Throughout 2013, listeners have heard from presidents of organizations who are global change agents. We will also hear from CEOs of social enterprise businesses who are changing communities and college educators who are taking their students out of the classroom and into surrounding neighborhoods to learn and serve others.
On Saturday, December 28, 2013, join us to hear Richard H. Parker, a foster grandparent to students at Napier Elementary School. Mr. Parker was featured on the front page of the Tennessean on Christmas Day. Mr. Parker and several other volunteers were profiled for being volunteers, in the most unlikely place. Mr. Parker shared how the lives of the children were enhanced because of his volunteer work but how much his life has changed since he started volunteering at Napier Elementary.
In 2011, Mr. Parker became a foster grandparent with the organization Fifty Forward and has served as a tutor and mentor. He works with children regularly on their reading and comprehension, but the the hugs he received when he walks the hallway tells us that he helps so many more. When he isn’t tutoring kids in reading, he is helping with an in-school program called Men of Distinction, aimed at teaching Napier’s third- and fourth-grade boys with table manners, how to tie ties, how to respect girls and other life skills.
Mr. Parker will help us usher in 2014 with hearts ready to give more of time, talent, and treasure to our communities. He will also discuss with us why we were created to serve our neighbors and the importance of giving back to our communities.
Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires, and motivates us to live our BEST life, is heard on 760AM The Gospel in the Middle-TN area, Tune In, Inspirational Networks, military bases and on Ustream.TV worldwide from 9:00-10:00am CST.
More About Richard H. Parker
Richard Parker is an associate pastor/liturgist at Priestlake Christian FellowshipChurch in Antioch, TN. When he is not preaching/teaching you will find him volunteering as a foster grandparent for Fifty-Forward at Napier Elementary school in South Nashville, TN.
Mr. Parker has a great deal of experience in a variety of ministry settings including planting churches. In addition to his pastoral duties, he is an event planner, a fund raiser, proposal/grant writer, board adviser, and public speaker. Mr. Parker has also worked in corporate America.
More about Fifty Forward Foster Grandparents
Each year, approximately 80 low-income adults (age 60+) volunteer for one-on-one mentoring and tutoring of 1,000 or more young children who are at risk. These volunteers are paid a tax-free stipend and work in learning centers four hours a day, Monday-Friday. FiftyForward Foster Grandparents play an important role in the growth and development of the young children with whom they work. Current FiftyForward Foster Grandparent sites are:
- 15th Avenue Baptist Learning Center
- 18th Avenue Family Enrichment Child Care
- Bethlehem Center North
- Bordeaux Enhanced Option School
- Cora Howe Exceptional School
- Edgehill Center
- Fannie Battle Day Home
- The King’s Daughters Child Development Center
- Maddox YMCA
- McNeilly Center for Children
- McNeilly Toddler Center
- Napier Enhanced Option School
- Nashville Child Center
- Northwest YMCA
- Smithson Craighead Academy
- Temple Academy
- Tom Joy Head Start
Story from Tennessean by Heidi Hall and Terrance Dean
Photos by John Partpilo and WKRN
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