FiftyForward RSVP
a Nashville area adult volunteer center
placing working and retired volunteers 55+
into meaningful intergenerational service
meeting critical needs in Davidson and Williamson County Tennessee
a Senior Corps Project
of the Corporation for National and Community Service
a Nashville area volunteer center for ages 55 and up
Corrections Corporation of So many things could be said, but I hope this effectively conveys my high respect for the program. Dottie Critchlow Principal at Hickman Elementary School Every student needs an academic coach and cheerleader...someone who is unconditionally invested in the child's progress. This need is met when a FLIP volunteer offers friendship to an academically at-risk student. These nurturing relationships help each child feel the joy of being significant to a caring adult and the pride that comes from mastering challenges. I've watched students of FLIP volunteers close learning gaps as well as gain self-esteem and improve school behavior. These miracles happen because FLIP adults are dedicated and dependable school partners who make the difference in children's lives. 2008 Flora McKean Award Recipient After retiring from Metro Schools as a guidance counselor, Sophia Beamon felt that she still had a lot to give that would be of benefit to the community. She began serving as a FLIP volunteer because she wanted to stay connected to the children. For eight years, she has tutored every Tuesday at “Before Mrs. Beamon picks up her students, she reviews and familiarizes herself with each lesson plan. She makes detailed notes about the student’s literacy progress. When she arrives to the classroom to get her students, she greets them with a warm smile and then gives me a minute to encourage them before they leave for their session. After every session, I receive a detailed account of each child’s performance. Mrs. Beamon is truly concerned about her students. She always inquires about their classroom academic performance and their behavior. Her relationship with the students is always encouraging and her approach to student learning is one of a kind. The students love working with her. She is always flexible with our teachers who may request scheduling adjustments and is always positive and happy to make whatever changes are necessary to best meet the needs of the students. Her wonderful attitude, professionalism, high expectations for students, and love for the children shines through everything she does. We are so fortunate that she is always willing to donate extra time and works well with our teachers to help make literacy instruction at She has demonstrated her concern for the While providing a wonderful service, Sophia has been faced with some tough obstacles along the way. Two years ago while serving as a caregiver during her husband’s illness and maneuvering an extremely busy schedule, she continued to tutor. During the time of her grief after suffering such a tremendous loss when loosing her spouse, she still continued her tutoring. She is a dedicated tutor who truly puts the students first. In 2002 she was featured as our volunteer of the week in the Tennessean. In 2005 she was nominated for the Mary Catherine Strobel Award. Success stories about the students she works with were included in our reports to United Way last year and this school year. She not only volunteers at
The RSVP initiative, Friends Learning in Pairs (FLIP) focuses on the root cause of this epidemic. FLIP has a 79% success rate in raising a student's reading and comprehension skills to grade level or above.
Sophia Beamon and Scott McKean 
Sophia Beaman is just one of the outstanding RSVP volunteers
who participates in RSVP/FLIP.
