MUSTO SECURES FUNDS FOR GRANDPARENTS SUPPORT PROGRAM

          WILKES-BARRE, December 20 – State Sen. Ray Musto (D-Luzerne/Carbon/Monroe) announced today that a $5,000 grant from Wal-Mart has been awarded to the Intergenerational Coalition, a program created to help grandparents who serve as primary caregivers.

          “Changing family dynamics in which grandparents are raising their grandchildren create new unexpected challenges,” Musto said. “This money will help seniors navigate the difficulties of raising young children and teenagers.”

          The funding was awarded by Wal-Mart in support of the work that Musto and the Intergenerational Coalition have been doing in assisting grandparents in northeast Pennsylvania.

          “Wal-Mart takes pride in being a store of the community. While we, as a company operate globally, we give back locally,” said Jim Davis, Wal-Mart’s Senior Manager of Public Affairs in Pennsylvania.  “Wal-Mart is excited to support a wonderful organization that plays such an important role in the lives of children in Luzerne County.”

          Last session, Musto developed a legislative package that detailed the grandparent support program.  The legislation called for stipends to help low-income grandparents who are primary caregivers meet medical and day care needs of their grandkids. 

          “I recognize that the problems are immense and the troubles many, but it’s a start,” Musto said.  “And generous donors, such as Wal-Mart, that understand the difficulties that all low-income families face bring us closer to our goal of helping more families.” 

          Musto added that in Pennsylvania, more than 80,000 grandparents are now directly responsible for raising children.  Almost 15 percent of these grandparents live below the federal poverty level. 

          “In Luzerne County alone, 42 percent of children are being raised by their grandparents and the numbers have been rising steadily over the last decade,” Musto said.  “Without programs such as the Intergenerational Coalition, these families would face confusing situations and increasing financial burdens without any help.”