Why should you make a donation?

Senior Connects is a youth run corporation that believes highly motivated youths can make a difference in the communities where we reside. As compared to most organizations that offer computer and Internet teaching assistance to seniors, those using the Senior Connects methodology will conduct classes inside a public area within independent living facilities in your community. We have found that this is much more convenient for many of the residents, and especially those without reliable transportation or are mobility impaired. The average age of our “pupils” is 87 years young, and we spend four to five months teaching beginners about computers, how to write letters, how to search the Internet, and how to write emails. We also establish a free email account for them so they can send and receive emails from their friends and family members.

Senior Connects offers a one-on-one training methodology – so seniors, many which are “afraid of being too old” or “no longer being able to learn,” can progress at their own individual pace. The middle and high school volunteers are and seniors form relationships over the five month training program, and some continue their friendships via email, long after the classes have concluded.

Working with seniors on a one-to-one basis inside their own facility for up to five months results in a highly successful program.

Prior to volunteers being able to teach at a facility, a public computer lab must be constructed. In 2004, Senior Connects first full year of operation, over 10,000 senior citizens in almost 70 independent and assisted living facilities received computers or had their existing computer labs enhanced with Senior Connects’ equipment.

Senior Connects is reaching out to other organizations in various communities to help promote senior citizen literacy. In addition to the many dozens of middle and highs school volunteers that have joined individually, some high schools have taken on the Senior Connects cause, adopted numerous facilities all at once, and have dedicated up to 31 juniors and seniors to participate in this program. Other nonprofit organizations have contributed 25 youths to help build computers, and municipalities have integrated their youth organization programs to help build computers and teach others how to use a computer and access the Internet. Social workers have teamed with Senior Connects so that entire communities of seniors living in their own homes could receive transportation to a facility where together with Senior Connects, they could become empowered through their knowledge of the Internet and being able to email friends and family members. Senior Connects is continuing to evolve through nontraditional means, in an effort to promote computer and Internet literacy to senior citizens.

So, what is the purpose of Senior Connects? Our mission statement follows:

Senior Connects Mission Statement: • Create a national youth and senior citizens empowerment program that links Independent Living Facilities that have senior citizens interested in learning how to access the Internet with high school, college, and extraordinary middle school students. Specifically and as a community outreach programs, students using the Senior Connects program will conduct their training inside Independent Living Facilities to maximize participation by those that are mobility-impaired or lack reliable transportation. • Work with volunteer-facilitating organizations and youth organizations to encourage youths to use the Senior Connects teaching methodology in communities throughout North America. • Develop a Website that contains instructions, frequently asked questions, lesson plans, and practical advice regarding how to effectively teach at Independent Living Facilities so that youths can easily establish this program in their own communities via a turnkey program. • Serve as a resource to help youths as they establish programs using the Senior Connects training program in their communities. • Help Independent Living Facilities gain affordable access to computers or attempt to procure computers in their behalf for those facilities unable to afford them. • Help promote computer and Internet literacy among seniors so they can better keep in contact with their friends and family members and access the Net to improve the quality of their life. • Recognize extraordinary youths for their participation and making a difference in their community.

 

Volunteers diagnosis, repair, wipe the hard drive, reinstall the software, and clean computers prior to donating them to senior citizen facilities.

Our volunteers are self directed individuals that have decided to make a difference in their community by spending some of their free time to help senior citizens. What should be expected from someone using the Senior Connects methodology of training? Depicted below is a commitment that we ask all volunteers using our methodology to agree to:

Volunteers’ Commitment

What will the seniors learn? Our lessons plans have been adopted from the training provided to thousands of senior citizens at the Carmel Clay Public Library - and are divided into four sections:

•Basic computer skills
•Basic Internet skills
•Internet Search
•Email training (including a free email address for resident upon their request)

Karen Spell, Marketing Specialist at Rosewalk on Main, surveys her facility’s five newly constructed computers within her facility’s new computer lab

 

Each senior’s learning requirements may be different. Some will have Net experience and will be interested in the answers to specific questions, while others may not require basic computer skill training but will be interested in receive Internet related training. Since our classes are small (usually one to two residents per volunteer), they can be customized to meet the individual requirements of your residents.

Senior Connects has obtained 2:1 matching funds for the first $10,000 raised, and 1:1 matching funds for the next $2,500 raised. Consequently, your donations will enable us to do three times as much good by helping empower senior citizens - and especially those that are mobility-impaired or do not have reliable transportation - and youths in your community that are looking to make a difference to others.

Thanks for considering helping Senior Connects, a 501(c)(3) corporation. If you have questions about this program or prior to donating, please send an email to danielkent@seniorconnects.org to make inquiry about our nonprofit status. Please consider discussing all potential contributions with your accountant, prior to making them.

Donations can be mailed to: Daniel Kent, Senior Connects Corporation, 14044 Honey Tree Drive, Carmel, IN 46032.