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A letter from the President of the Board of Directors
In July 2008 I succeeded Mike Sorrells as Board President after serving on the Board for 4 years. The year has been one in which Interages has experienced both successes and challenges. Its accomplishments reflect the hard work and dedication of Carol Croll, Interages’ Executive Director, our staff, and our volunteers.
I would first like to focus on our accomplishments. During the 2008-2009 school year, 573 children and youth and 252 frail and isolated seniors participated in Interages programs at 48 sites in Montgomery County. This year, 231 older adult volunteers donated thousands of hours totaling the equivalent of $127,004 of in-kind support.
I would like to elaborate on one initiative and two ongoing programs. First, we teamed up with the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum in our Heroes on Stamps program, which introduces middle-school students to heroes honored by U.S. stamps. This pilot program, which we conducted in partnership with Rosa Parks Middle School, was a tremendous success. The Museum has agreed to sponsor it in 8 to 10 additional County middle schools during the current school year, and is planning to replicate it in other school districts in the D.C. metropolitan area and, eventually, elsewhere.
Second, the Montgomery County Intergenerational Resource Center had an excellent year. Interages provides five meetings per year, bringing together representatives from state and local governments, nursing homes, schools and other non-profits that support and understand the importance of intergenerational programs. We continue to provide training and technical assistance to organizations interested in establishing intergenerational programs in their community.
Finally, the Intergenerational Bridges program (a mentor program for at-risk immigrant youth) finished its 19th year of service in the County’s public schools. We have expanded Bridges to two upper-county middle schools and are prepared to bring it to others as funding and volunteers become available.
As you will see from this annual report, Interages’ financial position reflects both the prudent practices of past Boards, which established financial controls and built up a reserve, and the challenges presented by the current economic climate. Carol Croll continued to seek additional sources of financial support and worked with the Board of Directors and staff to help control costs.
During the year we added four new Board members: a businessman/consultant, two Montgomery County Public School officials (one recently retired), and a retired school teacher who also managed Kids on the Block. Their background and experience has been invaluable to the Board.
In closing, I would like to thank all of our staff, volunteers, the local government, foundations, corporations and individual contributors for another year of fantastic support. I look forward to another successful year of service to our community.
James P. McMann
President, Interages Board of Directors
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