WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Older Republicans and
women report they are more likely to volunteer in their communities,
according to a comprehensive report released today by AARP. More to Give, a
joint production with Civic Enterprises, examines volunteerism among
members of the Baby Boom and Silent Generations and offers a roadmap for
increasing volunteerism through public and private initiatives, as well as
renewed efforts by organizations like AARP.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070209/NYF043LOGO )
Earlier this week, President Bush released a USA Freedom Corps report
at the White House that noted, " ... increasing rates of service among the
young and a greater commitment to volunteer service among older Americans
... represent an opportunity for the country to marshal the talents of
'Millennials' and 'Baby Boomers' to tackle tough community problems."
However despite the commitment to volunteer noted by the President, the
AARP report found that most older Americans (55%) believe they will leave
the world in worse condition than it was. Fortunately, they have the
potential to improve it through volunteering, with four in ten --
approximately 45 million people -- planning to increase their volunteer
work in the next five years.
"The good news is that today's 50+ Americans have been volunteering
their time and talents for decades, and they're ready to do more," said
AARP Chief Operating Officer Tom Nelson. "The bad news is that our country
needs it. Boomers and older Americans fear the American Dream is slipping
away, but they're ready to turn it around again."
More to Give was authored by three leading experts in American civic
engagement: John Bridgeland, CEO of Civic Enterprises and former Director
of the USA Freedom Corps; Robert D. Putnam, the author of Bowling Alone:
The Collapse and Revival of American Community; and former U.S. Senator
Harris Wofford, who served as Special Assistant to President Kennedy during
the launch of the Peace Corps.
The report was produced as part of ServiceNation, a national call to
action to solve some of America's toughest challenges through volunteerism.
ServiceNation will launch on Sept. 11 and 12 in New York City. Senators
John McCain and Barack Obama will participate in a forum on service on
Sept. 11. First Lady Laura Bush, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Caroline
Kennedy, Alma Powell, Mayor Mike Bloomberg, AARP CEO Bill Novelli and many
others will then participate in a full-day forum on Sept. 12 to develop
ways to engage individual volunteers and encourage service by increasing
opportunities and resources.
Co-author John Bridgeland said, "The Boomer, Silent and Greatest
Generations represent nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population today and
want to meet real needs in their communities. Their ideas and insights
point the way to how we can more effectively engage them and marry their
talents and lifetime of experience with urgent needs like high school
dropout and helping older Americans live independently in their homes."
Robert Putnam commented, "I've called the Greatest Generation the 'long
civic generation' -- those who volunteered, gave to charities, trusted one
another and key institutions, and participated politically at higher rates
than generations before or since. I hope that we can meet the Boomer and
Silent Generation where they are and fashion sensible ways to engage them
more deeply; even a modest increase in their civic engagement could make a
world of difference."
Harris Wofford said, "Our generation lived through the Great
Depression, served in World War II, supported the Marshall Plan and set the
pace for civic action. Every generation of Americans seeks purpose and is
ready to be called to serve. We need a national dialogue that helps unlock
the talents and skills of these next two generations of experienced
Americans."
Other key findings from More to Give:
-- Respondents are motivated to help others. Over half (52%) of
respondents said that the desire to "help people in need" was an extremely
important motivation for volunteering, followed by 48% who cited the desire
to "stay healthy and active" as a motivation to volunteer.
-- Many respondents are interested in helping the young and old. 40%
are most interested in mentoring or tutoring young people, and 38% are most
interested in helping older people live independently.
-- Greater access to education and health care are two key motivators
among respondents. Over half of boomers surveyed (55%) said that education
awards they can earn and give to a child in exchange for significant levels
of volunteer service would have a big or moderate impact on their
participation in volunteer activities. Similarly, nearly half of boomer
respondents (47%) cited access to group health insurance as another key
incentive to volunteer. These incentives are most appealing to African
Americans and Hispanics.
-- Respondents are not impeded by health or caregiving issues. A
majority of older adult respondents (53%) said they are unimpeded by health
or caregiving for relatives in their home.
-- Lack of time and the need to make money are perceived as barriers to
volunteering. Among the chief barriers to volunteerism, include a perceived
lack of time (70%) or need to make money (54%). Most Americans from the
baby boomer and silent generations expressed an interest in volunteering
without a regular schedule.
-- Volunteerism split among party affiliation. Among those surveyed,
Republicans reported volunteering more than Democrats (83% - 67%), which is
likely due to their greater tendency of regularly attending religious
services.
-- Women are more likely to volunteer now and in future. Among those
surveyed, women are currently volunteering more than men (76% - 60%). Women
are also more likely to increase their service in the next few years (44% -
38%), particularly among boomer women (50%).
-- Boomers, Hispanics and African Americans were the most likely to
expect an increase in their volunteer service, as are those who attend
religious services, vote and are healthy.
Nelson added: "AARP was founded with the motto, 'To Serve, Not to Be
Served,' and we've been engaging volunteers for fifty years. We are putting
a high priority on increasing the number and involvement of 50+ volunteers,
which will not only help keep them active and healthy, but will help meet
our country's urgent needs."
The report notes that while the absolute levels of volunteering, actual
and prospective, reported should be taken with a grain of salt, the authors
are confident of comparisons within groups of volunteers, the existence of
significant untapped potential, their attitudes and behaviors toward
volunteer service, the motivations and barriers for doing so, and their
preferences and insights that can strongly inform initiatives and
policymaking.
To get involved in your community, or for more information, please
visit http://www.aarp.org/CreateTheGood or http://www.civicenterprises.net .
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps
people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are
beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not
endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either
political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the
definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation
magazine with over 33 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source
for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the
only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic
community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated
charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older
persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and
sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
SOURCE AARP
 back to top
Related links:
http://www.aarp.org
http://www.aarp.org/CreateTheGood
http://www.civicenterprises.net
Photo Notes:
NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070209/NYF043LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
CONTACT:
Jim Dau or Jordan McNerney, +1-202-434-2560,
both of AARP
|
