Our Impact

In March 1966, twenty-three intrepid Staten Island older adults travelled together by bus to the Willowbrook State School. Led by staff from the Community Service Society (CSS), the twenty-three took part in a carefully planned and executed social experiment. The question at hand: can retired older adults be engaged in volunteer service helping some of the most vulnerable individuals housed at Willowbrook, and can their work provide impactful results for the recipients of service as well as themselves? The answer proved to be a resounding Yes — if you build it, they will come! Overcrowding and neglect ran rampant at Willowbrook. Designed for about 4,000 residents, it became severely overcrowded by the mid-1960s, housing over 6,000 individuals. Conditions were unsanitary and disease outbreaks common, making it one of the most notorious institutions in the U.S. In 1965, Senator Robert F. Kennedy visited and called it a "snake pit." In 1972, journalist Geraldo Rivera aired an exposé titled "Willowbrook: The Last Great Disgrace," revealing horrific conditions and prompting national outrage. None of this deterred the 23, who visited weekly and provided a host of services to improve the day-to-day lives of their assigned resident participants. The success of this Staten Island pilot demonstrated the enormous value of older adult volunteers, and helped influence amendments to the Older Americans Act. In 1969, Congress formally created the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) nationwide — an idea that reshaped national policy and senior engagement programs. Operated in New York City by the Community Service Society, RSVP provides impactful service throughout the city and continues to innovate to meet pressing community needs. It was the catalyst for several acclaimed CSS programs, including the Benefits Plus Learning Center, the Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program, and the Record Repair Project.