AgeVenture News Service  Kenneth J. Carson, age 70, of Albuquerque, New Mexico retired and began doing something simple: spending a little time each day with several children at a local elementary school.
Soon, he was mentoring 17 children and the Wise Men & Women Mentorship program was born. With the help of a small grant and time from friends in the community, the program grew rapidly and today, more than 100 mentors help hundreds of children in elementary and middle schools throughout Albuquerque. The success of Ken's program is enabling his organization to spread across the state of New Mexico and possibly into nearby states. At-risk children with the resilience to succeed inevitably need at least one adult on whom who they trust. The intergenerational program that Ken created makes a difference in the lives of these children. "I feel like this is a ministry, a lifetime commitment," he says. The success of Ken's program proves that a hero can be someone who takes small actions to create powerful, far reaching results that can make a difference in the lives of hundreds of children. Augustine Chris Baca, President and CEO of Youth Development, Inc, nominated Ken for the BlueCross BlueShield Ageless Heroes program which honors outstanding seniors, says BlueCross BlueShield CEO, Scott Serota. The lives of these Ageless Heroes, says Serota, serve as an inspiration to all generations. The Ageless Heroes Awards Program was created in 1998 to celebrate the spirit and vitality of the nation's seniors and to showcase Blue Cross and Blue Shield's commitment to healthy aging. Photo Credit: BlueCross BlueShield. |
