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Albion, Michigan – In Albion as in other communities
nationwide, the baby boom generation is reaching age 60. It’s the largest,
healthiest, and best educated group in history to move through and beyond
their sixth decade. National research shows that tens of millions of boomers
are looking to change the world. With a $25,000 grant, the Albion Community
Foundation will study how we can take full advantage of this interest
locally – identifying and assessing local barriers, supports, and
opportunities for engaging residents over 60 in activities that benefit the
greater Albion area.
The grant is part of Community Experience Partnership,
a multi-year, multi-million dollar program launched in 2006 by The Atlantic
Philanthropies, a private foundation that supports programs worldwide.
Albion Community Foundation is among eight foundations nationwide to receive
grants for assessment projects tailored to understanding current realities
and identifying new possibilities for older adults to generate civic good in
their communities.
Community Experience Partnership seeks to engage U.S. community
foundations to tap into the collective and individual experience older
adults have to offer. Through research, planning and local projects
designed to identify and solve key community issues, the Partnership aims to
increase the involvement of people over 60 through paid work, lifelong
learning and volunteering—activities that can lead to improved quality of
life for others while increasing personal fulfillment. An initial 30
community foundations received grants in 2006 for assessment projects in
their communities. Of those, 24 are embarking on the second phase of the
Partnership to plan and implement programs that foster older adult civic
engagement. Albion Community Foundation will build upon the success of these
initial Partnership participants.
“This initiative is positioned at the forefront of a growing movement,”
said Laura Robbins, head of the U.S. Aging Program for The Atlantic
Philanthropies. “In communities across the U.S., people entering their
sixties embody a wealth of energy, skills, and experience. Rather than
winding down, many are interested in starting up with new activities that
serve the greater good.”
Albion, however, may lack the supports and structures needed to
mobilize and place people over 60 in positions that address serious social
issues. Attitudes and perceptions may stand in the way too.
“One of the greatest strengths of Albion has always been the experience
of our people,” said Elizabeth Schultheiss, Albion Community Foundation
executive director. “This grant will allow us to take a closer look at how
we might overcome outdated attitudes and capitalize on the skills and
passions of older adults as they transition from career to retirement.”
With the first of 77 million baby boomers now in their sixties, the
United States is facing a massive demographic shift. Research from Civic
Ventures, a think tank dedicated to helping society achieve the greatest
return on experience, indicates that tens of millions of boomers want to
work, learn and volunteer in ways that helps others. Far from frail, most of
today’s 60+ boomers are fit, focused and looking forward to new challenges.
According to Civic Ventures, today’s 60-something citizens are
“pioneers in a new stage spanning the decades between middle and late life…
neither young nor old, they represent an extraordinary pool of social and
human capital.”
Through its part in the Community Experience Partnership, Albion
Community Foundation will help tap this extraordinary pool of experience
locally. Albion Community Foundation will study ways to increase the
involvement of people over 60 in civic improvement through work, lifelong
learning and volunteer opportunities. Selected from a national pool of
applicants, Albion Community Foundation will help lead the charge in
deploying the wealth of older adult experience for the good of their
communities.
“Albion Community Foundation is an expert in analyzing community
problems, assessing solutions, and leveraging financial resources,” said
Peggy Sindt, Albion Economic Development Director. “This initiative gives us
the opportunity to maximize the value of a growing supply of human resources
available to our community.”
The Community Experience Partnership is managed by Community Planning &
Research LLC with fiduciary support from the Special Projects Fund at the
San Francisco Foundation.
The Albion Community Foundation (www.albionfoundation.org
) was established in 1968 to improve the quality of life for our citizens.
The Foundation is a local nonprofit organization providing donors a simple,
powerful and highly personal approach to giving — so their gifts do good
works within the community, forever.
The Atlantic Philanthropies (www.atlanticphilanthropies.org),
is dedicated to bringing about lasting changes in the lives of disadvantaged
and vulnerable people. Atlantic focuses on critical social problems related
to aging, disadvantaged children and youth, population health, and
reconciliation and human rights. Programs funded by Atlantic operate in
Australia, Bermuda, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa,
the United States and Viet Nam. To learn more, please visit
www.atlanticphilanthropies.org.
More than 700 U.S. community foundations provide a
simple, powerful, and highly personal approach to giving. Offering a variety
of giving tools to help people achieve their charitable goals, community
foundations create lasting good work in their communities through civic
leadership, philanthropic services and strategic investments.
Source: Alan Pardini, 707.586.1515 or
apardini@cprgroup.net |
