The Eisner Foundation

On December 8, 2022, The Eisner Foundation named ONEgeneration the winner of the 2022 Eisner Prize for Intergenerational Excellence. The prize comes with a $250,000 award in recognition of ONEgeneration’s intergenerational work that includes a shared-site Preschool and Adult Day Care program, Grandparents as Parents Kinship Care program, a teen-led tech training support program for older adults, and more. On December 14, 2022, The Eisner Foundation will formally honor ONEgeneration at the closing session of the Stanford University’s Century Summit.

Founded in 1978, ONEgeneration began as a senior center founded and operated by volunteers, and over time, expanded their services to meet the needs of local older adults through their nationally accredited Senior Enrichment Center, Adult Day Care Health Center, and Home-Based Case Management support. In 1994, ONEgeneration added a childcare program, which today serves children aged six months to six years old. Throughout the day, ONEgeneration’s older adults and children come together for activities including crafts, gardening, and games, giving older adults a sense of purpose and joy while younger children benefit from relationships with diverse older role models – building mutual respect and a sense of community for all.

Other intergenerational efforts include the Grandparents as Parents Kinship Care program, which supports grandparents who have assumed primary care of their grandchildren or other minor relatives. Grandparents in this position are disproportionately low-income and face a range of challenges accessing the material and emotional support they need. Experts in this program help grandparents navigate the complex child welfare system, get them necessary supplies, and host opportunities for connection and restoration. ONEgeneration also welcomes high school and college students into its programming. At the Senior Enrichment Center, students offer tech training to older adults to help them maximize their use of smartphones and computers, building relationships while empowering older adults to access online activities and resources.