BOONE, N.C. — Appalachian State University is recognizing Tammy Taylor, director of the Foster Grandparent Program, as she marks 30 years of service to older adult volunteers and the children they support across Northwestern North Carolina.
The Foster Grandparent Program, a subprogram of Appalachian Senior Programs, serves Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Watauga, and Wilkes counties. Volunteers provide one‑on‑one academic and social‑emotional support to children in local classrooms, working with teachers to set individualized goals. Established in 1980, the program came under the sponsorship of App State and the Department of Sociology in 2003, aligning with the department's focus on gerontology and community‑based initiatives. The program is supported through federal grants from AmeriCorps Seniors and local grants from United Way agencies, county administrations, and the North Carolina Community Foundation.
In addition to her work with the Foster Grandparent Program, Taylor serves in a national leadership role as the Southeastern Region Representative for the AmeriCorps Seniors Professional Network (ASPN), the principal advocate for stipended AmeriCorps Seniors programs. In a recent Facebook post, ASPN highlighted Taylor's "wealth of experience and a strong commitment to uplifting community voices, driving impactful initiatives, and fostering collaboration across the region."
Taylor shared that her work with the Foster Grandparent Program provides firsthand knowledge of the tremendous impact of these programs in the everyday lives of the volunteers and the children they serve. She added that being part of the ASPN Board encourages a community of shared knowledge and experiences that allows the organization to better advocate for the continuation of these vital programs.
Taylor, who holds an Administrative Office Technology degree, has worked for Appalachian Senior Programs since 1996, serving as the project assistant for the Senior Companion Program and supporting financial operations for the Foster Grandparent Program. She was appointed director of the Foster Grandparent Program in 2009. Under her leadership, the program received the 2024 Corporate/Business Involvement of the Year Award for Ashe County and was nominated for the 2025 North Carolina Governor's Volunteer Service Award.
Taylor has also remained active in professional development throughout her career, attending the 2016, 2010 and 2008 National Conferences on Volunteering and Service, as well as the 2011, 2009 and 2001 North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration Conferences
"Tammy's leadership and knowledge is rivaled only by her collegiality and dedication," shared Dr. Amy Dellinger Page, executive director of Appalachian Senior Programs and professor in App State's Department of Sociology. "I consistently learn from her and value her commitment to the success of the Foster Grandparent Program and Appalachian Senior Programs."
As Taylor celebrates this milestone year, we extend our appreciation for her leadership, her commitment to older adult volunteers, and her dedication to the communities served by the Foster Grandparent Program.
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About Appalachian Senior Programs
Appalachian Senior Programs (ASP), sponsored by Appalachian State University, assists children and the senior population of a five-county area in northwestern North Carolina through the grant-funded Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Program. Consisting of volunteers, ages fifty-five and older, ASP enhances the social-emotional and academic skills of children who need one-on-one assistance, and provides companionship and assistance for older adults who do not qualify for other assistance. Learn more at seniorprograms.appstate.edu.
About the Department of Sociology
The Department of Sociology offers a Bachelor of Arts and seven Bachelor of Science concentrations (applied research methods; criminology; families and intimate relationships; health and aging; power and social change; social inequalities; and individually designed, which requires departmental approval). The department also offers minors in sociology and health and aging, plus two online graduate certificates: aging, health and society, and sociology. Learn more at soc.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
April 29, 2026
BOONE, N.C.
A headshot of Tammy Taylor.
Tammy Taylor is the director of Appalachian State University's Foster Grandparent Program. Photo submitted