September 14, 2006 | Read Time: 1 minute
Rewards of Giving: An In-Depth Study of Older Adults’ Volunteer Experiences in Urban Elementary Schools, by Becca Raley, examines a program that links retired people with needy students. Commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the report interviewed 43 Experience Corps volunteers, older Americans who worked in classrooms at elementary schools providing one-on-one academic and social support to children from low-income families. Many of the adults, bored or lonely in their older years, found personal satisfaction and happiness working with the students, as well as an expanded social network with the other volunteers and teachers. The report discusses the demographics of the members, their reasons for volunteering, what made the Experience Corps attractive and rewarding, and strengths of the program and suggestions for other efforts.
Publisher: Public/Private Ventures, 2000 Market Street, Suite 600, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103; (215) 557-4400; fax (215) 557-4469; http://www.ppv.org; 38 pages; $7.50 for hard copy or free for download on the organization’s Web site.
