FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Volunteers of America-Minnesota Receives Two National Awards
Nonprofit is Recognized for an Exceptional Program that Improves Children’s Lives and Innovative Programming for Older Adults

MINNEAPOLIS—Volunteers of America-Minnesota, a nonprofit that provides a variety of services to more than 27,000 children and their families, students, older adults, and others each year, received two national awards which were presented in Washington, D.C. on June 8.  

The “Volunteers of America/Annie E. Casey Foundation Family Strengthening Award,” which recognizes programs that work toward improving child well-being by strengthening the entire family, was presented to Volunteers of America-Minnesota for its Prison Visitation Program.  

The Prison Visitation Program is the only program in Minnesota that provides children the opportunity to visit their federally incarcerated mothers.  Because Minnesota has no federal women’s prison, women from the state are incarcerated in Illinois.  The program not only prepares children and caregivers for the stark realities of the prison environment, but also provides support groups for the children and caregivers before and after the trips.  Professional staff accompanies the children and caregivers on the trips to provide emotional and psychological support.  In between visits, staff coordinates correspondence between children and parents as well as connects caregivers to community supports.  

Volunteers of America-Minnesota was one of three Volunteers of America programs nationwide to receive the Volunteers of America/Annie E. Casey Foundation Family Strengthening Award.   Each award winner received $20,000.

Additionally, the Volunteers of America “Innovation Award” which recognizes programs that implement useful, creative, value-added practices that correspond with its new “Aging with Options” strategic initiative, was presented to Volunteers of America-Minnesota for its Southwest Senior Center “Brain-a-thon” project.  

The Brain-a-thon is a three-month competition that encourages older adults to make a commitment to increasing their purposeful brain activity in order to help prevent cognitive decline.   The Brain-a-thon begins with a series of educational sessions about the latest research on brain health and ends with an awards ceremony that recognizes the most active participants.  

Volunteers of America-Minnesota was one of three Volunteers of America programs nationwide to receive the “Innovation Award.”  Each award winner received $5,000.

ABOUT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need rebuild their lives and reach their full potential.  Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and healthcare, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 400 communities.   Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America's most vulnerable groups, including at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions.  Our work touches the mind, body, heart-and ultimately the spirit-of those we serve, integrating our deep compassion with highly effective programs and services.  For more information about Volunteers of America, visit www.VolunteersofAmerica.org.

ABOUT VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA - MINNESOTA
Volunteers of America-Minnesota is a nonprofit organization founded in 1896 which offers a wide variety of services to more than 27,000 children, adolescents and their families, students, older adults, persons with disabilities and special needs, and ex-offenders each year.   It is one of the oldest, largest and most comprehensive human service organizations in the state and has more than 60 programs, 900 employees and 4,000 volunteers.   Volunteers of America has a rich history of developing innovative, quality programs to meet emerging social issues and prides itself on sponsoring programs which are able to articulate explicitly the outcomes achieved in its program participants' lives.   For more information about Volunteers of America-Minnesota, visit www.voamn.org, or call (952) 945-4000.

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