Jun 15, 2026 By Conner Goetz 2 min read

Local nonprofit and community leaders gathered last week to celebrate the dedication of Wesley Family Services’ volunteers for their Foster Grandparents Program.

The annual recognition luncheon drew more than 100 attendees to the Hilton Garden Inn in Southpointe on Friday morning for an event filled with gratitude and appreciation.

According to Wesley Family Services Director of Volunteer Services Rebecca Maletto-Cornell, the foster grandparents program is a “win-win-win” for everyone involved.

Founded in 1965 under President Lyndon Baines Johnson’s War on Poverty initiatives, the program allows adults age 55 and older to participate in structured mentorship opportunities with kids across western Pennsylvania.

This includes up to 15 hours of engagement per week per volunteer, often in a classroom or day care setting where they read to children or assist with a range of other activities.

Maletto-Cornell said the program provides an outlet for seniors who “have a lifetime of service, and a want, a need to help others.”

And by occupying a supportive, non-parental role in a child’s life, the foster grandparent can help that child feel safe enough to “flourish,” she said.

The role requires consistency and devotion to serving others, Maletto-Cornell said, so the annual luncheon and award ceremony are intended to recognize the tireless contributions of the program’s volunteers.

Ringgold School District was honored with the 2026 Good Neighbor Award in light of the district’s 15-plus years of ongoing collaboration with the program.

Maletto-Cornell said both Ringgold Elementary North and Elementary South staff participate in the program.

“They’ve always been there, willing to help their children succeed,” she said. “They’ve always been very supportive of the program.”

Allegheny County Director of Child Welfare Mandeep Gill delivered the keynote address, and spoke about the lasting impact of positive mentor figures in the lives’ of children.

“We know that change happens when you show up and make it happen,” Gill said.