RELEASE: November 27, 2001

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Senior citizens who volunteer their time providing companionship to children and adults with developmental disabilities were honored at the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Award Banquet at the Boardwalk Holiday Inn, Atlantic City, on Monday, Nov. 26, 7 p.m.

The event honored volunteers with 10 to 25 years of service as companions to people who receive services from the NJ Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). DDD provides residential and other services to people with developmental disabilities; such as, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, epilepsy or autism.

The Foster Grandparent program was established in 1967 and currently has 277 volunteers statewide. Foster Grandparents work with children with special needs in local communities or in DDD developmental centers, which are large residential centers. The Senior Companion Program began in 1975 to provide companions to the aging population in the state’s seven developmental centers. There are 50 Senior Companions working with 100 residents.

DHS Acting Commissioner James W. Smith, Jr. presented a 20-year service award to Emma Harris, a Foster Grandparent at the Vineland Developmental Center. "Our developmental center residents and people for whom we provide services to in their own communities, cherish their Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions. The importance of volunteers in their lives is immeasurable."

The event was sponsored by DDD, the NJ Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program, the Foster Grandparent Foundation and Advisory Council and the US Corporation for National Service.

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