Avon Retiree Proves There's No Age Limit On Making A Difference

Avon retiree Margi Nareff just graduated from Leadership Greater Hartford's Third Age Initiative Class #11 and she is not done yet.

Introduced in 2001, the Third Age Initiative is a unique, year-long program, recognized by the United Nations, as a model program for developing, engaging, and connecting older adults in meaningful ways in the community.  This program brings together a diverse group of adults from different socioeconomic, ethnic and educational backgrounds to share the knowledge and skills they have developed over a lifetime and to learn new ways to draw on their wisdom and talent to give back to the community. Participants are retired or semi-retired, have ranged in age from 48 to 88, and have represented nearly 40 Greater Hartford communities. 

Research tells us that most Third Agers, defined as the period of life when work and family no longer are the primary focus, will enjoy several decades of active life.  During those later years, people increasingly want to give back to their community in ways that will enhance the lives of their children and grandchildren. Research has also demonstrated that older adults who volunteer a minimum of 50-100 hours a year add years to their lives, and receive significant health benefits—even more than those who are the beneficiaries of their help and support!  This seems to result from the sense of purpose they feel.

Margi Nareff, a retired Avon resident, shares,  "The Third Age Initiative provides a lifeline that operates both ways—it provides new progress, opportunities and resources to Hartford, but it also provides the same things to the senior volunteers who participate.  I was thinking about those stickers you see on cars of people that own rescue dogs that say “Who Rescued Who?” Incorrect grammar aside, they make a good point.  And I realized that is that case with the Third Age Initiative.  It rescues us from meaningless retirements with no purpose and gives us the chance to “rescue” others with our projects.  I cannot imagine not having done this program and hope our team’s contributions will continue to pay dividends for others long after us." 

Margi participated on a team called "The Burns School Team", which focused on identifying ways to build parent engagement at the Burns Latino Studies Academy.  Following a fall celebration that brought almost 400 parents and children for pre-registration and activities, and a parent survey to identify ways parents wanted to be involved, the team forged partnerships to initiate and sustain a variety of projects.  They introduced a coupon club to help stretch food dollars which PTO leaders have continued; brought a CRT-based nutrition and physical activity program to children in the Compass after-school program; and arranged for The Village for Families and Children to offer parents basic financial management skills training in Spanish and English. Margi's team will continue to work with Burns leadership and staff to implement a model parent engagement and leadership program that trains and places parents in classrooms.

Since the Third Age Initiative's inception, nearly 300 people have participated.  They want to make a difference in the world, and traditional volunteer work leaves them feeling as though they have more to give. "Unfortunately, the community too often fails to see and appreciate the true richness and worth of its older volunteers,” says Doe Hentschel, Program Director of the Third Age Initiative. “Our communities and organizations are crying out for new ideas from people who have the time, energy, and commitment to help solve problems. Third agers’ talent, wisdom and experience are largely untapped treasures waiting to be embraced and brought to bear on the problems and concerns of our communities.”

Through leadership development and community service projects, these Third Agers are now involved in new ways and are putting new skills and new confidence to work!  "Older persons are living treasures, and the community is enriched when they are fully engaged in their societies" says Hentschel.

The Third Age Initiative is now accepting applications for the next class which begins in September.  Third Agers who believe they have more to give to the community, feel they can be more effective in positions currently held, and would like to learn and work with like-minded people who share their desire to be part of community solutions, may find that the Third Age Initiative is exactly the program they are looking for. To reserve a place at an information session or learn more about the program call Doe Hentschel at 860.951.6161 x13 or email her at doe.hentschel@leadershipgh.org. 

The Third Age Initiative is supported by generous grants from the Beatrice Fox Auerbach Foundation and the Samuel Roskin Trust at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving. Leadership Greater Hartford is the most comprehensive nonprofit community leadership organization in the country. They offer leadership training to individuals ranging from high school age to retirees, with community service projects featured in nearly all of their programs.  These projects and the program graduates continue to have lasting impact in the Hartford region.  For more information about how you can be a participant or a sponsor with Leadership Greater Hartford, you may call at 860-951-6161 (x18), email at info@leadershipgh.org, visit their website www.leadershipgh.org, or like them on Facebook.