Champion of Senior Health

In 2013, RSVP of Tulsa was named a recipient of the Oklahoma Champions of Health Awards.  The special award honors a program for their success in meeting the health care needs of Oklahoma seniors.  In addition to being recognized with this prestigious award, RSVP received a special financial grant to help the agency to continue meeting seniors’ needs.

Since 1971, RSVP of Tulsa has served the health needs of those Oklahomans age 55 and over by matching their time, talents and interests with volunteer opportunities in the community, not only benefiting the individual non-profit agency with increased support to carry out its mission, but also benefiting the individual volunteer with improved physical stamina and positive mental health outlook.

Numerous studies on aging populations have shown that there is a significant connection
between volunteering and good health.  The results of one study indicated that volunteers have a greater life expectancy, higher overall functional ability, with lower rates of depression and less incidence of heart disease.

“Our goal is to provide opportunities which truly re-energize and keep our volunteers engaged,” said Tonnie Dosser, Executive Director of RSVP of Tulsa, “so that they are able to reap all of the social and physical health benefits available through volunteering.”

Dosser added that it has been such a great honor to be recognized for this achievement by Tulsa’s healthcare community.  “It validates the importance of RSVP’s role in the community and the impact that volunteering does provide for Tulsans to remain active and healthy throughout their lives.”

From 1990 to 2002, Oklahoma was recognized as the only state in the U.S. which had experienced a significant drop in the overall health of Oklahomans.  Enter The Oklahoma Caring Foundation and the launch of the Champions of Health Awards in 2003 . . . because Oklahoma could do better and Oklahomans could live more healthy lives if encouraged to do so and how to do it.  The awards program has sought to recognize those individuals and/or organizations over the past ten years who have made a difference in improving the overall health of Oklahoma.

ONE Award: Seniors Division

RSVP of Tulsa was honored in 2010 as one of three state finalists in the Seniors category for the Oklahoma Nonprofit Excellence (ONE) Awards.  The awards program is hosted by the Oklahoma Center for Non-Profits, which annually recognizes outstanding non-profit agencies throughout the state for their dedication and service to their local communities.  The award also included a special financial grant to assist with RSVP of Tulsa’s program funding that year.