A group of volunteers, known as foster grandparents in Lincoln County are the recipients of the 2012 Governors' Senior Corps Service Award.

They received the award Thursday afternoon at the Copper Lake and Lincoln Hills Schools in Irma from Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Gary Hamblin.

"Four hours a week, seven hours a day."

That's how much time Wally Wolff spends mentoring and tutoring youth at the juvenile correctional facility.

21 foster grandparents talk with the kids, play cards with them, and read with them. According to volunteer coordinators at the schools, doing so has dramatically increased students' social and academic skills.

Margot Schwartzman has been a foster grandmother for a decade.

"Sometimes the boys don't know what a word means so we explain and it's really rewarding, it really is," she said.

The foster grandparent program has dual purposes: helping youth experience the liveliness of older adults and giving the adult volunteers a sense of purpose.

"It makes them feel good to be able to talk with us," Wolff said. "It makes me feel good to be able to do something."

Foster grandparents also volunteer in other areas of the community, including at hospitals, churches and food pantries.