In a world craving connection, the Volunteers of America Colorado Foster Grandparent Program shines with warmth and care. This initiative unites the wisdom of older adults with the dynamism of youth, creating bonds that enrich lives.
Spanning across Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Jefferson, El Paso, and Larimer counties, the program welcomes individuals aged 55 or older, living on fixed incomes, who want to give back by volunteering and are passionate about working with children from early childhood to sixth grade. Whether in preschools, Head Start programs, elementary schools, or youth facilities like Boys and Girls Clubs, Foster Grandparents devote 15 – 40 hours a week to nurturing young minds in everything from reading to math to art to gardening to music.
Managed by Sean Fujimoto, the program brings personal fulfillment to grandparents as they guide and support the next generation, finding joy in children’s laughter, their love of learning, and innocence. These seniors, Fujimoto said, find an energy and a productivity that they may have been missing. While for the children, many of whom are considered at-risk, it’s the opportunity to receive valuable one-on-one time and support from an adult who truly cares about them and their success.
The program’s impact is tangible; one grandmother helped her student raise his reading aptitude from 26 percent to 76 percent.
It might also be about bridging a technology divide. “Our seniors always say, ‘I help them with math and they help me with my cell phone,’” Fujimoto said.
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