The Program of Distinction and Program of Merit designations are based on the criteria that underpin the effectiveness of any intergenerational program and are intended to recognize the rich diversity among programs that involve older and younger generations.
Intergenerational programs are defined here as programs, policies, and practices that increase cooperation, interaction, and exchange between people of different generations, allowing them to share their talents and resources, and support each other in relationships that benefit both the individuals and their community.
There are two levels of recognition:
- Programs of Merit excel beyond the minimum standard of effectiveness.
- Programs of Distinction meet a higher standard of innovation, leadership, and/or best practices and develop greater confidence in program sustainability and capacity to achieve targeted outcomes.
Benefits*
Programs that are selected to receive either designation will receive:
- National recognition for outstanding work, including publicity through Generations United’s website, e-newsletter, and social media outlets.
- Participation and acknowledgment in a virtual showcase of selected programs.
- Letter of support from Generations United, upon request.
- The official logo for use on websites and other materials; and
- A certificate recognizing this accomplishment.
As a recognized Program of Distinction or Program of Merit, recipients represent the highest standards of intergenerational programs and will become a part of a distinguished national network of programs.
If you need assistance or would like to submit a hard copy of your application, please contact gu@gu.org.
*Once awarded, designations are renewed annually by completing a simple online update form.
Current Programs of Distinction:
- AARP Foundation Experience Corps, Washington D.C
- Adam and Matan Adelson Multigenerational Program at Hebrew SeniorLife, Deadham, MA
- AGE to age, Northland Foundation, Duluth, MN
- A Little Help for Older Adults, Denver, CO
- NEW! All Seasons Preschool, Inver Grove Heights, MN
- NEW! ARISE – Arts Through Intergenerational Social Engagement, Columbus, OH
- United HomeCare AVUS Connect Tech Pals, Miami, FL
- Bridge Meadows, Portland, OR
- Concerts in Motion, New York, NY
- DOROT, New York, NY
- Elder Service Partner Program at Messiah University Department of Human Development and Family Science, Mechanicsburg, PA
- NEW! Engaging Generations Cyber-Seniors Program at the University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
- Gaithersburg Beloved Community Initiative, Gaithersburg, MD
- NEW! Grandfriend Program at The Lerner Early Childhood Center at Congregation Agudath Israel, Caldwell, NJ
- Grandpas United, City of White Plains Youth Bureau, White Plains, NY
- Hearts and Minds Activity Center, Intergenerational Program, San Jose, CA
- Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E) Intergenerational Housing, Chicago, IL
- JCA Heyman Interages Center, Rockville, MD
- Jefferson Area Board for Aging Friends in Schools Helping (FISH) Mentor Program, Charlottesville, VA
- Juliette Fowler Communities Generation2Generation, Dallas, TX
- NEW! El Buen Samaritano Juntos: Sharing Our Stories, Austin, TX
- NEW! KEEP, Eugene, OR
- Kendal at Oberlin, Oberlin, OH
- Lake Shore Family Center, Irving, NY
- LBFE Boston CitySites, Boston, MA
- Legacy Letters, AgePRIDE at the Goldsen Institute-University of Washington, Seattle, WA
- NEW! Lifting Hearts with the Arts, Chicago, IL
- LinkAGES Colorado, Pine, CO
- Link Generations, Bethesda, MD
- Lives Well Lived: Generations, San Luis Obispo, CA
- Lori’s Hands, Newark, DE
- Lutheran Home Children’s Center, Wauwatosa, WI
- Motion Picture & Television Fund (MPTF) Volunteer Program, Woodland Hills, CA
- NEW! New Life Village, Tampa, FL
- NYU Center for Health and Aging Innovation, New York, NY
- NEW! The Oasis Institute Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring, St. Ann, MO
- ONEgeneration, Van Nuys, CA
- Pear Suite Pear Pals (Virtual Platform)
- Pillars of Prospect Park, Minneapolis, MN
- Sages & Seekers, Los Angeles, CA
- Scripps Gerontology Center Opening Minds through Art (OMA), Oxford, OH
- NEW! Scripps Gerontology Center ScrippsAVID, Oxford Ohio
- Senior Adults for Greater Education (SAGE), Newtown, PA
- Seniors in Service of Tampa Bay, Inc. Health Buddies, Tampa, FL
- NEW! Sequoia Living Intergenerational Program, San Francisco, CA
- Sharing Teens and Elders Project (S.T.E.P), Olympia, WA
- NEW! SilverKite® Intergenerational Programs, Seattle, WA
- SMART Reading, Portland, OR
- Social Call, a Front Porch Community Service, Glendale, CA
- St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care, Milwaukee, WI
- NEW! The InterGen Program at the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation, West Hollywood, CA
- TimeSlips Creative Storytelling, Inc., Shorewood, WI
- NEW! The Legacy Project, Inc., Canton, MA
- NEW! The LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project, Chicago, IL
- The Treehouse Foundation, Easthampton, MA
- VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Intergenerational Program, New York, NY
- NEW! Westminster Canterbury Richmond, Richmond, VA
Current Programs of Merit:
- NEW! Michigan State University Age Alive, East Lansing, MI
- Catholic Charities Archdiocese of San Antonio, Inc. Adopt-a-Senior Program, San Antonio, TX
- Charles City AmeriCorps Senior Foster Grandparent Program, Charles City, IA
- NEW! The Cabinet for Older New Yorkers Combating Ageism: It Starts with Education!, New York, NY
- Connecting Generations – STFCC, Mableton, GA
- DreamCatchers Foundation, Scottsdale, AZ (Chapters Nationwide)
- NEW! Kendal at Hanover Early Learning Center, Hanover, NH
- Fair Lawn Youth Volunteer Corps, Fair Lawn, New Jersey
- NEW! City of Albuquerque Foster Grandparent Program, Albuquerque, NM
- NEW! GlamourGals, New York, NY
- NEW! Herralink, Clifton, VA
- NEW! Hope & A Future III, Inc., Madison, WA
- NEW! San Diego State University Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity, Intergenerational Call Hub, San Diego, CA
- NEW! Ebenezer Ridges Intergenerational Day Program, Burnsville, MN
- L.A. Works, Los Angeles, CA
- NEW! Lifespan Resources, Inc., Atlanta, GA
- Montessori Intergenerational Learning Communities – DBA Early Childhood Service Corps, Denver, CO
- Music and Memory at Kavod Senior Life, Denver, CO
- NEW! The Cabinet for Older New Yorkers My NY Story: Cultivating Intergenerational Community Connections, New York, NY
- Partners in Rhyme, Cambridge, MA
- NEW! Perfect Pair , Farmington Hills, MI
- NEW! Mission First Housing Group Plaza West Grandfamilies Program, Washington, DC
- San Diego Oasis Generations Together Summer Camp, San Diego, CA
- NEW! Chicago Methodist Senior Services Senior Connections, Chicago, IL
- NEW! The Heart of Ida: Stay Connected, Long Beach, CA
- NEW! Martin Luther Tower, Inc. DBA St. Mark’s Square, San Francisco, CA
- NEW! Sunnyside Community Services, Sunnyside, NY
- NEW! Council on Aging Tellegacy & Lunch Companion Program, Santa Rosa, CA
- Tuskegee Youth Readers TIHS Class of 1974 ReadtoME Program, Macon County, AL
- Wesley Family Services Foster Grandparent Program, Wilkinsburg, PA
Pre-Application Checklist
- Does your program address documented needs?
- Are your intergenerational activities tied to program goals and participant interests and input?
- Do you offer formal training/orientation for staff and participants?
- Are your intergenerational programs coordinated by staff or volunteers knowledgeable about all participants?
- Do you collect evaluation data from your program and use it to improve your program?
- Is your intergenerational program supported by organizational leadership and community partners?
If you answered “yes” to ALL of these questions, we recommend you complete the application for the Program of Distinction. If you are still working on some of these areas, we recommend you apply for the Program of Merit.