ReServe and WHDC Announce Launch of “Summer of Senior Service”

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Jesse

ReServe and West Harlem Development Corporation Announce the Launch of “Summer of Senior Service”

The Initiative Will Employ Sixty West Harlem Residents age 55+ to Serve in Paid, High-Impact Projects at Nonprofits and Government Agencies

NEW YORK,  June 6, 2013 – ReServe, which matches 55+ professionals with nonprofits and government agencies that need their skills and West Harlem Development Corporation (WHDC), which promotes increased economic opportunities and quality of life in West Harlem, today announced their collaboration to launch “Summer of Senior Service.”

Through this innovative initiative, ReServe will recruit sixty West Harlem residents age 55 and over to serve as “ReServists” in part-time, high-impact service projects this summer at nonprofits and government agencies in New York City. The West Harlem Development Corporation is funding the stipends through a grant to ReServe of nearly $140,000.

“West Harlem Development Corporation is demonstrating that older adults are a valuable resource that can and should be leveraged to help strengthen our communities, and we are pleased to partner with them in this initiative,” said Christine McMahon, President and Chief Executive Officer of ReServe, a subsidiary of Fedcap. “Through ReServe’s innovating matching strategy and expertise in engaging older professionals for part-time service work, ReServe is poised to help WHDC expand its impact in West Harlem and in New York City.”

“The West Harlem Development Corporation is committed to individual and economic development and ReServe is a natural partner to help us engage our residents in public service,” said Kofi A. Boateng, Executive Director of West Harlem Development Corporation. “Through this collaboration, we have an opportunity to triple the effects of our grantmaking.”

While ReServist eligibility for this program is limited to residents of West Harlem, the initiative will partner with nonprofits and government agencies across the city that need skilled, professionals to fill staffing gaps. ReServe will work with nonprofits to help ­identify their needs, match them with one or more ReServists and provide post-placement ­­support.

ReServe and WHDC will host information sessions this month for residents of Community District 9, which includes the Morningside Heights, Manhattanville and Hamilton Heights sections of West Harlem.  Once they are selected, ReServists will work approximately 12 hours per week for up to ten week and will earn a stipend of $10 per hour.

Information sessions will be held at 2-4 p.m. on Monday, June 10, 2013 and Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at WHDC at 423 West 127th Street, Ground Floor, Suite A., New York, NY 10027.  Residents living West Harlem – Community District 9, and who are age 55 and over, may register to attend an information session by calling 646-476-3394.

Nonprofits interested in hosting one or more ReServists for the summer may call John Pham or Sue Hagen at 212-710-9220.

Featured, New York City, News

ReServe Featured in U.S. News & World Report

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Jesse

In “The Best Life” blog of the U.S. News & World Report this week, Philip Moeller writes about how leveraging the skills, experience and passions of professionals age 55+ impacts more than communities, but also the ReServists who engage in meaningful service work.

“People will come to understand they can pivot into something where their value is very high,” Christine McMahon, President and CEO of ReServe said in the article. She is quoted further: “ReServe ‘becomes one of the ways you operationalize that. We’re trying to convince communities to support the model of supplying not-for-profits and government agencies with high-level resources to solve problems for which there is no model.’”

Click here to read the entire article.

Featured, Press

The Boston Globe Features ReServe Greater Boston

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Jesse

Today, ReServe Greater Boston is featured in The Boston Globe, “Nonprofit puts seniors to work helping other people.” The article coincides with the launch of ReServe at its seventh location.

Since high-tech entrepreneur Alan Greenfield retired, he has filled his days with trips, dance classes, and volunteer work. Yet the engineer with a degree from MIT is most excited about his new $10-an-hour job helping low-income families do their tax returns and maximize their refunds. Greenfield is among the first in Boston to find work through ReServe Inc., a nonprofit that puts adults age 55 and up to work in schools, government offices, and community agencies. Click here to read the entire article.

Featured, Greater Boston, Press

ReServe Launches in Greater Boston

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Jesse

ReServe, a Fedcap subsidiary that matches 55+ professionals with nonprofits and government agencies that need them, launched Thursday in Greater Boston.

ReServe helps organizations of all sizes, budgets and missions tap into affordable talent to fill crucial staffing gaps and advance their goals with part-time specialists eager to do great things for their communities. ReServists come from all walks of life and earn a modest stipend while sharing their expertise in rewarding part-time service opportunities that benefit their communities.

“I had been looking for an opportunity to give back to the community and earn a bit of money at the same time,” said Alan Greenfield, a high-tech entrepreneur and marketing executive now working as an Earned Income Tax Coordinator through ReServe Greater Boston. “I apply skills built up over my career, I’m exercising my brain by learning new information and developing new skills and I’m working for a good cause.”

By targeting ReServists on an issue like access to college for low-income students, the program can have a major impact on unmet social needs. For example, ReServists at New York City high schools mentor and coach students to help them stay in school and apply for college and financial aid; others work in public libraries helping youth and adults learn English, move toward a GED and get job-ready.

“ReServe provides Boston’s non-profit and public agencies with the additional talent and person power to address growing social needs,” said Jerry Rubin, CEO of JVS , which operates the ReServe Greater Boston affiliate in collaboration with the nonprofit Discovering What’s Next. “It expands capacity at a time of limited public and private funding, to address priorities such as the Mayor and Governor’s focus on college readiness and completion.”

Founded in 2005, ReServe operates in Baltimore, Miami, Milwaukee, Newark, New York City, Westchester County and now Greater Boston, with some 3,000 ReServists and 300 partner organizations registered nationwide. ReServe combined with Fedcap in 2012.

“Thousands of talented, educated, active and socially aware baby boomers reach retirement age every day,” said Christine McMahon, Fedcap President and CEO. “Meanwhile, nonprofits and government agencies struggle to meet greater needs with scarcer resources. ReServe connects the two, helping the public and non-profit sectors tap into this vital and varied talent pool in ways they otherwise could not afford, to build capacity and magnify their impact.”

A launch event at the Boston Foundation Thursday was attended by many nonprofit leaders and featured remarks from Jack Rosenthal, ReServe co-founder and Chairman and President Emeritus of the New York Times Company Foundation; JVS CEO Jerry Rubin; Phyllis Segal, Chair of the ReServe Greater Boston Advisory Group and VP, Encore.org, and Andrew Wolk, founder and CEO of the nonprofit research and consulting firm Root Cause.

Featured, Greater Boston, News

Money magazine names ReServe Co-founder/Chairman Jack Rosenthal a Hero

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Jesse

Money magazine names ReServe Co-founder/Chairman Jack Rosenthal a Hero for “Getting Pros Back to Work.” Click here to read the article.

Featured, Press

An Important New Report Cites ReServe

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Jesse

The Center for an Urban Future cited ReServists’ role in NYC public libraries’ crucial support of human capital development among vulnerable youth and adults. Click here to read this important report.

Featured, New York City

ReServe Featured in “The Miami Herald”

Posted on November 15, 2012 by Jesse

Dorothy Jenkins Fields writes about “Retirees in ‘ReServe’ use skills to help nonprofit groups,” which appeared recently in The Miami Herald. Below is an excerpt.

There was a time when retirement meant sitting in a rocking chair waiting for time to pass. Today, after retiring, some professionals seek opportunities to continue using their skills and experience to help nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

A good example is retired businessman Richard Gibson Jr. He spent many years generating new business and name recognition for start-up companies. His areas of expertise include new business development strategies, customer service, marketing, advertising and promotions. He has held positions as a general sales manager, director of marketing, health care administrator and co-owned a small wholesale distribution company.

After working long hours in business for 36 years he retried in 2009 and enjoyed well-earned leisure time. Still in good health he joined ReServe Miami “to give back to the community.”

The mission of the New York based program is to connect experienced professionals 55+ with opportunities to use their skills and experience to help strengthen short-staffed and under-budgeted nonprofit organizations and public institutions.

ReServe Miami is operated by Catalyst Miami. For 16 years, Catalyst Miami has a track record in responding to a multitude of needs throughout Miami-Dade County. With ReServe Miami, Catalyst Miami connects retirees to meaningful part-time positions. Retirees can choose from healthcare, marketing, education, accounting, sales, or research and development placements. Read more here.

Featured, Miami

“Retirees happy to serve again”

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Jesse

The September 2012 issue of The Baltimore Beacon features ReServe Maryland in a cover story, “Retirees happy to serve again” by Carol Sorgen. The story is available online here. Read an excerpt below.

Dave Hall enjoyed a successful career in financial services, but when the banking industry took a hit several years ago, he decided it was an opportune time to retire.

At 58, though, Hall said he felt he still had quite a bit of “tread” left on him and wanted to continue to make use of his skills – but in a different way.

“I wanted to shift my focus away from the for-profit world to the not-for profit,” said Hall. But with no experience working with nonprofit organizations, he wasn’t finding much opportunity.

However, with the help of a group called ReServe, Hall found a position with Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) in Catonsville, where he works 15 to 25 hours a week, advising the organization on how best to allocate grant funds.

Hall believes that he is putting his lifetime of experience to good work. He said he is finding his work at CCCS enjoyable – though not necessarily as different from the corporate world as he expected – and he is grateful both for the opportunity to provide his expertise and the appreciation he is shown by his CCCS colleagues and the coordinators of ReServe.

“The psychic income is very much valued,” he said. “This is a very good fit for me.”

Baltimore, Featured, News

Fedcap Welcomes ReServe as New Subsidiary

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Jesse

FEDCAP WELCOMES RESERVE AS NEW SUBSIDIARY

NEW YORK, NY (August 28, 2012)  – Fedcap and ReServe, two nonprofits dedicated to service and community impact, today announced they will combine.

Fedcap, founded in 1935, operates programs and businesses throughout the Northeast that generate $100 million in revenue, directly employ 1,800 people and annually serve more than 13,000. ReServe Elder Service, founded in 2005, connects skilled 55+ professionals with part-time, stipended work in nonprofits and government agencies. ReServe will join Fedcap as a subsidiary operation, effective Oct. 1, 2012.

“Fedcap and ReServe both focus on leveraging human talent to effect the maximum possible community impact,” said Christine McMahon, Fedcap President and CEO. “The ReServe model recognizes 55-plus professionals for their tremendous resources and experiential capital, and transforms that value into service that benefits nonprofits and government agencies, and the people and communities they serve.”

ReServe has placed almost 3,000 ReServists in New York City and recently launched affiliates in Newark, Baltimore, Miami and Milwaukee, with Boston due to open this fall.

“Becoming part of Fedcap gives ReServe an enormous opportunity to bring this innovative program to every community in the country and offers ReServists even greater options for service,” said Mary Bleiberg, President of ReServe.

“Fedcap’s experience, skill and reach can facilitate strategic expansion to bring ReServe’s services to other locations,” said Jack Rosenthal, ReServe co-founder and Board Chairman. “We know of at least six cities eager to consider creating ReServe affiliates.”

This is the fourth combination in three years for Fedcap, which in 2011 combined with Wildcat Service Corp. and The Way to Work.

“Today’s environment places greater demands on nonprofits to utilize their resources more efficiently to carry out their missions,” said Fedcap Board Chair Mark O’Donoghue. “We are confident that the core values shared by Fedcap and ReServe will make this combination a success.”

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About ReServe
ReServe matches continuing professionals 55+ (ReServists) with rewarding part-time service opportunities at non-profit organizations and public institutions in order to strengthen their communities while earning a modest stipend. Nonprofits and public institutions (ReServe partners) can now tap into a lifetime of experience to fill crucial staffing gaps at affordable rates. In seven years, ReServe has made nearly 3,000 placements at 350 organizations, and ReServists have provided nearly a million hours of service. ReServe currently operates in New York City, Newark, Baltimore, Southeast Wisconsin (Milwaukee), Miami-Dade County and Westchester County. ReServe anticipates launching its program in Boston this fall. ReServe is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information visit our website at www.reserveinc.org or contact us at 212.710.9220. Follow ReServe on Facebook and Twitter.

About Fedcap
Fedcap helps people break through barriers to achieve long-term economic independence. Our programs and operations in the Northeast bring education and the power of work to youth in transition, adults with conviction histories, veterans, individuals with disabilities and many others facing barriers to employment. We place people in jobs across a wide variety of business sectors and employ 1,800 in our own $100M managed-services operations. Fedcap is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. For more information or to make a donation, call 212-727-4200 or visit www.fedcap.org. Follow Fedcap on Facebook and Twitter.

Featured, Press

Huff/Post 50 Lists ReServe Among Options for Older Professionals

Posted on August 15, 2012 by Jesse

ReServe is among good company in a Huff/Post 50 article that lists agencies, which help older professionals reinvent themselves. Since 2005, ReServe has matched nearly 3,000 ReServists in service work that uses their skills for good. Some ReServists have launched encore careers while many others have enjoyed ongoing opportunities to explore a variety of part-time roles at nonprofits and public institutions in New York City, Newark, Baltimore, Miami and Milwaukee. Click here to read the article.

Featured, New York City, Press