MetLife Foundation, Generations United Present 2013 Awards to America's Four Best Intergenerational Communities

These award recipients are redefining community life by throwing out old stereotypes and engaging residents of every age in decision-making, problem-solving, and relationship-building. The result: robust, vibrant communities.

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- MetLife Foundation and Generations United today presented four communities with the 2013 MetLife Foundation/Generations United Best Intergenerational Communities Award.  The award is intended to heighten awareness of the important role that intergenerational solidarity plays in building strong, vibrant communities. The recipients include: Dunedin, Florida; Montgomery County, Maryland; Itta Bena, Mississippi; and Westchester County, New York. Two other communities were named finalists: Chanute, Kansas and Proctor, Minnesota.

The awards presentation took place at the Cannon House Office on Capitol Hill and was part of a policy briefing on what encourages intergenerational communities.  Author and journalist Juan Williams presented the awards. Williams serves as a strategic advisor to Generations United.

"Today's award recipients recognize the value of promoting strong bonds between the generations and working together to create a vibrant, meaningful place to live for every generation," said Dennis White, MetLife Foundation's president and chief executive officer. "MetLife Foundation is pleased to recognize the four communities that have demonstrated forward thinking in helping to create an environment that benefits an entire community."

"When all citizens are valued, it creates a positive environment for building strong, safe, and supportive communities," said Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United. "Such communities understand the wisdom of using the resources they have to connect generations rather than separate them into age-segregated programs and facilities. That intergenerational connection leads to older adults voting in favor of school bond ballots and young people visiting their aging neighbors. Everyone is engaged and everyone has purpose."

A blue-ribbon panel of judges selected the winning entries from among a host of applicants from across the country. Robert Blancato, former executive director of the White House Conference on Aging and a partner in Matz, Blancato & Associates, served as a judge in the selection process.  Blancato, who is also a strategic advisor for Generations United noted, "It is said you can live anywhere, but that does not make it a livable community.  These awards signify that a critical component of a livable community is one that fosters an environment where generations live and work together. "

Fellow judge Pam Smith, director of Aging & Independence Services for the County of San Diego, added, "The MetLife Foundation/Generations United awards go to four remarkable and robust localities who demonstrate every day that intergenerational collaboration helps sustain and extend the quality of community life." San Diego County was a recipient of one of the inaugural MetLife Foundation/Generations United Best Intergenerational Communities Awards last year.

All of the winning communities showed exceptional commitment to integrating intergenerational practices into all aspects of community life. Their programs are highlighted below: 

• With 35,000 residents, Dunedin, Florida, serves as a model for smaller communities that want to engage residents of all ages in intergenerational programs and activities. Located on central Florida's west coast, the community holds nearly 30 intergenerational events throughout the year. These events complement the community's ongoing programs designed to bring together multiple generations for a wide range of recreational, educational and service-oriented activities.  Dunedin's formal commitment to intergenerational practice dates back to 1992, when the Dunedin Committee on Aging (DCoA) created an Intergenerational Subcommittee. Each year since 2006, the mayor has issued a formal proclamation to bring awareness and there has been an Intergenerational Week, adding to the annual and ongoing intergenerational practice in the city.  Dunedin has received numerous awards and distinctions for creating a community that welcomes all.
• For many years, Montgomery County, Maryland, a county of almost one million residents, has excelled at incorporating an intergenerational aspect in its programming and practices. Thirty years ago, the County Executive formed an Intergenerational Committee aimed at advocating and planning for a system in which older and younger generations could enhance each other's lives. This committee led to the formation of the Montgomery County Intergenerational Resource Center and Interages, a nonprofit, in 1986. The Center establishes intergenerational programs that are provided through the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County Public Schools and other county organizations. Programs include older adults mentoring immigrant students, a shared site adult and child day care facility, interactive activities in senior facilities, intergenerational arts and tutoring and much more.
• The culture of Itta Bena, Mississippi has always been one that celebrates intergenerational bonds and connections. So, it seemed natural that, as community challenges grew, this small town of 1,800 residents needed to develop formal intergenerational strategies that would help it to find creative solutions and increase its resilience. In 2009, Itta Bena joined the national network of Communities for All Ages, a community change initiative that seeks to use collaborative, intergenerational strategies to create communities that are good for growing up and growing old. The small, determined community uses these strategies to tackle a number of tough issues – everything from addressing a lack access to healthy, affordable food, to limited opportunities for physical exercise, to reduced access to lifelong learning opportunities.
• Westchester County, New York has a strong commitment to creating and implementing intergenerational programs that enhance collaboration across sectors. Boasting a population of nearly one million, Westchester County works hard to cultivate leaders of all ages, increase social connections among the generations, and address community challenges from a lifespan perspective. Westchester County successfully hosts more than 40 intergenerational programs, many ongoing, that provide care for multiple generations and connect young people and older adults. In addition, NYSIgN-Westchester – an educational/advocacy group of individuals and organizational representatives – meets bi-monthly to share, strategize, and collaborate on ways to achieve the community's intergenerational goals.  As a result of its intentional focus on intergenerational collaboration, Westchester County is thriving.

For full profiles of these remarkable communities, visit www.gu.org.

About MetLife Foundation:  MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 to continue MetLife's longstanding tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation is committed to building a secure future for individuals and communities worldwide. Since it was established, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $530 million in grants to nonprofit organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. For more information, visit www.metlife.org.

About Generations United: Formed in 1986, Generations United is the national membership organization focused solely on improving the lives of children, youth, and older people through intergenerational strategies, programs, and public policies. Generations United serves as a resource for educating policymakers and the public about the economic, social, and personal imperatives of intergenerational cooperation. For more information, visit www.gu.org.  

SOURCE Generations United