Senior Volunteer Program Receives Major Grant

Designated a “Program of National Significance” for Innovative Approach

On Wednesday, June 23, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) awarded the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Northern Cook and DuPage Counties (RSVP) a Program of National Significance Award, a special augment grant of over $67,000 dollars.

RSVP, which is administered locally by The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago (TVC), connects people 55 years of age and better with high-impact volunteer opportunities throughout Chicago’s northwest suburbs. The grant will allow RSVP to place skilled volunteers at local organizations that provide educational, tutoring, literacy and after school services to students with limited English proficiency.

“The support of volunteers is really essential as organizations face an increasing demand for services and a decreasing amount of support in today’s economy,” said Mary Fitzgibbons, Executive Director of TVC.

Facing budget cuts across school districts in Illinois, schools and educational nonprofit programs need to find cost-effective solutions to maintain their programs. By strategically placing skills-based volunteers at these organizations, RSVP will connect them with professional expertise at no cost and assist them in addressing administrative, marketing, and other challenges. This will ultimately increase their capacity to help students succeed academically.

RSVP of Northern Cook and DuPage Counties was one of 48 “Programs of National Significance” grantees. Authorized under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, more than $1.2 million dollars in grants was awarded to RSVP programs to expand and better target federal resources toward the nation’s toughest challenges.

“These grants will expand opportunities for more seniors to help transform their communities through service,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of CNCS, the federal agency that administers RSVP and its parent, Senior Corps.