Coalition Recruits Older Adults to Volunteer at S.F. Schools
A coalition of four nonprofit organizations in San Francisco has launched a campaign to recruit older
adults to be volunteer tutors and mentors to the city's elementary and middle-school students.
The new effort, called Generations for Education, is led by Experience Corps, San Francisco School Volunteers,
the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Foster Grandparents. This is the first time the groups have
collaborated on an initiative of this scale, and Generations for Education is one of the largest
intergenerational efforts in California.
Generations for Education now has about 180 volunteers age 55 and older working in San Francisco schools,
and the goal is to recruit at least 100 more. The coalition aims to use each volunteer's skills in finding
them a placement - such as reading to elementary school students or tutoring high school students in English.
The minimum commitment for volunteers is one hour per week.
While many people see the aging population only in terms of its impact on health and
social services, the new coalition is focusing on the tremendous potential resource this growing
population represents for the city's schools.
Research shows that intergenerational volunteer programs benefit both older adults (with improved physical
and mental health) and the students they serve (with increased test scores, self-confidence and reduction in risky behaviors).
"This new effort will help not only the children who will become better learners but the older adults
themselves who will benefit from increased civic engagement," Megan McCarthy, director of community
engagement for RSVP, said at a September 30 kick-off event.
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom also lent his support, saying "older adults are a growing resource
in San Francisco, and by serving as mentors and tutors they can play an important role in helping
prepare our youth for the challenges of the 21st Century." Generations for Education will recruit, train, place and support its volunteers, who are age 55 and
older.
For information about the program, call (415) 294-4530 or see www.gen4ed.org.
(This article originally appeared in the Winter 2006 issue of Bay Area Summit)
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