Tom Taylor at a recent Seniors4Kids event at the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency Hildebrandt Learning Center in Harrisburg, PA

A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove. But the world may be different, because I was important in the life of a boy. 
-- Forest Witcraft

Across the country, increasing numbers of baby boomers and seniors are enjoying longer periods of healthy and active retirement or “encore” careers than ever before. Many are responding to the time-honored American tradition of using their experience and skills in service to others.

Last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly one in four American adults age 65 or older took part in organized volunteer activities. “Seniors don’t just care about Social Security and Medicare,” said volunteer Deborah Turner. “The well being of our entire community matters to me.”

Educational and youth service-related activities were outpaced only by religious organizations as the focus of seniors’ volunteer work. Older adults from different states, diverse backgrounds, and various walks of life support quality, affordable early childhood education.

“Older adults are especially concerned about leaving the world a better place for future generations,” says Donna Butts, Executive Director of Generations United, an organization focused on improving the lives of children, youth and older Americans. “Volunteers in our Seniors4Kids program are determined to ‘pay it forward’ to benefit younger Americans.”

Volunteering with Seniors4Kids gives older adults an opportunity to put the skills and talents they have worked their entire lives to develop to good use in their communities. As “Captains4Kids,” advocates raise their voices in support of early education. They form networks of community leaders across their state, write articles for their local newspapers, reach out to other senior organizations, and meet with their legislators to discuss the benefits of pre-k for all generations.

Civic engagement in causes like Seniors4Kids offers adults over 50 opportunities to become more active in their communities, continue learning, and enjoy