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Contact:
Rita Kostiuk at 617/723-9713
rita@vtvnetwork.org
Candace Baldwin at 703/647-2352
cbaldwin@ncbcapitalimpact.org
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VILLAGE TO VILLAGE NETWORK LAUNCHES
Innovative Organization to Facilitate Villages Nationwide
Village Model Allows People to Remain in Their Homes Independently as They Age
ARLINGTON, VA (January 29, 2010) – The Village to Village Network (VtV Network) was unveiled today. Created through a partnership between Beacon Hill Village and NCB Capital Impact, this unique peer-to-peer, member driven organization will feature a unique web portal site, www.vtvnetwork.org that will bring communities together to expand choice for older adults. Villages are consumer driven, self-governing, non-profit organizations run by volunteers and staff that coordinate programs and affordable services for members who wish to stay in their home and community as they age.
The VtV Network will facilitate communication between Villages and provide access to tools for organizational start up and sustainability including business documents, building strategic partnerships with providers and fundraising. The Network will enable Villages to share ideas and expertise through webinars, online discussion groups and a Peer to Peer Mentor program. The Network will support the continued development of the Village model as a sustainable and replicable model to empower older Americans to remain independent and active in their communities.
The VtV Network, powered by Club Express, addresses the challenges facing many Village organizations -- access to information and peer support. “The VtV Network is using the latest technology to create an online community of Village leaders, allowing them to share best practices and support each other,” said Dan Ehrmann, President of ClubExpress. “We are thrilled that ClubExpress is helping the VtV Network and Villages around the country realize the vision of the Village model.” In addition to the website, the VtV Network will conduct ongoing research on the impact of the model and host a national gathering for administrators, village members, and service providers.
The Village model is an innovative solution to the recent economic downturn that has had catastrophic impact on lives of older adults. Villages offer people, 50 years and older, an affordable option for staying in their own homes and remaining active, independent, and civically connected to their communities. The VtV Network through the creation of the peer to peer network will aide this emerging trend.
Julie Dalton of Gramatan Village in Bronxville, New York said, “We’re so happy to be on the cutting edge of the Village movement and it is so wonderful to see other communities taking this idea and running with it.”
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About the Village to Village Network
The Village to Village Network, LLC is a 501c3 organization created as a joint partnership between Beacon Hill Village (www.beaconhillvillage.org) and NCB Capital Impact (www.ncbcapitalimpact.org). The Village to Village Network (VtV) was created by Villages for Villages. The VtV Network helps communities establish and manage their own “Villages.” For more information, visit www.vtvnetwork.org.