The Give-Back Years

Colin L. Powell could have done just about anything after he retired as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: head a think tank, sign on as CEO of a big corporation, some say even run for President of the U.S. What he chose to do instead was to help children become happy, productive citizens. By creating America's Promise--the Alliance for Youth, Powell launched a national movement that has historically competitive organizations in the nonprofit sector collaborating for the first time on hundreds of programs.

The difference between General Powell and hundreds of thousands of other recent retirees is that he is more famous. But the range of beneficial services, charitable works and programs contributed to--and often run by--folks who have finished their first careers is worthy of recognition.

In the pages that follow are a few of the inspiring stories we found of compassionate, creative older Americans who are making a difference in their community. We salute them--and all those they represent--this holiday season!

TOM'S NEW TEAM A proven champion signs up for a second season

As head football coach at the University of Nebraska, Tom Osborne had an unusually personal view of the state of American youth. "I'd travel 30,000, 40,000, 50,000 miles a year all over the U.S. to find recruits," recalls Osborne, 61. "On average I visited 70 to 80 high schools and 50 to 60 homes each year. And what I saw were young people who were more and more troubled, carrying more and more emotional baggage; I even saw this increasingly with the young people joining the team."

With an M.A. and Ph.D. in educational psychology--and a winning reputation--Osborne had both the vision and the credentials to do something about it. "It dawned on me that we had a pretty good level of character among the players, and because they are heroic figures to young people, they could make a difference in their lives," he says. Along with his wife Nancy, the coach initiated a mentoring program called TeamMates, pairing 25 of his Cornhuskers with 25 children. The goal was to have these college athletes-cum-mentors stay with their charges from the kids' first year in middle school through the last day of high school. Recalls former offensive guard Steve Volin of his coach: "He always stuck by people who others thought should be tossed in the gutter." The Osbornes kicked off TeamMates in 1991 with $10,000 of their personal savings. Since then, they've contributed $400,000 more, most for college scholarships. Former running back George Achola remembers the day the coach approached the team: "It was obvious this was something dear to him."

The original program promised to finance college for the kids--if they stayed in the program and out of trouble. Eighteen did go on to college; 22 completed TeamMates and 20 graduated from high school. One who made it to college--and onto the football team as a walk-on--was Sean Applegate. "Trouble always seemed to find me," he recalls. With a high school record marred by fights and suspensions, he was an ideal candidate for TeamMates. "I was given a great opportunity to change the direction I was going in," he allows. "Obviously, it's made a dramatic difference."