Older Caregivers Find Hope In Giving Hope

Boys Hope Girls Hope, a nonprofit children’s social services organization, has found gold in golden agers.

Boys Hope Girls Hope takes children of potential and possibility whose circumstances—shattered families, blighted neighborhoods, overcrowded or under performing schools—stand in the way of their success. By putting them in non-institutional, family-style homes and first-rate schools, and providing academic, emotional, spiritual, and financial support through college, the program restores hope to children and their communities.

The children are cared for by both full-time Residential Counselors—24/7/365 house parents who live with them and take care of them—and by volunteers provided by the Federal AmeriCorps program, who serve as both Community Resource Coordinators, who canvass the community for support, and Scholar Support Corps members, who provide tutoring and other academic support.

To fill these positions, Boys Hope Girls Hope has traditionally relied on recent college graduates. But that picture is changing. Some Affiliates have been hiring outside the traditional parameters, with unexpected results.

“Traditionally, positions like these attract younger applicants,” says Tom Casey, Boys Hope Girls Hope’s Director of Human Resources. “They see it as a way to get their foot in the door of the children’s services and social services world. But these positions can be rewarding to people at all stages of their career. It’s stimulating work that you can feel good about doing. We’re seeing our kids benefit tremendously from being with people with more life experience and the wealth of knowledge they have to share.”

Jane Jensen Saint, Executive Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope of Nevada, was seated next to septuagenarian and longtime Las Vegas community volunteer Angela Wallin at a charitable function and had the chance to share with her what Boys Hope Girls Hope does. Angela has been a mainstay of Las Vegas’ nonprofit community for years—“There isn’t a body part I haven’t raised money for,” she jokes—but Boys Hope Girls Hope caught her interest.

“I’ve always loved children,” says this mother of two and grandmother of four, “and I love a program that helps youth. So when Jane told me about the AmeriCorps program—specifically, the Community Resource Coordinator—I asked her if she’d ever considered anyone in the senior population for the position.”

At Jane’s encouragement, Angie applied for the position and was accepted. She immediately put her extensive network of contacts and her experience to work on behalf of the children in the program. Since coming on board, she has spearheaded instituted several different programs, excursions, and implemented innovative approaches to raising the organization’s profile in Las Vegas, finding new mentors for the children, and creating opportunities for them to broaden their horizons.

“My parents were immigrants,” Angie says, “and they taught me important lessons about the importance of participating and giving back. They were so grateful to be in this country. I get more out of it personally than people realize—giving back and helping youth is not only the right thing to do, it’s necessary for me.”

The Chicago Affiliate is also having success with nontraditional hires. George Dotson, 60, joined the program this autumn as a Residential Counselor. After a 35-year career working with children in his native Evanston, IL as a coach, Community Center Director, and Youth Programs manager, George was facing retirement, but wasn’t ready to stop working. George had learned about Boys Hope Girls Hope through his own children, who attended Chicago’s Loyola Academy with Boys Hope Girls Hope scholars, and one lunch with Boys Hope Girls Hope of Chicago’s Executive Director Pat Hughes was enough to convince him to join the program as a Residential Counselor.

“I’ve been involved with youth activities my entire working life,” George says. “It’s not so much a job as it is a vocation. I need to be helping people—it’s the way I’m built. And this is a perfect place for me to be. I can see the growth potential in all of these kids—given the chance to be around solid people and get a solid education, every one of these young men can go to the moon or higher. They all have the potential to be great.”

 “I am very impressed with George,” says Dianne O’Donovan, who serves on the Illinois Affiliate’s board. She’s a member of the Program Committee and is chair of its Mentor Committee. “He has such a gentle, nurturing presence about him and I love his insight into the boys. He’s a great hire!”

The success of hires like Angie and George has encouraged the organization to broaden its hiring parameters and actively seek out retirees, empty-nesters, and those looking for a change of career.