You can’t walk past Emma Curtis, Foster Grandparent volunteer, without being greeted with a cheery “hello” and a big hug. Her warm smile and vivacious spirit are contagious; her commitment to our community and at-risk youth are undeniable. It is that dedication that has earned her two prestigious awards – the 2010 California Senior Community Leader Award and the California Wellness Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. These distinguished awards were presented to Grandma Curtis last month during The California Wellness Foundation’s Senior Leader Award Ceremony in northern California. At this celebrated event she made a keynote presentation with her trademark theme, “Let’s Raise the Roof”, which captured the spirit of the occasion – a moment in time to enthusiastically recognize the contribution of our elders toward strengthening our community.

Throughout her 24 years as a Foster Grandparent volunteer, Grandma Curtis has impacted the lives of more than 15,000 youngsters. She began her volunteer service through our Foster Grandparent Program at The Marjaree Mason Center where she comforted children exposed to domestic violence; she has also provided one-to-one support to young people at our Sanctuary Youth Shelter and currently she spends her time mentoring students at our School of Unlimited Learning (SOUL). Her volunteer day may include one-to-one mentoring sessions with teenage runaways undergoing life trauma, personalized consolation to adolescents facing unwanted pregnancy, or encouraging courage in the spirit of youngsters attempting to break from gang affiliation. In all, Grandma Curtis has volunteered a total of 27,600 hours! Along with her dedication to making a difference in the lives of our young citizens, Grandma Curtis walks the hallways of retirement centers and hospitals bringing cheer to senior citizens who have taken ill.

Grandma Curtis grew up in Arkansas during the era of segregation and her commitment to social justice and civil rights was born from her experience as a nanny during the period of Jim Crow division, as a member of the Little Rock Arkansas community during the time of the Little Rock Nine, and as a spiritually conscious human being during the civil disobedience/direct action movement of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. She was called to action by these events protesting at Little Rock Central High School and taking part in marches with Dr. King. She carries this legacy forward as she and her late husband formed a ministry to serve the disenfranchised and homeless members of our community.

At 86 years-young, Grandma Curtis shows no signs of slowing down. Despite the time devoted to her volunteer service, Grandma Curtis still finds the time to serve her community as a block captain, an active member of St. Rest Baptist Church, and as a board member on numerous commissions and advisory committees including Fresno Foster Grandparent Program Advisory Group.