PRESS RELEASES

Release Date: July 15, 2003
CONTACT: Lenore Neier, CSSNY, 212/614-5425

Community Service Society's Centenarian Volunteer Else David Has Provided Over 8,500 Hours of Service

New York, NY, July 15, 2003 – At 101, Else David is older than many of the seniors she assists as a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteer at the Fort Tyron center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in upper Manhattan. Ms. David supports the staff by helping to set up for mealtime and activities like bingo, feeding residents who can no longer feed themselves and providing much needed companionship that many of the residents crave.

Many of the Fort Tyron staff wonder what keeps Ms. David upbeat and energized. “Volunteering is what keeps me going. I want to do something good and help people instead of sitting around. Plus, I want to make the best out of life.” As a Holocaust survivor, where she experienced many horrors, her response and passion for life can be easily understood.

“Ms. Davis has been working as a volunteer here almost daily for the past 35 years. She’s dedicated and caring and always kind to the residents. She helps in so many ways but most importantly, the residents look forward to seeing her,” stated Sini Joseph, Activities Director at Fort Tyron.

As a volunteer with the Community Service Society’s RSVP program since 1973, Ms. David has provided over 8,500 hours of service at such institutions as Ohav Tiholaum Synagogue and Beth Abraham Health Services.

Alina Molina, RSVP, Director of Voluntary Initiatives said, Ms. David is an asset to the RSVP Program. Besides having a real zest for life, Ms. Davis is extremely patient and has the innate ability to make everyone feel special, two very important qualities to have as an RSVP volunteer.”

Established 37 years ago, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program’s 9,000 volunteers contribute more than two million hours of service annually to 600 organizations in New York City. RSVP is part of the Community Service Society of New York, a nonprofit organization which advocates on behalf of the poor in the areas of education, affordable housing, health care and income maintenance. RSVP receives funding from CSS, the Corporation for National and Community Service, other government agencies, foundations, individuals and the Friends of RSVP, Inc. For more information on CSS’s Retired & Senior Volunteer Program, please call 212-254-8900 or visit the Community Service Society’s website at www.cssny.org.

For over 150 years, CSS has pursued a mission that is aimed at the poor but which benefits all: to identify and eradicate the problems creating and perpetuating poverty in New York City. CSS is an independent, nonprofit organization that assists those in need to defeat the problems of poverty and more fully participate in productive community life.

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