Support UPO's Foster Grandparents Program

Foster Grandparents (FGP) was developed as a War on Poverty Program in 1962. The program sought to bring the wealth of knowledge and patience of low-income seniors into educational settings.  The UPO FGP’s battlefield is in Head Start and early education classrooms, public and public charter elementary schools, youth programs and hospitals.  The UPO Foster Grandparent Program highlights the many small victories won by volunteers in inner city classrooms in the war to break the cycle of poverty through education. The UPO FGP Program daily sends its troops of more than 200 low-income seniors onto the battlefield.  They arrive by bus, subway, car and foot at 51 locations within the lowest income areas of the city.  These Foster Grandparents arrive with the most powerful weapon available – LOVE.

The UPO Foster Grandparent Program, under the dynamic leadership of Ms. Cheryl Christmas has announced that during the period July 1, 2015 to May 15, 2016:

• 200 seniors served as Foster Grand Parents

• UPO provided each and every volunteer with 50 hours of training
• an average of 150 FGP monthly provided 13,300 hours of mentoring to 3,700 students
• Received the 2016 DC Mayor’s Award for Senior Service

• Partnering with The United State of Women Summit to provide summer studies book bags for 327 students at the Excel Charter School DC’s only all girls STEM elementary school

• In partnership with the National Association of Foster Grandparents Programs donated 900 books to DC public and public charter schools

On June 15th, GlobalGiving.org will be holding a Rewards Bonus Day with $110,000 available in matching funds. UPO will be eligible to receive a 50% match on online donations made between 9:00:01am EDT and 23:59:59pm EDT on June 15th There will also be two $1,000 Bonus Prizes that will be awarded to the projects with the highest number of donors and the most funds raised on Bonus Day.

The UPO has a waiting list of 100 seniors applying to be Foster Grand Parents and 10 educational institutions seeking to join the program.  Additionally every current partnering volunteer site has requested additional Foster Grandparents. Your generous Support of UPO’s Foster Grandparents Program on Rewards Bonus Day will enable UPO to cover the cost of training, materials, uniforms, and daily travel reimbursement to increase the number of FGP to meet the demand for services. The rewards are great! Volunteers engage in tutoring, mentoring, social emotional support and assisting students in learning programs in cooperation with school systems. Proven outcomes are improved school readiness and K-12 success.

Links:

• Brian Williams Nightly New Story on nbcnews.com