Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry: PennSERVE Celebrates National AmeriCorps Week

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Labor & Industry Secretary Sandi Vito today invited Pennsylvanians to participate in National AmeriCorps Week, a celebration of volunteerism and community service projects taking place statewide though May 15.

"Community service programs contribute to improving our state, one neighborhood at a time, by helping young people build character and become valuable assets to society," Vito said. "The events and projects occurring throughout the week will highlight the potential and commitment of these Pennsylvanians to their personal growth and to their communities."

PennSERVE: The Governor's Office of Citizen Service is responsible for the administration of AmeriCorps programs. Along with AmeriCorps, PennSERVE engages residents 17 years old and older in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security and other areas. In exchange for a year of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award that can be used to pay for college or repay qualified student loans.

In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 2,900 AmeriCorps members serving 132 organizations. Since the AmeriCorps program began in 1994, more than 31,000 AmeriCorps members in Pennsylvania have served more than 39 million hours. During the same time period, more than 640,000 men and women have joined AmeriCorps nationally, and have given more than 774 million hours of service to their nation.  

After completing their service, AmeriCorps members typically remain actively engaged in their communities. Not only can they be counted on as volunteers, but they also run nonprofits, marshal resources within their communities to address difficult issues and many pursue public service careers.  

For more information about PennSERVE, visit www.dli.state.pa.us, click on "Community Services/Volunteerism" in the left navigation area.

Editor's note: Following is a list of events taking place:

Johnstown: The Pa Mountain Service Corps, or PMSC, AmeriCorps members will join Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8 for "AmeriCorps member for the day," by hosting a children's program on Tuesday, May 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center, 7th and Broad Streets, Johnstown.  Contact: Carol Overly, PMSC program director, 814-472-7690 to participate and for more information.

Pittsburgh: Knowledge to Empower Youths, or KEYS, and other AmeriCorps members and alumni will be honored at the first annual AmeriCorps at Bat event at PNC Park on Tuesday, May 11, at 7 p.m. AmeriCorps members and alumni will be recognized on the field by local dignitaries. Contact:  Holly McIntosh, KEYS Member Development Specialist, 412-350-2739 to participate and for more information.

Ebensburg:  PMSC AmeriCorps members and Communities in Schools of the Laurel Highlands will partner to beautify an exercise trail for the Central Cambria School District. The project takes place on Friday, May 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Admiral Peary Vocational Technical School, 948 Ben Franklin Hwy., Ebensburg. Contact: Carol Overly, PMSC program director, 814-472-7690 to participate and for more information.

Philadelphia: City Year members invite volunteers of all backgrounds to join them at Tustin Recreation Center, N 60th St. and W Columbia Ave., Philadelphia, on Saturday, May 15, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help with indoor and outdoor painting projects and light landscaping.  Contact: Brendan Morrissey, City Year program operations manager, 215-988-2118 ext. 7056 to participate and for more information.

Slippery Rock: AmeriCorps members will build a shelter on the North Country Trail on Saturday, May 15, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The trail is located near the Pennsylvania/Ohio border on Little Beaver Creek in State Game Lands 285. Contact: Lisa Gill, AmeriCorps program coordinator, 724-738-6280 to participate and for more information.

Media contact: Sarah Cassin, 717-787-7530.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

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