Giving Tuesday: A Day of Generosity, A Lifeline for Caregivers
- Honor quiet heroes on Giving Tuesday: This article shines a light on the unseen journey of nearly 63 million family caregivers who face profound exhaustion and isolation while providing selfless, around-the-clock care for loved ones.
- Discover the Road Scholar Caregiver Grant: Learn about a unique program that provides caregivers with a much-needed journey of renewal. These grants fund enriching learning adventures, offering a chance to rest, reconnect and return with renewed strength.
- Support a life-changing Journey: Your generosity can fund a transformative experience for a deserving caregiver. The article calls for donations to help caregivers rediscover joy and offers other meaningful ways to give back such as offering your time.
As the holidays draw near, we’re reminded that the most meaningful gifts aren’t wrapped in ribbons or bows — they come from the heart. This Giving Tuesday, December 2, Road Scholar celebrates the quiet heroes among us: the millions of family caregivers whose love, strength and selflessness brighten the lives of those they care for. We invite you to join us in honoring their extraordinary devotion with your generosity.
The Unseen Journey of a Caregiver
In every community, there are quiet heroes whose strength often goes unseen. Nearly 63 million Americans — one in four adults — dedicate themselves to caring for a loved one facing illness or disability. Their devotion is a profound expression of love, resilience and selflessness.
The role of a caregiver carries immense responsibility. It means managing medications, scheduling appointments, offering hands-on care and providing steady emotional support. This is not a nine-to-five job — for many, it is an around-the-clock commitment that demands incredible strength and sacrifice. While this path is walked with love, it can also lead to profound exhaustion, isolation and a heavy emotional and financial toll.
The Gift of a New Perspective: Our Caregiver Grants
At Road Scholar, we’ve always been more than a community of learners — we’re a community that cares for one another. In 2015, we saw a growing — and profound — need among our participants who were also full-time caregivers. In response, we created Road Scholar Caregiver Grants — a way to offer caregivers something rare and precious: a moment of rest and a chance to renew their spirits. Since that time, more than 500 caregivers have experienced one of our enriching adventures.
Today is Giving Tuesday
This Giving Tuesday, our goal is to raise $20,000 to fund learning adventures for 10 more deserving caregivers in the new year. These grants offer more than just a break; they provide caregivers with the chance to step away from daily duties, reconnect with the world and rediscover themselves. It’s a chance to be a student again, an adventurer and a friend — returning to their loved ones with a renewed sense of joy and strength.
Caregivers Share Their Thanks
Through the years, we’ve had the privilege of getting to know many of our grant recipients, and their words of gratitude speak volumes. Here are a few heartwarming thoughts they’ve shared with us:
This gift renewed my vision of humanity. I felt ‘seen’ — that someone understood the daily stress of a caregiver and wanted to give some light and hope.
— Kathryn S., Illinois, Class of ’25.
I feel a bit braver now. I successfully and safely traveled away from home, and I didn’t just cope — I thrived. The Caregiver Grant gave me the chance to get out into the world again and to be nurtured after a long period of giving so much of myself. I’m motivated to do more traveling, more exploring and more living. This journey was truly a gift, and it’s one I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.
— Barbara R., Pennsylvania, Class of ‘25
I am grateful to Road Scholar for awarding me a Caregiver Grant. I appreciated each day, each meal, each encounter, each spectacular sunrise and sunset and each diverse perspective. For me, this was the adventure of a lifetime.
— Bobbi V., New Jersey, Class of ‘25
See the Impact
Your generosity today, Giving Tuesday, can set in motion a life-changing journey for a caregiver. To see the profound impact of this program, we invite you to read the inspiring stories of past grant recipients.