The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will triple the number of volunteers, including the existing Senior Corp program, nationwide to 250,000, up from 75,000. Currently, Senior Corps is made up of 475,000 volunteers who contribute 116 million hours of service each year. The Senior Corps captures the skills and talents of people over 55 to meet community needs through mentoring, serving as foster grandparents, and helping other seniors continue to live independently. Older Americans will be allowed to transfer their education awards to a child, foster child or grandchild to help them pay for college.
In 2005, nearly a third of all baby boomers volunteered with formal organizations -– the highest volunteer rate of any group of Americans according to the Corporation for National & Community Service. The bill will create Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships that will create opportunities for seniors to transition into service after they have retired. Silver Scholars will be able to earn up to $1,000 in exchange for 350 hours of service. For seniors who may need to re-enter the workforce to make ends meet, these programs can also help them transition into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector.
In 2005, nearly a third of all baby boomers volunteered with formal organizations -– the highest volunteer rate of any group of Americans according to the Corporation for National & Community Service. The bill will create Silver Scholarships and Encore Fellowships that will create opportunities for seniors to transition into service after they have retired. Silver Scholars will be able to earn up to $1,000 in exchange for 350 hours of service. For seniors who may need to re-enter the workforce to make ends meet, these programs can also help them transition into new careers in the public or nonprofit sector.
I sent this recommendation to Rep Minneck from Idaho. I support the Give Act. As a Human Resource profession we need to deal with having 3 generations of unemployed applicants competing for the same few jobs, it will be especially challenging for the unemployed age group over the age of 55 yrs old to find work for some time. It is essential that we identify purposeful work for the unemployed. In addition to loosing their jobs, many of the unemployed have also seen their retirement and children’s college funds disappear. This group will continue to feel angry, devalued and depressed ultimately resulting in increase to health care costs, etc.
I suggest an additional component be added to the Americorp program to allow the qualified volunteers over the age of 55 the ability to gift the Segal Education Award to their children and/or grandchildren and additionally provide them a housing allowance grant. This group can constructively be engaged in their community volunteering in non-profits that urgently need talent to support their over extended programs. A housing allowance grant will help offset their expenses, and they will regain their self-value by donating their education grant to their children and/or grandchildren for eligibility to two or four year college and/or technology education programs. These volunteer experiences may open the door to future job and opportunities as the economy recovers.