Community Values Youth: Recognizing an organization serving Silicon Valley to demonstrate to young people that the community values their contributions and efforts.
Founded in 2015, and based in San Jose, Forget Me Not is an intergenerational nonprofit organization that aims to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation in the quickly growing elderly population. It is a social program that connects compassionate teenage volunteers and isolated older adults in weekly companionship phone calls.
Each call is different from the next and highly enriching for both the senior and student. The program is mutually reciprocal as both generations are brought together to have meaningful conversations and forge lasting bonds. Forget Me Not is completely student-founded and student run, and has expanded since its inception to now make calls to older adults all over the country!
It has experienced overwhelmingly positive responses from the community, and has even been recognized by Forbes, SXSW, The San Jose Mercury News, NBC News, and the Points of Light Foundation. Looking forward, Forget Me Not is excited to announce plans for expansion in its efforts to impact as many passionate students and older adults as possible.
“The relationships that are formed between the high school students and elders are often very strong, meaningful, and unique and serve to empower the students with an understanding of how small interventions from one individual can change the course of another’s life. Programs like Forget Me Not can also help alleviate social isolation and feelings of loneliness often experienced by the elderly.” – Mary Beth Riley, Principal, Notre Dame San Jose