By Mervyn Myers | Development Director
UPO’s Foster Grandparent (FGP) Program trains low-income Washington DC seniors to provide critical mentoring and emotional support to District children in a variety of local settings. The program provides fulfilling volunteer service opportunities for seniors 55 years and older giving them an opportunity to give back by sharing their experience and wisdom with children who value and cherish the lessons. This program operates at 48 locations in the District of Columbia and includes early education centers, public and charter schools, before and after-school programs, youth programs and hospitals. Each year, more than 200 Foster Grandparents put in more than 175,000 volunteer service hours – working one-on-one or in small groups mentoring more than 15,000 DC children. Foster Grandparents serve where the need is the greatest and because of this, our youth receive tremendous academic benefits alongside life-changing personal development.
The Foster Grandparent Program is sponsored by UPO and funded by the Corporation for National & Community Service Senior Corps (CNCS). CNCS is a Federal Government Program that provides grants to organizations committed to strengthening their communities through volunteer programs. However increasing pressure on the US Congress to reduce the burgeoning national debt by cutting budgets for entitlement programs has intensified the importance of growing fundraising for FGP from the private sector. Private foundation funding has increased in recent years and will continue to grow to replace government funding.
The funds raised by Support UPO's Foster Grandparents Program helps us to cover the cost of training, materials, uniforms, and daily travel for more than 200 low-income DC senior volunteer FGPs. These expenses are not covered by CNCS. We have a waiting list of more than 100 seniors volunteering to be FGPs, 10 educational institutions seeking to join the program and many current partner sites that have requested additional FGPs. Any expansion of the FGP program will have to be funded from private sector fundraising.
Funding for Support UPO's Foster Grandparents Program had a slow start but the past four months we have experienced a dramatic increase in support for the project! See the attached joyous gathering of Foster Grandparents.
As explained above this project is funding an important part of the FGP program budget. We are extremely grateful for the 35 donations we have received to-date totaling $2,855 and ask for your continued support. Please also help us by spreading the word about the work of our dedicated FGP’s and the kids they serve by email to your friends and family and on social media.
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