For Immediate Release

SHERMAN, MAY 19, 2017 – Celebrating National Senior Corps Week, Dr. Susan Thomas, Executive Director of Texoma Council of Governments (TCOG) commended TCOG’s Senior Corps volunteers for their more than 100,000 hours of service to the region.

In 2016, Texoma Senior Corps volunteers contributed 123,391 hours of service to ninety-seven tri-county stations which equates to a value of $3,103,275 according to the Independent Sector Website on “The Value of Volunteer Time.” Sixty-six local organizations in Cooke, Fannin and Grayson counties benefit from Texoma Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteers. Approximately 140 local children are mentored by our forty Foster Grandparent Program (FGP) volunteers. Texoma Senior Corps volunteers serve as mentors to local students, transportation providers, food distributors, and meal deliverers, and they provide various other client based support activities throughout Texoma each year.

Dr. Thomas said, “These volunteers provide a tremendous, positive impact on the lives they touch. Our communities are blessed to have these senior volunteers who continue to give of themselves to help support our various community programs.”

According to the Corporation of National and Community Service, National Senior Corps Week, May 15-19, 2017 is the time to recognize not just the legacy of Senior Corps programs in communities, but also the unique ability of Americans age 55 and over to effect lasting generational impact. This week of recognition is also in accordance with the month of May which is Older Americans Month.

The Texoma Senior Corps volunteer program became active in Texoma in 1987. Texoma RSVP also became active in 1987 and the Foster Grandparent Program was added in 1997. Texoma residents age 55 and older, with a heart to serve, are eligible to volunteer in both programs. Those seniors interested becoming a Foster Grandparent volunteer must also meet certain income level requirements, be able to pass a physical and criminal background check, and commit to a minimum of fifteen hours a week. A small stipend and liability insurance are provided to volunteers who participate in the program. Texoma Senior Corps programs benefit the community, the organization, and the volunteer which creates a win-win experience for all involved.

The Texoma Council of Governments is a voluntary association of the local governments in Cooke, Fannin, and Grayson Counties. Established in 1968, the Texoma Council of Governments promotes economy and efficiency in the coordinated planning and development of the tri-county region through its community and economic development activities. Either directly, or through contractors, the Council provides housing, utility assistance, and weatherization services for low-income citizens in the region and assists the elderly through a variety of Area Agency on Aging programs. The Council also facilitates the delivery of grant funding for homeland security and criminal justice.

For Immediate Release

Mayor Nutter Announces Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service on April 9

More than 75 mayors already signed on to recognize impact of national service

(Washington DC.) – Mayors across the country will participate in a national day of recognition this April 9 to highlight the impact of national service in their cities and thank individuals who serve, Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter, President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, announced today at the group’s annual winter meeting.

As part of his president’s report, Mayor Nutter told the assembled mayors that more than 75 of their colleagues across the country have already signed onto the effort, the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service.

The initiative will be led by U.S. Conference of Mayors President Michael Nutter, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Cities of Service, and other organizations.

“Mayors are leaders who get things done, responding every day to needs in their cities,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “I commend Mayor Nutter for his outstanding leadership, and thank all those mayors joining in this important effort to recognize the impact of national service on the critical challenges facing our cities.”

As the federal agency for service and volunteering, CNCS annually engages more than four million citizens in service at more than 70,000 sites across the country through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and other programs. CNCS leverages federal and private funds to support organizations that achieve measurable results where the need is greatest. A significant portion of this investment is focused on cities. CNCS has investments in more than 500 cities with a population of at least 30,000. Last year, CNCS leveraged more than $1 billion in investments for organizations operating or based in these cities. National service also plays a key role in many smaller cities and towns and rural areas.

The initiative has already gained support from a diverse range of mayors including big cities (Michael Bloomberg of New York, Vincent Gray of Washington, D.C., Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles, Rahm Emanuel of Chicago), to mid-size cities (Mark Stodola of Little Rock, Richard Berry of Albuquerque, NM; Jim Suttles of Omaha, NE; and Scott Smith of Mesa, AZ; U.S. Conference of Mayors Vice President) and smaller cities (Walter Maddox of Tuscaloosa, AL; Robert Macdonald of Lewiston, ME; and John Engen of Missoula, MT). A full list is available here.

On the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, mayors will participate in a variety of activities, including visiting national service programs, hosting roundtables at City Hall, issuing proclamations, and communicating about national service through social media. Participating in the day will highlight the importance of citizen service, show support for nonprofit and national service groups, recognize the role national service members play in focusing community volunteers and inspire more residents to serve in their communities.

For more information on the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, including background and participating mayors, visit www.nationalservice.gov/mayorsforservice.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more than four million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and other programs, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.