2001 Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 4, 2001

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Illinois Department on Aging Director Margo E. Schreiber today announced that four Retired Senior Volunteer Programs (RSVP) and two Foster Grandparent Programs (FGP) have been awarded grants to start a Talented Older Persons in Schools Program (TOPS). The program encourages senior volunteers to tutor and mentor kindergarten through sixth grade students.

"We’re very excited about getting new TOPS programs off the ground," Schreiber said. "The program allows seniors to serve as role models to young people and offer assistance to those who may be falling behind in school work."

The following programs will receive a $4,000 seed grant:

• Lifescape Community Services, Inc., Lifescape RSVP, Rockford;
• The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago, RSVP of Northern Cook and Northern DuPage Counties, Arlington Heights;
• Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging, RSVP Quad Cities, Rock Island;
• Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity, Inc., (PCCEO Foster Grandparent Programs for Peoria and Tazewell Counties), Peoria;
• John Wood Community College, Adams County RSVP, Quincy;
• and Central Illinois Economic Development Corporation (C.I.E.D.C. Foster Grandparent Program), Lincoln.

TOPS programs have already been established in Granite City, Tamms, Ford Heights and Danville.

"Seniors at these sites have enjoyed sharing their knowledge and time because they recognize how impressionable the children are and the need to reinforce their potential," Schreiber said.

Schreiber said in addition to tutoring and mentoring, an added feature of TOPS is that it encourages seniors to monitor classrooms, hallways, cafeterias, playgrounds and bus stops to promote school safety.

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Contact

For more information, call the Illinois Department on Aging's Senior HelpLine at 1-800-252-8966 (Voice and TTY).