During the school year, Susan Hunter volunteers 20 hours per week at the Donora Elementary Center to help other people's children and grandchildren with their reading, math and social skills.

The work brings her a great deal of joy.

It's also a noteworthy achievement for one other reason -- Mrs. Hunter is 85 years old.

Her efforts have made her one of only four volunteers to win the Foster Grandparent Program Director's Award for outstanding service. More than 200 people, 60 years old and older, volunteer in the program in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene and Washington counties.

A lifelong resident of Donora, Mrs. Hunter has two children three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her decision to volunteer springs from her love of all children, her belief in the life-changing value of a good education and from a gentle push from her son and daughter.

"When my husband David died, my son and daughter said I was pining and wasting my life," Mrs. Hunter said. "We had been married 50 years."

With the encouragement of her children, David Hunter III of Forest Hills and Theresa Grogan of North Charleroi, Mrs. Hunter signed on as a volunteer at Mon Valley Hospital and the Foster Grandparent Program of Southwestern Pennsylvania, which is locally sponsored by the American Red Cross Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter.

She has regularly volunteered at the hospital and the school for eight years.

"I've always loved children and worked with them in the past at Sunday school and vacation Bible school," Mrs. Hunter said. "At the Donora elementary, I started with kindergarten and for the past three years I've been with second-grade students."

The nomination essay submitted by Alice Prentice, a teacher at Donora Elementary Center, said Mrs. Hunter performs many roles, including listening to children read. She uses flash cards to help them with word recognition, works one-on-one with students who need help with math, and helps teachers set up materials for hands-on science programs.

And that's not all.

"Mrs. Hunter is a great storyteller," Ms. Prentice said. "The children love to listen to her stories about their town and its history."

The children of the computer generation are amazed to hear "that we grew up without television," Mrs. Hunter said with a chuckle.

"My family always said you must get an education," Mrs. Hunter said. Though she did not go to college, her children did.

Her daughter graduated from California University of Pennsylvania and her son from the University of Pittsburgh. Later in life, Mrs. Hunter took continuing education courses at Pitt and in her early 60s she took a course in gerontology at Cal U.

Her own college studies enabled her to get a late-in-life 15-year career at the Mon Valley Health Center in Monessen. Her jobs over the years included work with the Area Agency on Aging and a stint as an affirmative action officer. She retired as a data specialist.

"Mrs. Hunter is by far one of the most loved and respected persons I know," Ms. Prentice said. "She is every child's ideal grandmother. She has a special place in her heart that makes each child feel safe and loved. Mrs. Hunter is a wonderful role model. She teaches the children how important it is to be mannerly and respectful."

The awards were presented earlier this month when 300 senior volunteers and guests gathered at the annual awards luncheon, held this year at the Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe.

The Foster Grandparent Program of Southwestern Pennsylvania was established in 1972. The program also gets federal funds through the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Foster grandparents may serve in private homes or in institutions, including schools, hospitals, drug treatment facilities, correctional institutions, Head Start and day-care centers.

For information about volunteering, call Shelby Parisse at the Washington County office, 724-206-0053.