Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/575

 PUBLIC LAW 99-131—OCT. 28, 1985

99 STAT. 553

Public Law 99-131 99th Congress Joint Resolution To designate October 1985 as "National Foster Grandparent Month".

Whereas the Foster Grandparent Program celebrates its twentieth anniversary in 1985; Whereas the Foster Grandparent Program, administered by the national volunteer agency known as the ACTION Agency, was the first Federal program to provide older individuals with opportunities for retirement to service as an alternative to retirement from activity; Whereas older individuals participating in the Foster Grandparent Program have provided unique, personal guidance and care to tens of thousands of physically, emotionally, and mentally handicapped children and children who are abused, neglected, in the juvenile justice system, or in need of special help; Whereas in its first year of operation the Foster Grandparent Program established 33 projects in 27 States and involved 782 Foster Grandparent volunteers; Whereas today approximately 19,000 Foster Grandparents are serving some 65,000 children in 245 projects in the 50 States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia; Whereas the growth of the Foster Grandparent Program reflects increasing public and institutional awareness of the enormous benefit that such Program brings to all who participate in it and to the Nation: the volunteers benefit from improved health, increased independence, decreased isolation, and lessened financial burdens; and the children who are served make great gains in their physical, social, and psychological development, and the love of a Foster Grandparent is for many children the first personal warmth and concern they have known; Whereas the service of Foster Grandparent volunteers represents a tremendous return on tax dollars and a great value to the American people; Whereas the Foster Grandparent Program is one of the most meaningful social service programs ever developed, providing older individuals with opportunities to participate crucially and creatively in community service; and Whereas the activities of Foster Grandparent volunteers continue to improve the public attitude concerning older individuals and to demonstrate the importance of using the expertise of retired persons to help solve social problems: Now, therefore, be it

Oct. 28, 1985 [S.J. Res. 92]'

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