Founded in 2015 by Notre Dame alumna Anika Kumar '17, and based in San Jose, Forget Me Not is an intergenerational nonprofit organization that aims to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation in the quickly growing elderly population. It is a social program that connects compassionate teenage volunteers and isolated older adults in weekly companionship phone calls. Currrent Notre Dame students have been part of the program all year on the Notre Dame campus and now, with the shelter-in-place restrictions, are making their phone calls from home.

Recently Forget Me Not was awarded an Asset Champion award by Project Cornerstone in a virtual ceremony. Click here to view the YWCA website featuring Forget Me Not and here to see the CBS News clip, Better Together: Volunteers Phone In To Keep Seniors Comparny During Shelter-In-Place.

Each call is different from the next and highly enriching for both the senior and student. The program is mutually reciprocal as both generations are brought together to have meaningful conversations and forge lasting bonds. Forget Me Not is completely student-founded and student run, and has expanded since its inception to now make calls to older adults all over the country!

It has experienced overwhelmingly positive responses from the community, and has even been recognized by Forbes, SXSW, The San Jose Mercury News, NBC News, and the Points of Light Foundation. Looking forward, Forget Me Not is excited to announce plans for expansion in its efforts to impact as many passionate students and older adults as possible. In the midst of the undertainty and social isolation caused by COVID-19, the phone calls to seniors are more important than ever.