Contacts: Kathy Bonk 202/326-6767
Andrea Camp 410/719-2309

Washington, DC, September 12: On National Grandparents Day, women activists representing a new generation of grandparents today launched GrannyVoter, a movement to encourage grandparents to speak out as trustees of the future. How? By voting on behalf of their grandchildren on Election Day 2004.

Founders of the GrannyVoter project include: Mary Catherine Bateson, cultural anthropologist and author; Nancy Berkley, author and golf marketing consultant; Rita Bornstein, consultant to higher education; Geraldine Ferraro, consultant and former Vice Presidential candidate; Ruth Massinga, foundation president; Rosemary Masters, psychotherapist; Patricia O'Brien, author; Nell Painter, historian; Letty Cottin Pogrebin, writer; and Patricia Schroeder, former Congresswoman.

A Web site, www.Grannyvoter.org, encourages others to help. Their goal is to shift the political conversation from short-term goals to the long-term effects of public policy through the choices of "older" voters who see the future from the perspective of today's children.

"Our message to our fellow grandmothers and grandfathers is simple: Vote for your grandchildren who cannot vote, but will have to live with the effects of today's policies," said Mary Catherine Bateson. "Our message to politicians is equally clear: Stop addressing 'older' voters as if we only care about our short-term interests such as Social Security and Medicare. Older voters care about the future of today's children and are ready to act as trustees for them."

The GrannyVoters want politicians to know that the concerns of voters ages 55 and older, whether or not they have grandchildren of their own, are broader than the "single issues" of Social Security and Medicare. An AARP poll taken before the New Hampshire primary found that when it comes to issues considered very important in selecting a presidential candidate, strengthening the economy and creating jobs (79%) and
improving education (61%)-issues critical to America's future generations-ranked higher than strengthening and preserving traditional Medicare (59%), or expanding Medicare to cover prescription drugs (56%).

"We believe that the experience of being a grandparent shifts the way older voters view issues and cast their votes," said Geraldine Ferraro. "Yet, our review of recent political polling shows that pollsters don't even ask older voters if they are grandparents. With the bulge of baby-boomers about to become grandparents, political candidates and pundits who overlook this important aspect of older voters' lives do so at their own long-term peril."

According to the Census Bureau, a growing number of grandparents in America are now the primary caregivers for their grandchildren. Over six percent of American children live with their grandparents today-an increase of 30 percent over the last decade. This is a striking example of how the role of American grandparents is expanding and changing.

Ruth Massinga, President and CEO of the Casey Family Foundation added, "A one-dimensional view of older voters, especially those who are grandparents, ignores the strong bond between grandparents and their grandchildren. Grandparents are caregivers and in that role encounter a whole host of issues that shape their vote."

Patricia Schroeder concluded, "Our generation is tackling grandparenthood with the same vigor we brought to other aspects of conventional wisdom. With GrannyVoter, we are rebelling against the negative stereotype society projects upon us. We want to transform the word 'granny' into a strong and positive identity for older voters of both sexes."

Contact: Kathy Bonk: 202/326-6767
Andrea Camp: 410/719-2309