FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 14, 2008
Contact: Fay Mauro
Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel Co.
410-897-9207
“Teens as Problem Solvers" Awarded $1,000 to Lead
a Service-Learning Campaign for Global Youth Service Day
State Farm Companies Foundation Supports Service-Learning Projects in Annapolis and Across America
Teens as Problem Solvers (TAPS), the youth leadership project of the Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County, will receive a $1,000 award to launch a service-learning project for Global Youth Service Day on April 26, 2008. TAPS is one of 100 State Farm® Good Neighbor Service-Learning Award winners chosen by Youth Service America and funded by State Farm Companies Foundation.
TAPS members and other volunteers will assemble and install 3 rain barrels at the Chesapeake Children's Museum, 25 Silopanna Road, Annapolis, MD 21403 on Saturday, April 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This project will also involve site preparation for the rain barrels, bayscape gardening and distributing pamphlets to area residents to increase environmental awareness. The Chesapeake Children's Museum is located on the banks of Spa Creek in an environmentally sensitive area.
Mel Wilkins, Director of Programs & Projects for The Spa Creek Conservancy is leading the TAPS members in learning about and installing rain barrels to collect and store rainwater runoff from rooftops. Water collected from rain barrels can be used later on to water gardens and lawns during dry spells. Rain barrels are also effective in reducing water pollution and erosion.
“The State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning grant winners demonstrate unprecedented global caring and initiative, showing the world that young people can be leaders today, not in some distant tomorrow,” says Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. “By combining the dynamics of leadership, service and learning, the grant recipients build some of the most valuable skills— academic achievement and workforce readiness.”
"State Farm is proud to partner with Youth Service America. As our partnership has grown so has our respect for YSA’s work. Through its strong leadership, young people around the world are experiencing fundamental necessities of democracy - the ability to serve and give back to their community - while gaining academic and workplace readiness skills that are valued by State Farm. We share with YSA the common belief that our young people are not tomorrow's leaders, they are leaders today,” says Edward B. Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO, State Farm.
Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world. Global Youth Service Day is a year-round effort to expand the impact of the youth service movement. The initiative launches new service organizations, policy changes, and sustainable service programs to create a culture of engaged youth. State Farm Companies Foundation is the presenting sponsor. More than 120 national partners and 75 lead agencies throughout the United States organize campaigns. Overseas, national lead agencies in more than 100 countries participate. Founded in 1986, Youth Service America’s mission is to expand the impact of the youth service movement with communities, schools, corporations, and governments. For more information: www.YSA.org.
Join Teens As Problem Solvers at the Chesapeake Children’s Museum in Annapolis on Saturday, April 26th. Bring your family and friends, and be a part of Global Youth Service Day. For more information contact Pam Youngs at the Volunteer Center For Anne Arundel County, 410-897-9207 or pam@volunteerannearundel.org. | flyer
###