Mission Statement
The mission of Grandpas United™ is to use the wisdom, skills, and life experiences of Grandpas to strengthen our community. We serve as role models and mentors to support youth, inspire fathers, uplift one another, and stay engaged with purpose, fellowship, and respect.
About Us
Founded in 2018 by Frank Williams, Jr., Director of the White Plains Youth Bureau, and Dr. Jim Isenberg, Grandpas United’s mission is to use the wisdom, skills, and life experiences of Grandpas to strengthen our community. We serve as role models and mentors to support youth, inspire fathers, uplift one another, and stay engaged with purpose, fellowship, and respect.
With a growing number of volunteers from all walks of life across Westchester County, our diverse group of Grandpas lead and support impactful intergenerational initiatives, including:
With a growing number of volunteers from all walks of life across Westchester County, our diverse group of Grandpas lead and support impactful intergenerational initiatives, including:
- Mentor youth in schools, community centers, and beyond
- Help young fathers succeed through our JumpStart for Dads skills groups
- A steady guide to youth involved in justice diversion programs
- Support fellow Grandpas through regular meetups and conversations
- Share skills and experience across generations
- Serve the community through hands-on programs and events
As Featured On
Our work has earned national recognition, including features on Good Morning America, CBS News, and NPR. Grandpas United™ has received the CoGenerate Gen2Gen Innovation Award and is recognized as a Program of Distinction by Generations United. We have also been honored by Volunteer New York, the NYS Office for the Aging, and the Westchester County Senior Hall of Fame.
Every day, a Grandpa retires – not from life, just from work. Grandpas United™ offers a meaningful way to stay connected, fill the voids, and make a difference. It’s not another job, just a little time well spent. Show up, have fun, and make it count. Be a Grandpa or Support Grandpas United™ today.
Our Co-Founders
Frank Williams, Jr.
Frank Williams, Jr. is the visionary co-founder of Grandpas United™, a unique intergenerational mentoring initiative housed within the White Plains Youth Bureau, where he currently serves as Executive Director. Under his leadership, the Youth Bureau has become a nationally recognized model for youth development, offering programs that promote health, career readiness, and leadership skills for young people, while actively engaging older adults in meaningful community roles.
With a decades-long career in social services and community development in both New York and Connecticut, Frank has remained deeply committed to fostering cross-generational connections. Through Grandpas United, he has created a space where older men - retired, semi-retired, or simply seeking purpose - can give back by mentoring youth, particularly those growing up without strong male role models. This intergenerational approach not only strengthens families and communities, but also ensures that the life wisdom of elders is passed on in a personal, impactful way.
Frank is also President of the New York State Association of Youth Bureaus, serves on the boards of the College of Westchester and the Theodore Young Community Center, and is an active contributor to initiatives like My Brother’s Keeper and the Jacob Burns Film Center’s Education Committee. He remains committed to education, cultural equity, and youth justice.
His leadership has been honored with numerous awards, including the National Volunteer Service Award from President Barack Obama and the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Award for Excellence in Human Services. He holds a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Tougaloo College, an M.S.W. from Fordham University, and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the College of Westchester.
A proud husband, father, and grandfather, Frank often shares his guiding philosophy: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” Through Grandpas United and his work at the Youth Bureau, Frank continues to shape a more connected, compassionate, and resilient community—one relationship at a time.
Dr. Jim Isenberg
Dr. Jim Isenberg is a Grandpa on a mission.
Since co-founding Grandpas United™ in 2018 with Frank Williams, Jr., Jim has been a driving force behind its intergenerational model, which connects senior men with youth and young men who need support, guidance, and a steady male presence in their lives. Through these meaningful relationships, Grandpas United™ fosters mutual growth and benefits - youth gain mentors they can count on, and older men rediscover purpose, connection, and value in their communities.
Jim’s partnership with Frank at the White Plains Youth Bureau has helped Grandpas United™ expand into a vibrant network that supports youth in schools, diversion programs like Youth Court, NAFI’s Youth Police Initiative (YPI), and fatherhood initiatives such as JumpStart for Dads. Whether mentoring students, helping young fathers develop parenting skills, or encouraging civic engagement, Jim sees every interaction as an opportunity to empower the next generation while uplifting the current one.
Equally important to Jim is the impact Grandpas United has on its members. Many of the Grandpas are retired or semi-retired men seeking meaningful ways to stay involved. “Community service gives older people an important sense of purpose, which is critical,” Jim says. By contributing their wisdom and life experience, Grandpas gain renewed relevance, friendship, and joy in giving back.
Born and raised in Venice, California, Jim earned his Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of California, Berkeley. His distinguished career has spanned executive roles in transportation, criminal justice, youth development, and conflict resolution across the globe. He has taught criminal justice internationally and authored a book on policing. Before retiring, he served as Executive Director of the New York region of the North American Family Institute.
Jim’s work in intergenerational programming has been recognized by several organizations. He was inducted into the Westchester County Senior Hall of Fame as well honored for his work with Grandpas United by Volunteer NY. He was also awarded the 2025 Governor's Exemplary Volunteer Award at the NYS Older New Yorkers Day in Albany.
In addition to his commitment to community, Jim is a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He has helped launch Grandpas United chapters in four other Westchester communities, with plans to expand even further. For Jim, the mission is clear: strengthen communities by connecting generations—and give older men a powerful way to matter again.
