Making a Difference
The Story of Dubuque's
Project Concern

a film by Gary Olsen

aking a difference in the lives of others is a wonderful opportunity. This is the core mission of the Dubuque Community Schools and every teacher and district staff member who enter a classroom. Unless you are a frequent visitor to a school, you may not realize, however, how many of the adults you see in the hallways and the classrooms are actually foster grandparents. These are members of the Project Concern organization in our area, who, through a long-standing partnership with the Dubuque Community Schools, places seniors and retirees who wish to invest the time and energy, in our school buildings to work in our classrooms.

Video Control Panel
For connections on anything but a high-speed network, like a phone modem.	This is for DSL or higher-speed networks. Larger video, better audio.
This is for cable modems and high-speed networks (like Mediacom). Download the non-streaming file if you prefer, to keep on your own system.	Windows Media File for Windows Internet Explorer and operating systems equipped with Windows Media Player. High speed Web access preferred.
If you need software to run our movies, a free copy of RealPlayer is available below in the right column. Most PCs with fairly recent operating systems have built-in players for the Windows Media file above.

They are the patient adults you may see in the hallways teaching students reading and math one-on-one. These are the people who work right along with the teacher evaluating students' learning abilities and disabilities and pitching in with remediation when necessary. These are the kindly and loving people who probably spend more constructive learning time with students than their parents can afford.

In celebration of this long history between Project Concern and the Dubuque Schools, we've agreed to help Project Concern with their marketing effort to attract more people to their team and raise funds in the community to maintain and hopefully expand their programs.

Under the direction of Project Concern's Director, Steve Jacobs, and Foster Grandparent Coordinator, Cheryl Kramer, Gary Olsen of the Dubuque Schools was consulted on what kind of marketing tool would be best. They had in mind a movie. This movie.

Now you can see it for yourself. It's just under 12 minutes, and it features the students, teachers and Foster Grandparents you are certainly familiar with.

Here are some interesting facts about Project Concern:

• Over 18,000 persons helped last year
• 1425 individuals received emergency financial assistance
• 495 homeless persons served
• 560 at risk youth served in five school systems
• 12,000 senior citizens provided critical information on health, welfare and finances
• $320,000 in cash and in-kind financial assistance provided for children, frail elderly, disabled, low income families and homeless
• 88,500 volunteer hours given to serve children, the elderly and 50 area charitable organizations
• Clients were served in over 45 communities in six counties ( Dubuque , Delaware , Jackson, Clinton, JoDaviess and Grant) in three states ( Iowa , Illinois and Wisconsin )
• 30% of all homeless clients served found permanent housing
• 95% of children served by Foster Grandparents met or exceeded their educational goals
• Research shows that Foster Grandparents live longer, healthier and happier lives- many of them are more than 80 years old
• Since Project Concern became the area 2-1-1 Call Center , (November 2003) clients served by PC in rural communities has increased more than 300%
• Project Concern board members staff and volunteers are themselves VERY GENEROUS, contributing nearly $10,000 last year to Project Concern and other United Way Services.
• Project Concern staff hold a variety of offices in related professional and fraternal organizations including Iowa Public Transit Association, Iowa Association of Information and Referral Services, Dubuque Homeless Advisory Board, Early Childhood Task Force, Dubuque Area Empowerment Board, Dubuque County Stakeholders Committee, Dubuque Metropolitan Area Transportation Study, Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, Iowa Fund Raising Professionals Association, Rotary Club, Optimists and Kiwanis.