Dear Representative or Senator,

As a Program Director for (or friend of) a Senior Corps Program, I write to request increased appropriations funding for all Senior Corps Programs: Foster Grandparent, RSVP and Senior Companion programs, for Fiscal Year 2009.  Funding for these essential programs is leveraged to save millions more to the federal budget and billions to the American economy as a whole.  Specifically, I request $241.041 million per year (up from the current level of $213.785 million) for these programs with the breakdown as follows: $116.897 million for the Foster Grandparent Program, $72 million for the RSVP, and $52.144 million for the Senior Companion Program.

The President's budget supports FY 07 funding levels for RSVP, maintenance of the current funding level for the Senior Companion Program (a decrease of $820,00 from FY 07 levels), and the drastic reduction of 40% to the Foster Grandparent Program from the current funding level. 

The loss of $40,000,000 to the Foster Grandparent Program will result in a decrease of over 9,000 volunteer service years which translates into a cut of over 16,000 individual volunteers, a loss of over 9,396,000 hours of service, and 135,040 less at-risk children and teens being served, including those with special and exceptional needs.  

Increased funding for the Foster Grandparent Program, RSVP, and the Senior Companion Program is essential, especially during difficult federal budget times when senior volunteers have been a stabilizing force across our nation by providing the most cost-effective services to those in need.  Now as our communities are faced with increasing needs and shrinking resources, Foster Grandparent, RSVP, and Senior Companion volunteers are a growing natural resource to help our communities meet the critical health and social challenges facing our nation. 

The Senior Corps programs offer older adults the opportunity to meet pressing needs in their communities.   Foster Grandparents are limited-income seniors (125% of poverty), age 60 and older, who serve at-risk children with special needs by providing one to one support in the classroom, head start settings and various other agencies expanding the capacity to provide critical services.  Senior Companions are limited-income seniors (125% of poverty), age 60 and older, who serve at-risk, frail elderly reducing the need and premature placement in long-term care facilitates.  RSVP volunteers are 55 and older and serve in areas that impact positive change, improve quality of life, and meet critical needs in their communities. 

I ask your support for this request to restore and increase Foster Grandparent Program funding and to increase funding for RSVP and the Senior Companion Program.   As your constituent, I ask that you voice your support by calling and writing the chair of the Labor HHS Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and urging for the specific funding levels listed here.  I look forward to hearing from you on the progress made.   Thank you so much for your leadership and consideration of Senior Corps issues. 

Sincerely,