Rose Community Foundation has awarded 12 grants of $5,000 for efforts to mobilize the experience and knowledge of the baby boom generation for social benefit. The Boomer Innovation Grants (BIG) program is part of Rose Community Foundation's
Boomers Leading Change initiative, which is working to expand opportunities for baby boomers to live meaningful and productive lives in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.
A committee of volunteers from Rose Community Foundation and several other funding organizations selected the 12 grantees from a total of 39 proposals submitted. Grantees include nonprofit organizations, government institutions, higher education, consultants and entrepreneurs. The selection committee awarded three grants in each of four different categories:
· Boomer connecting points and networks offering information and resources
· Restructuring institutions and employment to attract boomers
· A health initiative
· Work force development for boomers seeking employment alternatives
These four categories correspond to four "action steps" identified in a comprehensive research project completed earlier in 2007.
"These small grants are a way for the Foundation to stimulate creative thinking about ways to engage the baby boom generation," said Sheila Bugdanowitz, president and CEO of Rose Community Foundation. In addition to the grants, the Foundation is also working with volunteers and consultants to create business plans addressing the four action steps.
The 12 Boomer Innovation Grants recipients are described under the category in which they were awarded.
Boomer Connecting Points and Networks
State of Colorado Department of Human Services: To support BB Connection, an interactive Web-based tool to connect older adults with employment, volunteer and lifelong learning opportunities.
University of Denver: To expand the Lifelong Education Institute's offerings to include transition counseling, learning opportunities, job training and networking connections.
Veterans Helping Veterans: To support a project organized by Vietnam-era veterans to assist returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan in readjusting to civilian life.
Restructuring Institutions and Employment
Big Brothers Big Sisters: Support for a Baby Boomer Affinity Group to enhance the role of volunteer mentors in their 50s and 60s as one-to-one youth mentors.
JF Fixler & Associates: To support the publication of a book,
The Boomer Civic Engagement Handbook: A Guide for Accessing Abundant Resources.
Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC): To support Home Chore Help, a program that will recruit and train Native American boomer elders to offer domestic assistance to homebound elders in need of these services.
Health Initiative
Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved: To staff an effort that will involve boomers in enrolling an estimated 55,000 qualified Colorado children in Medicaid and Child Health Plan
Plus.
Denver Health Foundation: To support an initiative to engage up to 50 boomers in the Volunteer CNA (certified nursing assistant) Program, possibly leading to future employment.
St. Anthony Hospitals: To support The Legacy Leadership Institute, which will engage boomers in new volunteer roles within the health care field.
Work Force Development/Career Transition Education
AARP Foundation WorkSearch: To support a computer lab that will assist mature workers in accessing WorkSearch assistance and improving technology skills required for job placement.
Colorado Community College System Foundation: To support Boomer Connections: Project Renew, an effort to attract boomers into the community college system for job training, volunteer support for students, pursuit of personal interests and teaching.
Karen Newman, Ph.D.: To support a feasibility study for a potential business venture that will help create more attractive late career employment opportunities.
For more information, visit
coloradoboomers.com.