Newsletter 4

2003 VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

Our 2003 Volunteer Recognition was held on Friday, May
16th at the Four Points Sheraton Downtown and was a
huge success! The theme of the event was "Foster
Grandparents Light The Way", and was chosen because
Foster Grandparents are beacons that light the way for
the children in our community. 283 senior volunteers were
honored. These volunteers contributed 214,020 hours on
individual attention to over 3,500 children at 88 locations
in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties this past year.

Twenty-seven community leaders hosted tables set up for
the Grandparents and guests, including Representatives
for Congresswoman Corrine Brown, Orange County
Chairman, Richard Crotty, Senator Bill Nelson,
Congressperson John Mica, as well as representatives
from the Seminole County School Board, the Orange
County Citizen's Commisson for Children, Seminole County
Volunteer Program, the Retired & Senior Volunteer
Program of Orange County, the Orange County
Commission on Aging, Orlando Regional Healthcare System,
the Corporation for National and Community Service, and
4C Head Start.

Dede Schaffner, Seminole County School Board Member,
introduced Grandparents who have served for five years.
Grandparents serving ten, fifteen, and twenty years were
presented plagues by Ruben Nazario, Corporation For
National and Community Service, and Oree Johnson, FGP
Advisory Board.

Eccleston Elementary and Lila Mitchell Head Start received
the Volunteer Site of The Year Award presented by Jane
Watkins, Assistant Director. Ann Smith, Director,
received a donation to the program from her sister,
Regina Harris-Conway, in memory of their mother, Orleeta
Harris.

FOSTER GRANDPARENT IS "VICTIM"

Foster Grandparent, Bea Russo, and staff person, Gregory
Bryant, played the part of "victims" in the American Red
Cross Weapons of Mass Destruction Mass Casualty
Exercise on Wednesday, June 25, 2003.

The exercise created a scenario in which a water truck
that had been filled with toxic chemicals by a terrorist
exploded. Grandma Bea's role was to wander around in a
unresponsive state with a broken arm and breathing
problems. The Emergeny Medical Technicians treated her
on the spot, putting a splint on her broken arm,
administering oxygen, and treating her for skin irritation.
Greg played the part of a Emergency Medical Technician
Assistant, helping the injured while waiting for emergency
vehicles to arrive. His own "injuries" included skin burns
and breathing problems. Upon arrival of the emergency
vehicles, Greg was transported to the Orlando Regional
Medical Center for examination and treatment. When
Greg arrived at the hospital, he was decontaminated prior
to being allowed to enter.

Following decontamination, Greg was admitted to the
hospital and treated for injuries. He was then discharged
and returned to the scene.

FUNDERS

Corporation For National And Community Service

$854,157

Corporation For National And Community Service

PNS Grant

$193,500

Heart Of Florida United Way

$63,381

Orange County

$32,250

Orange County Citizen's Commission For Children

$10,500

We are very excited to announce the award of our
Programs of National Significance Grant from the
Corporation for National and Community Sevice. Our grant
application placed third in the nation and missed second
place by only one point. This grant will provide funds for 43
new Foster Grandparents through the Childrens Home
Society and through Head Start. The special needs to be
addressed are from children from unstable families in
foster care and whose parents are incarcerated.