Facts About Grandparents Day 2010 by U.S. Census
Bureau
19% of grandparents were caring for their
grandchildren with income below the poverty level
Sept.
12, 2010 - In 1970, Marian McQuade began a campaign to set aside a
special day just for grandparents. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter
signed the first presidential proclamation, designating the first Sunday
after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day.
The first official observance was Sept. 9, 1979 —
and has been celebrated every year since. In honor of our nation's
grandparents, the Census Bureau presents an array of data about the role
they play in our lives.
The number of grandparents responsible for most of
the basic needs (i.e., food, shelter, clothing) of one or more of the
grandchildren who lived with them in 2008. These grandparents
represented about 41 percent of all grandparents whose grandchildren
lived with them. Of these caregivers, 1.6 million were grandmothers, and
983,000 were grandfathers.
19%
Percentage of grandparents who were caring for
their grandchildren and whose income was below the poverty level. This
represents 493,000 grandparents.
$46,906
Median income for families with
grandparent-caregiver householders. If a parent of the grandchildren was
not present, the median dropped to $34,782.
977,000
Number of grandparents responsible for caring for
their grandchildren for at least the past five years.
1.9 million
The number of grandparent-caregivers who were
married.
The number of children living with a grandparent in
2009; these children comprised 9 percent of all children in the United
States. Of these children, 4.5 million, lived in the grandparent's home.
Source: Families and Living Arrangements: 2009 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/hh-fam/cps2009.html>
Table C4
Among children younger than 5 whose mothers worked
outside the home, the percentage cared for on a regular basis by a
grandparent during their mother's working hours in 2005. Source: Who's
Minding the Kids? Child Care Arrangements: Spring 2005 <http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/child/ppl-2005.html>
Keep up with the latest news for senior citizens, baby
boomers
Sept.
12, 2010 - In 1970, Marian McQuade began a campaign to set aside a
special day just for grandparents. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter
signed the first presidential proclamation, designating the first Sunday
after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. 
