Letters: Retired teachers spur benefits while donating time

What do retired teachers mean to Madera County? A lot! After years, sometimes decades, in the classroom giving back to their students, retired teachers continue to give back to local communities through their pocketbook and their passion for volunteerism. The week of November 6-12 is California’s 24th annual Retired Teachers Week.

According to figures from the California Retired Teachers Association, retired teachers statewide donated nearly 2 million hours of volunteer service in the past year, valued at almost $69 million. In addition to their donated time, retired teachers are part of the swell of economic benefits California receives from public pensioners as they spend their pension benefit checks.

In California, expenditures stemming from state and local pensions supported 395,520 jobs and $15.1 billion in federal, state and local tax revenues. In fact, each dollar paid out in pension benefits supported $6.40 in total economic activity in California!

Retired teachers will continue to give back — both economically and through our volunteer service. We cared about our students and our communities while we worked as educators, and that caring doesn’t stop at retirement.

— Sincerely,

Mary Pretzer, Communications Chairman,

Madera County CalRTA, Division 79