FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mar 02, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced more than $21 million in Senior Corps funding to support nearly 200 RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion projects across the nation. The grants will both strengthen existing programs and establish new areas of service.

The funding announced today will leverage the skills and experience of more than 51,000 Senior Corps volunteers in 46 states. A complete list of grants is available, here.

“As more Americans reach retirement age, a new generation of older adults is seeking ways to create positive change – for themselves, the community, and the nation. Senior Corps harnesses this enthusiasm, providing opportunities for them to use their passion, skills, and experience to create a better world through volunteer service,” said Deborah Cox-Roush, director of Senior Corps. “With the grants announced today, thousands of Americans will be able to do just that and make their mark as Senior Corps volunteers.”

Each year, Senior Corps engages approximately 200,000 Americans at 25,000 locations across the nation through its Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs. For more than five decades, Senior Corps volunteers have used their skills and experience to mentor and tutor youth, help seniors maintain independence in their homes, connect veterans and military families to services, support solutions to the opioid epidemic, help Americans rebuild their lives after a disaster, and more.

Senior Corps opens doors for Americans who might not otherwise have the opportunity to serve their community due to financial or other barriers. Open to adults age 55 and older with incomes up to 200% of the poverty line, Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions are unique among volunteer programs as they allow the women and men serving to earn a small stipend. As a result of the increased appropriations provided by Congress in Fiscal Year 2020, CNCS will be able to raise the stipend for the first time since 2002.

While serving, Senior Corps volunteers also improve their own lives, staying active and healthy through service. 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. Findings from a recent CNCS study show that Senior Corps volunteers serving with the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion programs report feeling significantly less depressed and isolated, along with higher health scores.

To discover a Senior Corps volunteer opportunity, visit nationalservice.gov/SeniorCorps to find the Senior Corps programs in your area.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.