Boys & Girls Club Event Will Unveil New Youth Service Toolkit and Recognize Volunteers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, April 28, the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, in partnership with USA Freedom Corps and the Corporation for National and Community Service will join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) to kick off National Volunteer Week and celebrate America’s commitment to civic service. Actor Stephen Baldwin, singer Michael W. Smith, and other President’s Council members will join White House officials and nonprofit leaders in highlighting the importance of youth service and recognizing youth volunteers.

The event will also launch a new online toolkit developed with input from 40 organizations to help faith-based and community groups engage youth from disadvantaged circumstances in volunteer service. The kit was developed in response to a federal study that found that youth who volunteer are more likely to succeed in school and avoid risky behaviors; but that that there is a disturbing “class gap” in teen volunteer rates with youth from low-income backgrounds volunteering at a rate of 43 percent, compared to 59 percent for other youth. Also during the event, the President’s Council will present members of BGCGW’s FBR Branch Keystone Club with the President’s Volunteer Service Award for their leadership to help their fellow citizens.

WHO: Members of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation

• Jean Case, Chair, and CEO of the Case Foundation
• Michael W. Smith, Grammy-winning singer songwriter
• Stephen Baldwin, Actor
• Roxanne Spillett, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
• Kelly Perdew, entrepreneur and Season II winner of the Apprentice
• Michelle Nunn, CEO of the Points of Light & Hands On Network
• Hope Taft, former First Lady of Ohio
• Wendy Spencer, CEO of Volunteer Florida!
• Mary Jo Myers, board member of the Fisher House Foundation
• Evern Cooper Epps, retired President of the UPS Foundation
• Henry Lozano, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director, USA Freedom Corps
• David Eisner, CEO, Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)

WHAT: National Volunteer Week Kick-Off Ceremony; launch of youth service toolkit, and presentation of President’s Volunteer Awards to Boys & Girls Club youth service leaders

WHERE: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington, FBR Branch @ THEARC

1901 Mississippi Ave, SE
Washington, D.C. 20020

WHEN: Monday, April 28, 2008

2 p.m. – 4 p.m. EDT

NOTE: Media interested in attending the event should RSVP to Kerrin Torres at (240) 855-4464 by 12 p.m. on Monday, April 28.

###