Carolyn Jackson, with her three grandchildren, is a strong advocate for issues affecting grandparents who are caring for grandkids. — Heather Johnson/Redux

Carolyn Jackson, 55

Founder of Grandparents on the Move, New Haven, Conn.

En español | When Carolyn Jackson started Grandparents on the Move (GOM), a support program for grandparents who are caregivers, she was struck by the overwhelming financial, legal and educational needs that the caregivers required. She soon learned firsthand how challenging the situation could be: Family troubles resulted in her raising her own three grandchildren. That redoubled her efforts to work with other grandparent caregivers. After several years, she raised enough money to take groups of grandparents to Washington, D.C., three times to attend national “GrandRallies”  on Capitol Hill. These rallies sought to raise awareness of issues affecting grandparents who are caregivers.

John Wanat, 70

State coordinator Generations United's Seniors4Kids, New Jersey
 
As a former educator, Council on Aging director and founder of SCAN, an adult education program, John Wanat knows the importance of education and intergenerational relationships. When Wanat's grandson Johnny was born, he became very involved in the child’s education. Along the way, he realized that many children don’t have family support for learning, which he believes has made all the difference for Johnny. That belief led him to become New Jersey state coordinator for Generations United's Seniors4Kids program, mobilizing other grandparents across the state to support funding for prekindergarten programs.

Brigitte Castellano, 66

Co-founder of the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights, Albany, N.Y.
 
In 1995, Brigitte Castellano's daughter was killed by a drunk driver. Though her daughter and grandson had been living with her, the child’s father went to court and got custody. Through the ensuing court battles and heartbreak, Brigitte reached out to other grandparents in similar situations and, together, they worked to pass the New York state Grandparent Caregiver Rights Act, which mandates courts to consider grandparents in custody decisions and notify them if their grandchild is removed from his or her parent’s home. Her passion drove her to co-found the National Committee of Grandparents for Children's Rights, a national coalition that advocates for grandparents’ interests in custody and visitation laws.