New York Times blogger and Pulitzer Prize author Tina Rosenberg writes about the positive impact ReServists are making in their communities.
Right now more than 460 ReServists are engaging in service, mostly in the Five Boroughs of New York City, but also in Westchester County and Miami-Dade County.
Whether they are the READY ReServists Ms. Rosenberg highlights in her article, or hundreds of other ReServists serving in a variety of roles at nonprofit organizations, public agencies, schools or libraries, America’s older adults are helping to make our communities stronger and more vibrant. To read Ms. Rosenberg’s article, click here.
Tina highlights ReServe’s READY program, which was piloted in 2009. Since then, it has expanded from 10 to 55 schools and has received generous support from the Corporation for National and Community Service (AmeriCorps). READY and Ready in the Community has also received current and past support from the Abyssinian Development Corporation, Berk Foundation, Bloomberg LLP, CUNY School Support Organization, New Visions, Pinkerton Foundation, Seedlings Foundation and Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation.
In addition to Ann and Marc mentioned in the article, 56 other READY ReServists are serving 55 schools in all five boroughs of New York City. We will be adding an additional 11 READY ReServists this month. (If you know any professionals 55+ interested in joining READY, please have them contact Kelsey Moore at 212-710-9242).
Even with collective effort to help get more under-served youth enrolled into college, challenges still remain since an estimated 65% of them do not return to college after their first year.
With generous support from New Visions, Open Society Foundation and Pinkerton Foundation, ReServe will be piloting a new program this spring called 13th Year. It was created to tap into a vast resource of older adults to serve as mentors and help these students achieve academic success.
In a few months, we will be recruiting and training 10 ReServists to work with students over the course of the summer and through their freshman year of college. These 13th Year Mentors will provide mentoring and support services so that students not only go to college, but they succeed in completing their first year. Stay tuned…
