference and some of the closest Presidential elections have been between …
• Susan B Anthony and her suffrage activism was not enough to get women the right to vote before she died. Her efforts included…
• The voting age requirement was not always at 18. I remember when…

The JCA Heyman Interages Center, Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington (JCA) | Rockville, MD

The JCA Heyman Interages Center engaged their volunteers and program participants in a meaningful discussion about civic engagement and the impetus for their intergenerational choice in volunteerism. The Interages staff video taped interviews with young children and their father who regularly volunteer at an assisted living facility, as well as some of the frail elders who have participated in student visiting programs. Additionally, volunteer mentors were videotaped and responded to questions about their civic engagement. All the videotaped conversations will be sent to the local government in honor of Grandparents Day sharing how much The JCA Heyman Interages Center appreciates their support of intergenerational programs.

You can watch the videotaped interviews here!

How did you Do Something Grand for Grandparents Day?

Remembering 9/11

September 11, 2001 is a date our country will remember forever. Although it was a day that began in horror, It was also a transformative time that brought members of every generation together. We gathered as one to mourn and to honor those who lost their lives, those who survived, and those who bravely rose up in service in response to the crisis. 

Since then, millions of Americans spanning all ages have continued to come together on September 11^th to serve and remember. Generations United believes that intergenerational service and volunteerism can strengthen community cohesion and enable us to tackle some of the most pressing issues challenging this country.

Today we honor the memory of those we lost by giving back to our communities.

As President Obama said in a recent weekly address, “We are one American family. We look out for each other. Not just on the difficult days, but every day.” Join us as we remember 9/11 and serve our communities to make a lasting impact for the next generation.

To find service opportunities in your community, visit http://www.serve.gov/sept11.asp

A Good Man

A little over a year ago, Generations United devoted a blog post to Sargent Shriver, a great service advocate and leader, who passed away in January 2011. Yesterday, Shriver’s fourth son Mark Shriver released a book dedicated to his father entitled A Good Man: Rediscovering My Father, Sargent Shriver. The title could not be more befitting for a man who sought goodness in all aspects of his life.

Sargent Shriver made an impressive impact in both his community and his country. In addition to creating the Peace Corps with his brother-in-law John F. Kennedy, he began programs like Head Start, Job Corps, and Foster Grandparents. However, Mark Shriver writes that “most importantly, was his role as a father and grandfather.”

A Good Man acts as more than a remembrance of the great public works of Sargent Shriver, but rather a love letter to a father. The book’s introduction recounts Mark and his dad on an early morning hunting trip. While the younger Shriver agonized over the fact they were running late, his father noticed only how beautiful the sunrise was. Sargent Shriver regarded all life this way.

Sargent Shriver’s Alzheimer’s advanced in his later years, but he maintained devotion to his family. On the Today Show, Mark Shriver described one of his daughter’s lacrosse practices that he attended with his aging father. At one point, Mark yelled at his daughter. His father, whom Mark thought no longer recognized him, turned and said, “Did I yell at you like that?” This led Mark to discover that “I needed to give my daughter the unconditional love and support my dad gave me.” 

As father’s day approaches, it is important that we appreciate our role models who have acted as father figures in our lives, whether they are a dad, grandpa, uncle, or neighbor. As Mark’s father was and continues to be his inspiration, so are these men an example to us. Sargent Shriver’s legacy of serving all generations should act as a guide to work to improve the lives of all people.

Photos courtesy http://www.sargentshriver.org/

-Written by Annie Cleary

Senior Corps Week | Making a Difference for Generations

This year, during the week of May 7-11, we take the time to celebrate Senior Corps Week. Did you know that more than 300,000 older adults serve as Senior Corps volunteers in communities across the country through Foster Grandparents, RSVP, and Senior Companion programs?  Senior Corps helps train older adults to become mentors, coaches or companions to people in need.  Senior Corps also offers older adults the opportunity to apply their job skills and expertise to community projects and organizations.

The Foster Grandparent Program is a successful intergenerational program that connects volunteers who are 55+ to be mentors and help support children and youth that have exceptional needs.  Here’s a Foster Grandparent success story featured on the Senior Corps website:

 

Shirley Holte kept busy working as a pharmacy assistant, repairing antique dolls, and caring for her husband, an Alzheimer’s patient, until a friend suggested that she sign on a Foster Grandparent four years ago. Now she wonders why more people don’t take advantage of the opportunity to spend time with children like the kindergartners in Boone, Iowa, the farming community where Holte has spent her entire life. Each morning as she steps off the bus that brings her to the school that she herself attended, Holte braces herself for the onslaught of hugs proffered by the children in her charge. During the day, she works with the children one-on-one or in small groups, helping them with their reading and listening to their problems. Once, when a child warned her that she wouldn’t like him because both his parents are in prison, Holte reassured him, “I like everybody.” Her secret for handling the children is simple: “I just consider them my grandkids,” said Holte, who is soon to be a great-grandmother for the third time. Although she finds the problems some of the children experience heart-breaking, Holte keeps doing it because, “It gives you a reason to get out of bed in the morning and get going.” -Shirley Holte, Iowa

Senior Corps volunteers are truly making a difference for individuals of every age. We encourage you to celebrate the contributions these volunteers make through service in their communities each and every day. Interested in finding information on local volunteer opportunities with Seniors Corps? Visit www.SeniorCorps.gov.

April 15-21 | National Volunteer Week

Next week is National Volunteer Week, a time when we pay tribute to the millions of Americans that give back to their communities through acts of service and volunteerism.  We also take this time to celebrate and renew the spirit of service that has enriched our country for generations.

Generations United supports intergenerational service and volunteerism by promoting policies that expand the number and diversity of volunteers in quality intergenerational programs.  A wide range of policies provide opportunities for intergenerational service, including the Serve America Act and the Older Americans Act.

By engaging all generations in volunteer service, communities offer individuals opportunities to help make their cities and towns better places to live, work and thrive.  Not only does it feel good to give back, research shows there are health benefits to it too!

People of all ages can volunteer and make a difference.  Numerous tools are available online to help connect people of all ages to local service opportunities.  To find local volunteer opportunities near you, visit United We Serve. 

Generations United Responds to Obama’s FY2013 Budget Request

Looking to “build an economy to last,” President Obama has released his proposed budget for FY 2013. Many of its provisions won’t come as a surprise: the President began laying the groundwork for his budget with his economic speech in Kansas in December and again during the State of the Union Address in January. The budget simply serves as the plan to put his aspirations into action.

After a preliminary review, Generations United’s Policy Team by and large gives the budget a thumbs up, cautioning that it does contain some cuts to social service programs. Here’s a brief summary of the major provisions that affect children, youth and older adults.

• The President’s budget provided important increases in Early Education Investments and Community Supports through increased funding for Head Start and Early Head Start and for an early learning challenge focus within the Race to the Top program. Generations United supports the continued integration of early childhood programs and the increased investment in these programs.
• The budget continues to fund our nation’s Commitment to Programs Serving Vulnerable Populations through important programs such as Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Unfortunately the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) was not given sufficient priority in a time of rising home energy costs and stressed family budgets.
• The budget takes important steps toward College Affordability and Tax Relief efforts by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award and making expansions of several tax credits permanent.
• The budget proposes a modest increase to continue the Support for Volunteerism, for important programs like Senior Corps, that does great work engaging seniors to serve children and at-risk youth in our communities.
• The FY13 budget provides funding to continue the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which provides critical health care coverage and support for our youngest and oldest generations.
• The President’s 2013 budget also includes a commitment to strengthen Social Security. Generations United urges the Administration to continue their commitment to this issue and pledge not to cut Social Security.

Generations United will continue to work with Members of Congress and the Administration on improving/supporting these and other critical programs for children and older adults in order to strengthen our country and support an economy built to last. 

Sign up here to receive Generations United’s Policy Alert on the President’s FY2013 budget on Thursday.