FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 24, 2004                                                                                                                                                                                             

CHILDREN’S HOME SELECTED AS LEAD AGENCY FOR THE 17^TH ANNUAL NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY, APRIL 15-17, 2005 

Central Illinois Youth to Join Millions of Their Peers as Part of International Volunteering Movement 

PEORIA, ILLINOIS AND WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 24, 2004 – Youth Service America (YSA) announces the selection of  the Children’s Home Association of Illinois as a Lead Agency for the 17^th Annual National Youth Service Day, April 15-17, 2005.  Fifty Lead Agencies across the country will coordinate local, regional, or statewide celebrations of National Youth Service Day, promoting projects and events, coordinating volunteer recruitment, local media outreach, and hands-on participation by elected officials.  To strengthen this effort, State Farm Companies Foundation, the Presenting Sponsor of National Youth Service Day 2005, is making a substantial commitment to the Lead Agency program. 

On National Youth Service Day, a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days a year, young people will design and lead service-learning projects in areas ranging from literacy and the environment, to healthcare, hunger, and help for the elderly.  As the largest service event in the world, engaging millions of young people, National Youth Service Day draws together a remarkable consortium of local, regional, and national partners, while supporting youth on a life-long path of service and civic engagement.   

In Central Illinois, the National Youth Service Day theme will be “Pay It Forward” as a supportive, collaborative effort with Peoria Reads!  The premise of “Pay It Forward,” based on the novel by critically acclaimed novelist and award-winning short story writer Catherine Ryan Hyde, begins with doing a favor for another person – without any expectation of being paid back and then request that a favor be paid forward to three more people, thus becoming a social movement which changes the community.  Youth from throughout Central Illinois will be encouraged to individually, with their school class or other youth groups to formulate ideas of how to “pay it forward” and then implement the idea in the community.   

 “It is a distinct honor to work with such amazing Lead Agencies.  Their leadership increases the scale and visibility of youth service year-round, and helps youth in America play a lead role in learning about community needs, while giving their time, energy, commitment, and idealism,” said Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America.  “Millions of young people serving together on National Youth Service Day creates a tidal wave of good and sends a powerful message of hope and healing around the globe,” Culbertson added.   

Arlene Happach, President and CEO of the Children’s Home comments, “The Children’s Home is thrilled to have again been chosen as a Lead Agency for this nation-wide volunteer effort.  National Youth Service Day is an excellent vehicle to inspire youth to realize that they can make a significant difference in their community through volunteering.” 

For more information on how to become involved in the Central Illinois National Youth Service Day effort, contact Farrell Davies at the Children’s Home, 687-7275. 

******************** 

Children’s Home Association of Illinois is a 139-year-old private, not-for-profit child welfare agency that provides an array of services to children and families in central Illinois.  With an operating budget of $19 million, Children’s Home offers such programs and services as live-in care and treatment, foster care, homeless youth services, educational services, family treatment and counseling, community service programs, prevention programs, mental health services and teen parenting classes.  With a staff of over 400 and serving over 2000 children and families each year, Children’s Home is one of the largest agencies in Illinois. 

Youth Service America is a national nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of other organizations committed to strengthening the youth service movement.  YSA’s programs and services help to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and scale of the youth service and service-learning fields on a local, national, and global level.  In addition to National Youth Service Day and Global Youth Service Day, which take place concurrently each April, YSA also hosts SERVEnet (www.SERVEnet.org), providing the largest database of volunteer opportunities in America.  For more information, visit www.YSA.org.