Boston, MA - (October 29, 2007) When South Cove Manor Nursing Home developed the Adopt-a-Grandparent Program, with funding from a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation of Battle Creek Michigan, the goal was to promote intergenerational activity, foster education on caring for the elderly, and to help young adults develop an appreciation of the values, traditions and wisdom seniors have to offer. What came out of the program, in the form of the students' program completion essays, was a heart felt appreciation for the experience of sharing. Sharing time, sharing life stories, and enjoying activities together, the students' essays underscore the true rewards of intergenerational learning.

South Cove Manor Nursing Home, located in the heart of Boston's Chinatown neighborhood, provides care for Asian seniors, with an emphasis on creating a vibrant cultural environment. The students who participate in the Adopt-a-Grandparent pilot program all speak fluent Chinese, and come from high schools throughout the region. "This experience has given me so much respect for my grandparents and all other senior citizens around the world." Annie Chen, a senior at Framingham High School said. "They have gone through many challenges throughout their lives and now finally are able to sit down and relax. They are people whom have had a great life and are now teaching us, the young, to live our lives wisely."

From "Chilling with the Elderly" by Ka Chun Chan (Kenny) to "A Different Perspective" by Jessica Zou, both of North Quincy High School, the essays of the first group of students to participate in the program are potent in their content, perspective and conclusions that "Everyone should be approached with love and care no matter his or her age and the differences that lie in between."

"They have many things to talk about, especially about their lives and children." Emily Huynh, a junior at North Quincy High said. "Grandparents may look tired and old, but inside they are very happy and energetic people."

The experience has also changed the students' relationships with their own family members. "I now go to visit my biological grandmother much more often: we have more topics to talk about because of what I have learned from this program. Patience is the key," Candice Tsang, a junior, also of North Quincy High observed. Diana Lee, of Boston Latin Academy, developed a bond of trust with her adopted Grandmother. "She is wise with age of experience and she is able to solve my problems most of the time. She, in fact, has made me view my parents differently and made me wonder how much sacrifice they have made for me, and yet I was unable to return anything to them, but to continue to further educate myself for a better future, for both my family and I."

The high school students who successfully complete the program will receive a scholarship of up to $1,000 each towards higher education. "We were amazed at the results," Li Chen, the Administrator of South Cove Manor Nursing Home said. "We knew that our residents would benefit from the social interaction and activities, but it turns out the students were equally impacted by the experience, taking the residents into their hearts, and establishing true friendships."

South Cove Nursing Facilities Foundation applied the grant funds for the program to the 100-bed skilled nursing facility they operate. Offering the highest quality of care in a vibrant bi-cultural environment, South Cove Manor received the grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to explore the impact of intergenerational learning by providing first-hand experiences for both the students and their adopted grandparents. The pilot program is continuing through the end of this year, and will involve a total of 20 students.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation: The W.K. Kellogg Foundation was established in 1930 "to help people help themselves through the practical application of knowledge and resources to improve their quality of life and that of future generations." To achieve the greatest impact, the Foundation targets its grants toward specific areas. These include: health; food systems and rural development; youth and education; and philanthropy and volunteerism. Within these areas, attention is given to exploring learning opportunities in leadership; information and communication technology; capitalizing on diversity; and social and economic community development. Grants are concentrated in the United States, Latin American and the Caribbean, and the southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. For further information, please visit the Foundation's Web site at: www.wkkf.org. The site offers: in-depth information about the Foundation's programming interests; information on the Foundation's grant application process; a database of current grant recipients; and access to publications which report on Foundation-funded projects.