Nominate Senior Citizen Volunteers to be Honored Dec. 11, 2003 - Volunteer programs and agencies across the country are invited to respond to a Call for Nominations in the 2004 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards program. Administered by n4a, the awards will honor the contributions of 25 outstanding older volunteers and promote volunteering among older adults.
Awards will be made in three categories. "Team Spirit Awards" will honor older volunteers who help other older adults; "Mentor Awards" will recognize older volunteers whose energies are devoted to working with young people and their families; and "Community Champion Awards" will be bestowed upon those volunteers who make their community a better place to live.
"Despite the perception of the older years as a time of relaxation or inactivity, many older adults are actively working to improve their communities and help those in need. We are pleased to partner with n4a to spread the word about the good works of our older citizens and encourage others to get involved," said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation.
n4a CEO Sandy Markwood concurred: "With most front-page news about older adults focusing on prescription drugs for older adults and whether Social Security will be solvent for the coming baby boom, it's time to focus on seniors as the asset they truly are. We applaud MetLife Foundation for its desire to recognize the many contributions of older volunteers."
Marc Freedman, Founder and President of Civic Ventures, and a member of the Blue Ribbon Panel of the MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards program, concurs with Jacobson and Markwood. Writing recently in the Christian Science Monitor, Freedman observes that "We need to see the promise and potential of older adults to bring about truly exceptional results." With the past century seeing the addition of three decades to the average lifespan, Freedman adds, "... aging isn't what it used to be, not with better health, quality of life, and attitude."
MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America honorees demonstrate that "promise and potential." To be nominated, a volunteer must be at least 55 years old and have volunteered for the program or organization for which they are being nominated for at least one year. Any agency, organization, charity or faith-based group that hosts a program that utilizes volunteers is eligible to submit a nomination.
The awards will be announced at a special event in Washington, D.C., on April 22, 2004, in which a number of honorees and representatives of their volunteer organizations will participate. Every honoree will receive an engraved gift celebrating his or her achievement and the honoree's organization will receive a monetary award to help further its work.
More information on the MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Awards, including a nomination form, can be found on the n4a website. To be considered, nominations must reach n4a by January 9, 2004. • The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) is the umbrella organization for our nation's 655 area agencies on aging (AAAs) and the representative body in Washington, D.C. for the interests of 240 Title VI - Native American aging programs.
• MetLife Foundation, established in 1976 by MetLife, supports health, education, civic and cultural programs throughout the United States. For more information about the Foundation, visit the web site at www.metlife.org.
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