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Children's Home of Illinois |
April 11-13, 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lindsey Birkel
Children’s Home
309-687-7423
lbirkel@chail.org
CHILDREN’S HOME selected as lead agency for
the 15th annual national youth service day, April
11-13th
Central Illinois Youth to Join
Millions of Their Peers as Part of International Volunteering
Movement
PEORIA, IL AND
WASHINGTON, D.C. – February 5, 2003
– Youth Service America (YSA)
today announced the selection of Children’s Home as a Lead
Agency for the 15th Annual National Youth Service
Day, April 11-13, 2003. 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. As the Presenting
Sponsor of National Youth Service Day 2003, the State Farm
Companies Foundation 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 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 recruiting the next generation of young
volunteers. Youth in over 150 countries join their U.S. peers
as part of the Fourth Annual Global Youth Service Day, which
takes place concurrently with support from the GM Foundation.
Children’s Home is a
137-year-old social service agency dedicated to improving the
lives of children and families in central Illinois. In its
first year as a Local Lead Agency, Children’s Home has recruited
35 organizations in Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford County to
host a volunteer project. These projects involve youth of all
ages and backgrounds and are designed to highlight youth in
philanthropy. An estimated 500 individuals will participate in
the event. As a special part of local festivities, a rally and
news conference will be held at the RiverPlex in downtown Peoria
on Friday, April 11, 2003. Area school children, city council
members, the local community, and some very “special guests”
will be in attendance.
To assist in the
coordination of this effort, Children’s Home selected two area
youth to participate in the planning. Both have dedicated a
vast amount of their time in high school and college to
volunteering, leadership, and service. As students at Bradley
University, they are members of a volunteer and leadership
organization as well as campus coordinators for philanthropy
work with Easter Seals-UCP and Habitat for Humanity.
"Every young person in the
United States has time and talent he or she can contribute to
their community,” said President George W. Bush, Honorary
Co-Chair of National Youth Service Day 2002. “Our youth can
help in so many ways, and their service to others during
National Youth Service Day, and throughout the year, is part of
the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and
decency that are changing communities around the country," the
President added.
“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 young Americans 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.
“National Youth Service Day
sends such an inspirational message to youth and adults. I am
so honored to be a part of a project that is highlighting the
accomplishments and service of our youngest Americans,” said
Jessica Webb, youth spokesperson for Children’s Home.
National Youth Service Day
is coordinated by Youth Service America, in partnership with the
National Youth Leadership Council and PARADE Magazine.
Youth Service America is joined by a consortium that includes
more than 60 of the nation’s largest nonprofit and youth
development organizations, including America’s Promise; Big
Brothers and Big Sisters of America; Campfire USA; Habitat for
Humanity; National Education Association; the US Conference of
Mayors; and YMCA of the USA.
For more information about
local events or to get involved please contact: Children’s
Home, 309-687-7423, lbirkel@chail.org
YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA (YSA)
is a resource center and premier alliance of 300+ organizations
committed to increasing the quantity and quality of
opportunities for young Americans to serve locally, nationally,
or globally. Founded in 1986, YSA's mission is to strengthen
the Effectiveness, Sustainability, and Scale of the youth
service and service-learning fields. YSA envisions a powerful
network of organizations committed to making service and
service-learning the common expectation and common experience of
all young people in America. A strong youth service network
will create healthy communities, and foster citizenship,
knowledge, and the personal development of young people. 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),
an award-winning one-stop portal for information and resources
on service and volunteering. Media contact: Dave DeCicco,
202-296-2992 Ext. 11,
Dave@YSA.org,
www.YSA.org.
CHILDREN’S HOME
is a 137-year-old private, not-for-profit, social service 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. Serving over 2000 children and
families each year, the Children’s Home is one of the largest
agencies in Illinois.
For more information, please contact:
Lindsey Birkel, Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator
(309)687-7423, (309)687-7299 (fax)
lbirkel@chail.org
2130 N. Knoxville
Peoria, IL 61603
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