Contact:
Beverly Jackson
(856) 504-6656
bjaxson@comcast.net

MEDIA ADVISORY

Local and National Volunteers Prepare for Six Philadelphia-Area Service Projects As Part of National Conference on Volunteering and Service

Philadelphia, PA (July 2, 2007) — The upcoming National Conference on Volunteering and Service (July 16-18 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center)
will not only feature workshops, inspirational speeches and a volunteer expo, but will also include several service projects involving many of the 2,500+ conference attendees and local volunteers.

The service projects are being made possible through generous support provided by Independence Blue Cross, Case Foundation, Wachovia Foundation and the Pennsylvania Convention Center and its affiliated six labor unions.

Each project highlights a different aspect of how volunteers working together can make a difference in their communities.

• Playground Playhouse Build - Volunteers will construct a playground playhouse, which will be donated to an area recreation or homeless shelter. Partners: YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School. Sunday, July 15, 2 p.m - Location: PA Convention Center Exhibit Hall D



• House Build - Volunteers will construct a house frame, which will then be shipped by truck to Gulfport, Mississippi. House will be completed in Gulfport and presented to family left homeless from Gulf States hurricane. Partners: YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School and YouthBuild USA. Sunday, July 15, 2 p.m - Location: PA Convention Center Exhibit Hall D



• Emergency Preparedness - Volunteers will assemble 1,150 Emergency Preparedness Kits, which will be distributed to older adults in the greater Philadelphia area. The American Red Cross will also conduct training on emergency preparedness for staff and volunteers serving the region’s most vulnerable elderly population. This project is made possible through the generous support of Independence Blue Cross. Partners: American Red Cross of Southeastern PA, ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Philadelphia Corporation for Aging. Monday, July 16, 8:30 a.m - Location: PA Convention Center Exhibit Hall D



• Fairmount Park - Working with park staff, up to 100 volunteers will clean up and remove invasive vegetation along the Boxer’s Trail in historic East Park. Partners: East Park Revitalization Alliance and Friends of East Park. Tuesday, July 17th, 8:30 a.m - Location: East Park, Fairmount Park



• Book Drive - All conference participants are invited to bring new or gently used pre-K-3rd grade children’s books, which will be sorted by volunteers and distributed to Philadelphia pre-school programs and homeless shelters. Partner: Philadelphia Reads. Tuesday, July 17, 9 a.m - Location: PA Convention Center Exhibit Hall D



• Collecting items for newborns and children - Volunteers will sort and package new and gently used items, which will be distributed to area homeless and low income children. Local high school students will collect items before conference. Partner: Cradles to Crayons. Tuesday, July 17, 9 a.m - Location: PA Convention Center Exhibit Hall D

“These service projects aim to meet real community needs while engaging conference participants and local community organizations,” said Todd Bernstein, president of Global Citizen and co-chair of the service project committee of the National Conference Host Committee. “We hope that these efforts — together with the sharing of best practices in volunteering from around the country that happens as part of the conference program -- will leave a lasting and meaningful legacy to the city and region.”

The National Conference on Volunteering and Service is the largest gathering of professional volunteer and service managers. It is co-convened by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Points of Light Foundation. For more information and/or online registration, visit www.VolunteeringandService.org.

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