Pen Pal Shake
We believe that when we take our model and pair the business community with school-aged kids or senior citizens, something pretty cool can happen.
Here's our vision:
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Pen Pal Life will team up with teachers, schools, youth programs and senior centers to connect them with businesses in the community willing to be pen pals.
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The business partner will pay a fee for participation. This fee will also cover postage, stationary and envelopes for the youth to use. Program deliverables and structure may vary when partnering with senior citizens.
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The program will last 8-weeks
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At the end of the 8-weeks, we will coordinate video or phone calls with the participants and their pen pals to put a real face to the name.
NOTE: this program is currently only available to Arizona-based businesses and organizations. Sign up for our newsletter for updates about when we expand.
Why this matters - youth
While typing is fundamental to our life, it shouldn't be required at the expense of handwriting. The brain is more engaged when we write vs. when we type, and it is proven that handwriting helps improve lesson retention.
Arizona requires that cursive still be taught in public schools and the Pen Pal Shake program reinforces the lessons learned in school while connecting youth with a positive adult role model.
If you're a business or youth leader/teacher interested in participating in the Pen Pal Shake program, please contact us.
Why this matters - seniors
Nearly one-third of all seniors live by themselves, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That’s close to 13.8 million seniors aging alone. Senior isolation is both common and dangerous.
Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isolation because they are more likely to face factors such as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.
If you're a business or senior center interested in participating in the Pen Pal Shake program, please contact us.