FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 19, 2025
CONTACT: Jamie McIver
857.488.5068
jamie.mciver@bostonabcd.org
(BOSTON, MA) – ABCD is celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Americorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program created as part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty initiatives. Over the past year, more than 120 ABCD Foster Grandparents have volunteered 93,000 hours in classrooms and early education centers with children who have exceptional needs — offering support in the classroom, lending a helping hand with learning, and being a steady presence who children can count on. In Greater Boston and the Mystic Valley, 1,077 children have benefitted from ABCD Foster Grandparent’s compassion, wisdom and care.
ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler said, “ABCD is proud to honor the contributions of thousands of Foster Grandparents over the decades who still continue to shape young lives and strengthen communities. Volunteers connect with children daily at 30 Head Start programs, early education centers, schools, and after-school programs. In doing so, how society perceives aging is transformed and the efficacy of intergenerational learning is confirmed.”
ABCD Foster Grandparents are part of a nationwide community of more than 11,0000 Foster Grandparents who serve in over 2,000 locations, across all 50 states and contribute millions of service hours annually. Additionally, this program reduces isolation, depression and increases physical activity for seniors. In a recent survey, 96% of Foster Grandparents said that their lives have been greatly improved because of the program.
“For 60 years, the Foster Grandparent Program has shown us the power of connection between generations,” said Jennifer Bastress Tahmasebi, Acting Agency Head of AmeriCorps. “These volunteers are more than helpers—they are heroes in the lives of young people, and their impact is deeply felt in classrooms and communities across the country.”
Want to be a hero in the life of a child and help strengthen the fabric of the communities that ABCD serves? Learn more about the ABCD Foster Grandparent Program here.
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About ABCD: A nonprofit human services community action organization, ABCD provides underserved residents of Boston and the Mystic Valley area, with the tools, support and resources they need to transition from poverty to stability and from stability to success. Each year, the organization serves more than 100,000 individuals, elders and families through a broad range of innovative initiatives as well as long-established, proven programs and services.
For more than 60 years, ABCD has been deeply rooted in every neighborhood and community served, empowering individuals and families and supporting them in their quest to live with dignity and achieve their highest potential. For more, please visit bostonabcd.org.
About the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program Since 1965, the Foster Grandparent Program has empowered adults ages 55 and older to make a difference in the lives of children and youth. Through service in classrooms, early learning centers, and community programs, Foster Grandparents support academic growth, provide mentorship, and build meaningful bonds with younger generations. To learn more, visit americorps.gov/FosterGrandparents.