- - - -
Now available for preorder:
The San Francisco Panorama.
- - - -
- - - - WASHINGTON, April 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Green Thumb, Inc., the country's oldest and largest provider of mature-worker training and employment, today launched its third-annual national Prime Time Awards search for the oldest worker in the United States. The winner will be announced at a National Press Club news conference on October 4, 2000, and recognized at the Prime Time Awards dinner on October 6, in the East Hall of the historic Union Station in Washington, D.C. The challenge to find this year's oldest worker was issued by the 1998 winner, and inaugural Prime Time Awards recipient -- 104-year-old Milton Ward Garland of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. A refrigeration pioneer and engineer who holds 41 U.S. patents, Mr. Garland still goes everyday to his office at the Frick Company, the same firm to which he has reported for work since 1920. And other than serving in the Navy during World War I, Mr. Garland has never worked anywhere else. Also presenting were Ms. Mary Barbour, 74, the 1999 PTA Outstanding Older Worker from the District of Columbia; and Mr. Walter "Wilford" Burnette, 88, the 1998 PTA Outstanding Older Worker from Virginia (Laurel Fork). Of working at such an advanced age, Mr. Garland says, "I don't think age has anything to do with your desire to work." Early on, he notes, he learned to "go into something, stay with it, and then like it. You won't like it until you have expertise in that line of work." Andrea J. Wooten, president of Green Thumb, says of Mr. Garland: "Green Thumb believes that ability is ageless, and Mr. Garland truly represents this." She adds, "Three years ago when we launched the Prime Time Awards, it was like initiating a national search for a superb artist. On our first try we found we had landed a Rembrandt!" Still, vibrant and diligent older workers like Garland, Barbour and Burnette are the norm, not the exception, says Wooten. "Every day, in our 44 field offices throughout America, we see similar inspiring examples of the values that Green Thumb and communities nationally hold so dear. Values like honesty, loyalty, dedication and service to others; values that include lifelong learning and employment opportunities for all who want to work regardless of age." It is a special tribute, she explains, to see these often-unacknowledged workers receive their due praise. "Green Thumb has long recognized the importance of public awareness activities that speak to the talents of older workers. Thus, we forged the Prime Time Awards to honor and celebrate these contributions." To be recognized as America's Oldest Worker, an individual must work at least 20 hours per week in paid employment. The one with the earliest birth date wins. Entrants should provide the following information: name, birthdate, (month, day, and year), home phone and address, employer name and address, position or title, business telephone number, name of supervisor, and the number of hours worked each week. Send a post card or note to Oldest Worker, Green Thumb, Inc., 2000 14th Street, Suite 800, Arlington, VA 22201, or enter the information directly on the "Oldest Worker" page of Green Thumb's website at: http://www.greenthumb.org. Deadline for entries is July 15, 2000. Entrants may submit their own names or be nominated by employer, family, or friends. The Prime Time Awards program is held in cooperation with the U.S Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging, the Department of Treasury's Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and The American Legion. Green Thumb, Inc., is a national nonprofit organization best known as America's leader in the field of older worker training and employment. Its mission is to strengthen families, communities, and the nation by providing older and disadvantaged individuals with opportunities to learn, work, and serve others. Founded in 1965, Green Thumb was first chartered to use the "green thumbs" of retired farmers to improve our nation's parks and highways. The four-state pilot project soon evolved into one of the most innovative and cost-effective of all workforce initiatives, the Senior Community Service Employment Program. Over its history, Green Thumb has expanded its services to bring workforce opportunities each year to more than 40,000 mature workers, dislocated workers, welfare recipients, and adults with special needs in 44 states and Puerto Rico. In recent years, Green Thumb has launched other innovative services including Experience Works!(R), a staffing service targeted at matching job- ready mature workers with temporary, permanent and seasonal needs of business; Got/IT!(TM), a self-paced online training and certification program that prepares seniors to enter the information technology field; and Geezer.com(TM), an e-commerce website featuring quality, handcrafted gifts and products made by America's seniors. Green Thumb also annually sponsors the national Prime Time Awards(TM) to recognize and honor the contributions older workers make to their communities and places of work. SOURCE Green Thumb, Inc.
|
Red dot denotes content that is new today.
Black dot denotes newish content.