UHF Conference on Volunteering Across the Generations

JASA is co-sponsoring United Hospital Fund’s annual conference on volunteerism. This year the conference is titled “Building Volunteer Communities: How to Make the Generation Gap Work for You.” The conference will address:

• Understanding the characteristics that define different generations and using information to build productive volunteer teams.
• Developing communications strategies that engage different generations of volunteers.
• Identifying new ways to work more efficiently with multi-generational teams so that you can truly build lasting volunteer communities.
• Rethinking traditional or stereotypical volunteer roles and designing programs that appeal to multiple generations.
  

Who should attend?

• Directors of volunteer services
• Hospital auxilians
• Community leaders
• Corporate volunteer and philanthropy directors
• Social service and health care administrators
• Individuals seeking innovative volunteer opportunities
• Board members and volunteers

Donna Butts of Generations United in Washington, DC will give the Keynote which will be followed by a panel discussion on best practices. Alexandra Collier, Director of Volunteer Services and Special Projects at JASA, will present in an afternoon workshop titled, “Program Development for Multiple Generations.”

The conference is sponsored by United Hospital Fun and co-sponsored by JASA, AARP, CSS/RSVP, Greater New York Association of Volunteer Administrators, Lighthouse International, New York Association for Volunteer Administration, New York Cares, and the Transition Network.

The event will be at UJA-Federation of New York on Friday, November 7, 2008, 8:30am-2:45pm. Cost is $65 per person, but there is a $10 discount if you are referred by JASA. Visit www.uhfnyc.org for more information.

JASA Participates in "Kids for Kindness" Day

JASA was invited to participate in Areyvut’s “Kids for Kindness” community service day. The August event was hosted at a private estate in Deal, NJ and gave hundreds of Middle and High School students from Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn the opportunity to connect with nonprofit organizations in the Metropolitan area. Assistant Director of Volunteer Services, Abby Lerner, represented JASA at the event and led students in a service activity. Participates made hundreds of centerpieces, which will be donated to several JASA Senior Centers.

Areyvut is a local organization that provides Jewish youth with opportunities to participate in social justice and community service activities.

JASA Volunteer Spotlight On...Lourdes Alfonso and Theodore Burton

Three months ago, interns Lourdes Alfonso and Theodore Burton were presented with a packet of internship opportunities. After finishing their twelve-week program run by the International Center for Disabilities, the two were ready to use the administrative and human services tools they learned and have a hands-on experience working with seniors.

Lourdes, a former recreation director for New York City Parks, was used to programming activities, and JASA Cooper Square presented her with a new challenge: programming for a building of seniors. Theodore, a former security worker, had experience helping others as well and liked that Cooper Square gave him the opportunity to work with seniors, too.

As intern-program directors at Cooper Square, Theo and Lourdes have worked with the fundraisers, Friendly Calls program, bingo, “Movie Tuesdays,” stress management classes, and special events—like the End of Summer Luau Party on September 4th. The best part about interning at Cooper Square for Theo is the positive feedback he receives from the tenants. He likes giving them something to look forward to, and seeing them out of their apartments makes him feel good about his work. As a friendly caller, Theo makes daily calls to tenants whose family is far away. “It makes me feel good, knowing he’s helping someone out by showing I care,” he says about Friendly Calls. Lourdes has enjoyed getting to know the tenants and seeing them enjoy the programs she’s worked on. Seeing someone in the elevator smile at her because they know she’s responsible for many of the programs makes her feel great.
We wish them both luck in the future and thank them for their wonderful work!

JASA Partners with Columbia and St. John's on Freshmen Community Service

JASA continues to work with area colleges to develop intergenerational volunteer programs. For the first time this summer, JASA was invited to be a site for the University’s community service orientation program for incoming freshmen. For five Tuesdays in July and August, students volunteered at Penn South Program for Seniors, West Side Senior Center, Brooklyn Senior Alliance Senior Center, Astoria Senior Center and Holliswood Senior Center. Students participated in current events discussion groups, helped with office work, planted gardens, helpedserve lunch, and much more! The experience was enriching for students and seniors alike.

JASA also participated in Columbia University’s Urban Experience orientation program for incoming freshmen in August. The program is designed to connect new students with excellent NYC nonprofit organizations and to familiarize them with diverse areas of New York City. A group of students spent a week at JASA, volunteering at the West Side Senior Center, Cooper Square Housing, and the Van Cortlandt Senior Center.

JASA will continue its strong relationship with Columbia. In September, a group of Barnard students volunteered at the JASA NextAct Open House at John Jay College.

PETS Project Receives Major Grant

JASA was pleased to learn that the PETS Project had received a grant of $40,000 from Amie’s Place Foundation to expand the PETS Project within Manhattan. The PETS Project provides volunteer and financial support to help older adult pet owners keep their animal companions for as long as possible. The grant will enable the PETS Project to serve up to 150 clients in Manhattan from Battery Park to 125th Street.

The Amie’s Place Foundation grant will help JASA to hire new staff person to support the expansion and will ensure that more seniors are able to receive the critical pet assistance they need. The new social worker will act as a liaison to seniors living throughout Manhattan and will provide overall support to the PETS program.

Support from Amie’s Place Foundation will better position JASA to provide much needed help and support to senior pet owners in Manhattan. By keeping seniors and pets together, JASA enables seniors to continue living independently in their homes and communities with dignity and autonomy.

Amie’s Place Foundation was established to fund organizations that provide programs for people who are at risk of losing their pets at times of crisis and help overcome barriers limiting access to their pets when they most need each other. In light of the profound healing effect that pets have on individuals who are going through a difficult, sometimes life-changing event, the Foundation works to provide necessary pet-care assistance and to promote public awareness of the unique bond a beloved pet and its human companion share.