In terms of "cool," hanging out with other people's grandpas ranks right up there with spending your Saturday nights reading the encyclopedia. But for Nadia Campbell, kickin' it with gram and gramps is what she was born to do. Campbell, 22, is the founder and executive director of The Victorian Hands Foundation, a nonprofit group in New York City that pairs enthusiastic volunteers with senior citizens in need. 

Savvy Miss spoke with this fresh-faced go-getter about the importance of respecting our older generations.

SM: Why this particular cause? Why the Victorian Hands Foundation?
Campbell : When I was 11 [in 1994], my grandmother and I were watching a 20/20 special on elderly abuse and neglect. It really inspired me to get out there and do something. Our seniors are a part of the world we live in: Just because you get older doesn't mean that life stops or that respect should stop.

SM: For most kids, getting out and doing something means volunteering a few hours a week, not securing start-up grants and mobilizing workers. You must have faced some serious challenges.
Campbell : In the beginning, nobody wanted to volunteer with us because they didn't see the need. Over the years, people started to realize the importance of geriatrics and gerontology. People appreciate seniors a lot more now than they did in the past. They realize that seniors don't really get the attention that they should and that they should help change that.