WASHTENAW COUNTY – During Legislative Day hosted by Michigan Community Action at the state capital, two Foster Grandparent Volunteers were honored. Several awards were given out to various legislators, clients, and volunteers to honor the hard work and collective impact of those serving various Michigan communities.
Sanaa and Shawkey Ghobrial were selected as winners of the Michigan Community Action Award for Volunteer Service. Together, Sanaa and Shawkey Ghobrial have served in the Foster Grandparent Program for 41 years being two of the oldest volunteers in the program. In 2023 alone, they served an astounding 2,653 hours at Global Tech Academy and Ypsilanti International Elementary School in Ypsilanti.
During the Ghobrial’s tenure with the program, they have served at multiple sites. They have provided direct support to over 160 children and filled the role of classroom Grandma and Grandpa to over 1,000 children. The Ghobrial’s are cited as being two of the most reliable, dedicated, and engaged volunteers in the program and are always accountable and professional. They even go the extra mile by volunteering during the summer months and attending all trainings offered through the program.
“Sanaa and Shawkey are wonderful role models who have made a positive impact on countless teachers, child, and families over their many years of service as Foster Grandparents. It was special to watch them be honored, and I cannot express how lucky we are to have them be a part of our program,” Foster Grandparent Program Specialist Sandy Bowers shares.
The Washtenaw County Foster Grandparent Program was started in 1968 to provide volunteer support to special needs children. Grandparents assist in all academic subject areas and even provide individualized support to students with exceptional needs. In 2023, 50 volunteers served at 25 different sites throughout the school year and summer months. Collectively, volunteers served more than 41,000 hours while working with 350 children.
Foster Grandparents are AmeriCorps Seniors Volunteers. AmeriCorps Seniors is a United States government program run by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The program engages volunteers aged 55 and older to serve their communities. There are over 200,000 volunteers nationwide. The Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development sponsors the Washtenaw Foster Grandparent Program. Operating 56 years, the Washtenaw Program is one of the longest serving programs in Michigan.
If you are interested in learning more about the Foster Grandparent Program, please visit www.washtenaw.org/fgp or contact Sandy Bowers at bowerssk@washtenaw.org.
About Washtenaw County Office of Community and Economic Development (OCED)
In service of our belief that all Washtenaw County residents deserve a high quality of life, OCED delivers critical programs and community initiatives in the areas of affordable housing, human services, economic development and community infrastructure. We serve local individuals, families, and communities through a mix of direct services, public policy development, and investment of monetary and technical support.
To learn more, visit www.washtenaw.org/oced
