National Grandparents Day: Grants for Aging and Seniors
We all know about Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but many people forget there is another day to celebrate. National Grandparents Day takes place on the first Sunday of September after Labor Day. This year, that date falls on September 10th. The day focuses on recognizing grandparents and other seniors in our lives who have been positive role models over the years. Having an extended family can be a great way to learn about the history of your own family. However, even if you do not have your own extended family, there is always something to be learned from those who have more years under their belt. Maybe you have a family friend who is older you want to spend some time with or you want to sign up to volunteer at a nursing home.
Just as it is important to take the time to thank our grandparents and elders for all that they do, it is equally important to make sure the programs available to help seniors have funding to continue. GrantWatch.com has a category specifically for aging and seniors with close to 400 grants currently accepting applications. Today, GrantWatch is sharing 5 of these grants in honor of National Grandparents Day. Using GrantWatch, you can also find a list of foundations that have funded aging and senior programs and resources in the past.
Grants to celebrate National Grandparents Day:
- There are grants available to clinicians and researchers for dementia-related studies.
- Grants are also available to nonprofit organizations for projects that benefit older adults ages 65 and above.
- In addition, funding exists for nonprofits for professional training and education projects that significantly focus on staff and personnel working with seniors.
- Grants are also open to nonprofit organizations to conduct applied research projects that have direct and immediate implications on the older adult population, ages 65 and older.
- Lastly, grants are available to clinicians and researchers based at nonprofits, for-profits, IHEs, and medical centers for Alzheimer’s disease treatment research.
A Personal Story From the Author
I thought I would take some time in this blog to share something about my own grandmother: Bubby (Yiddish for Grandmother) Honey. I had the opportunity to live down the block from my grandmother in my early 20s; but as a child, she always had interesting stories to tell me. She grew up during the Great Depression; her mother was my namesake. She told me countless stories about her mother sewing dresses for dances and of the hardships they faced. My grandmother became a nurse and a teacher and oversaw catering for nursing homes. She was a vibrant woman who always had advice or an opinion to share and could knit and sew better than anyone else. My grandmother also ran the sisterhood, overseeing all the activities for the synagogue for decades. She was truly a leader and a force of nature.
My grandmother taught me a lot about myself and was an inspiration for me. She always told me I could be anything I wanted in life. I miss her, my mother misses her, we all miss her. She passed away at 95 years old. She and my grandfather, Zeide Tuvia, were married for over 65 years. This National Grandparents Day I want to thank her for all she did.
How to Celebrate
One awesome way to celebrate this holiday is by throwing a family picnic or get-together. Find a cool spot, bring yummy food, and enjoy chatting, laughing, and maybe even playing games. It’s a fantastic chance for grandparents to share their stories and for grandkids to learn and have a blast simultaneously!
If your grandparents live far away, no worries! You can still have a super cool celebration through video calls. It’s like talking on the computer or phone, but you can see each other too! Try cooking something together, doing a fun craft, reading stories, or even having a little quiz game. Even if you’re not in the same place, you can still show your love and make National Grandparents Day special.
GrantNews Notes
With close to 8,000 grants currently available, GrantWatch.com is the leading grant listing directory. Upgrade to a MemberPlus+ subscription to view the full grant details, including eligibility criteria and application information. For more information, you can also visit the GrantWatch FAQ page. To see the great value of all 20 of the top GrantWatch features, click here.