"My dear child, have no fear
For you will never be mistreated here.
For you are among friends." Grandma said.
"And you need not be afraid."

This excerpt from “Volunteers” was written by Grandma Rosie Holmes, this year’s winner of the Fresno-Madera Area Agency on Aging’s Senior Volunteer of the Year Award.

Grandma Rosie proudly accepted the award before a crowd of 600 senior volunteers and luncheon guests during FMAAA’s 18 th Annual Celebration of Living Volunteer Awards Luncheon.

When accepting the award, Grandma Rosie expressed how volunteering at Brooks Head Start has given her life new meaning and that the award validated her significant contributions toward enriching the lives of the children she serves.

Grandma Rosie has been a Foster Grandparent for 17 years and has generously volunteered over 16,000 hours of service. She reads to children, helps prepare Head Start students for kindergarten and helps with activities that develop vocabulary, number usage, language abilities, social abilities and cognitive development. She has also dedicated time at the Marjaree Mason Center providing care and emotional support to children impacted by family violence.

“Grandma Rosie has definitely made her mark and made a real difference as a volunteer and Foster Grandparent,” say Vicki Lopes and Kathlene Brookshire, co-directors of our Foster Grandparent program. “We had no idea that Grandma (Rosie) was chosen as the honoree and would receive the prestigious award given out by FMAAA. She deserves it for all she does.”

Congratulations Grandma Rosie! You’re one in a million!