Sterling foster grandmother earns state recognition
On May 7, AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent volunteer Florence Cunningham was awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. award through the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, according to a news release.
The awards luncheon took place in Springfield, Illinois, at the Annual IACAA Conference.
Florence Cunningham, AKA Grandma Flo, learned patience, perseverance, and the importance of taking action directly from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and applied it throughout her daily life in the years to come. She started early as a young adult by joining the civil rights movement, protesting peacefully, and traveling from town to town with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
After she raised five children, Cunningham returned to college and obtained a degree in social service at the age of 63. She put that degree to practice working with low-income seniors who sought training and employment through Experience Works.
She volunteered through AmeriCorps and, later, AmeriCorps Seniors, as she joined the Foster Grandparent Program at Tri-County Opportunities Council in 2016. “Grandma Flo” serves as a foster grandparent volunteer in Sterling, helping at-risk students by providing individualized attention to address their academic, social, and emotional needs.
Criteria for this award required the nominee to exhibit virtues held by King, including courageousness, commitment, and a visionary who is an impassioned voice for the low-income population.
For more information about the Foster Grandparent Program, visit hee or call 815-625-7830. Applications are currently being accepted for the 2024-2025 school year.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
