National recognition came to the Project Healthy Grandparents program of Georgia State University when one of the clients of the Atlanta-based agency was featured in a human interest story in the monthly publication of the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP). Grandfather Ralph Johnson, 82, was the subject of a feature article in the AARP Bulletin (“Mr. Johnson’s New Family – At age 82, a former ballplayer finds himself raising five adopted sons”).

Johnson, a father of eight and grown children and former Negro League baseball player who once teamed with Henry Aaron, cared for five boys (including four of his grandsons) without much help until a friend suggested he call Healthy Grandparents. There, he found the advice and resources which have helped him cope, emotionally and financially, with the demands of raising five active kids who range in age from 10 to 15. “I could have been down fishing in Florida,” said Johnson, “It has changed my life completely….I do not regret it, I do not regret it at all.”

Mr. Johnson has been raising the boys since they were ages 4 to 9 and his practice has been to keep them busy, “from the time they get out of bed until they go to bed. That’s the way I was brought up.” Many grandparents of his generation have similar values and do a great job raising their grandchildren, but Project Healthy Grandparents gives them the extra support they need to seek emotional and financial assistance.

Mr. Johnson is also featured in the agency’s brochure under the headline, “Grandfather Ralph Johnson, at age 80, is raising five grandsons on his own. A key player on his team is Project Healthy Grandparents.” Mr. Johnson is shown with the boys in their baseball caps and with team jerseys and bats, ready to play.

For more about Healthy Grandparents, go to http://www.gsu.edu.projecthealthygrandparents/