Grandma Laura has been helping to serve children in her community for over 11 years. Laura Greve was born on November 19th, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois. She grew up and became a teacher and grew her family with 6 children. She moved to Traverse City, Michigan and was searching for a way to become involved with her love of children. The opportunity to be a Foster Grandparent came and Laura joined our program on November 1st, 2001. 

Laura made a big commitment by being a part of this national service program that is designed for senior citizens. She started at Blair Elementary and was busy right away helping to mentor the children there. She now volunteers at TCAPS Montessori which is elementary aged children. She helps those struggling in their reading by going through the books with them and giving them all the time they need to succeed. Something she is also giving the children every day she volunteers and one of the most important things is: Love. Grandma Laura gives these children love and support. She is there every week as a consistent support to them. They know that they can count on Grandma Laura to be there for them. 

Grandma Laura has been matched with those children that need the support and extra time. Many of the children do not have a grandparent figure in their lives and Grandma Laura helps to fill that void. Her sweet nature and kind soul are a comfort to all the children she meets. She gets the joy of being there to help them and to see their expressions on their face’s when they catch on to how to solve a problem; when they have finally conquered the book; or when they just want a hug.

She has contributed significantly to fostering education in her community. Over the 11 years she has been a volunteer Grandma Laura has given over 6,789 hours of her time to the children in need. She has attended 496 hours of training's over the years to help her learn ways to better assist children. In an end of the year survey teachers said that Grandma Laura had 76%-100% of children she worked with greatly improve in self-esteem and their attitude about reading.  She is helping children through the Foster Grandparent program and assisting in their education with school work as well as very essential emotional support. 

The staff also benefits from having Laura at their school and has shared many wonderful comments about her. “Grandma Laura is extremely reliable and the students love her!” and “Grandma Laura continues to be absolutely wonderful!” shared school Principal Angela Camp.  Every day Grandma Laura is at school she is encouraging, teaching, and mentoring children who need support as well as helping in fostering their self-esteem. To be able to help a child succeed in school and feel that they are valued is exceptional and Grandma Laura is doing that. She makes an impact on the hundreds of children’s lives she has touched through education over the years.