Washington, D.C.- The national service program AmeriCorps is joining search engine giant Google to mobilize volunteers to clean up local beaches, parks, and trails in the first-ever International Cleanup Weekend taking place October 13-14.

The idea of the cleanup weekend is simple -- to get together with family, friends or coworkers, identify an area in your neighborhood that needs some help, and go clean it up. To coordinate and document this global initiative, participants are encouraged to create and submit maps of their intended cleanup areas in Google Maps.

“AmeriCorps is excited to join with Google in using cutting-edge technology to mobilize volunteers to make a cleaner and better world,” said Kristin McSwain, Director of AmeriCorps. “Our members and projects are always looking for ways to engage more volunteers in improving lives and strengthening communities. Using Google Maps to organize volunteers and track progress is an innovative approach that has great possibilities for the future.”

AmeriCorps members serve through thousands of community and faith-based organizations and tackle our nation’s toughest problems. Among many other activities, they teach, tutor, and mentor disadvantaged students, build homes, provide shelter and health care, assist people with disabilities, help communities respond to disasters, restore parks and trails, build sustainable organizations, and mobilize volunteers to meet vital community needs.

Since 1994, more than 500,000 men and women have taken AmeriCorps pledge to “get things done for America.” The fiscal year 2007 budget for AmeriCorps will support nearly 75,000 positions. Thousands of these AmeriCorps members serve with conversation corps and other organizations that are dedicated to preserving the environment through park and stream cleanups, tree-planting and trail construction, neighborhood cleanups, and environmental education. Information on AmeriCorps and how to join is available at americorps.gov.

Instructions on how to get started on a cleanup are at maps.google.com/help/maps/cleanup/. The cleanup is a volunteer event, and AmeriCorps member hours and costs can only be claimed if this is the type of service approved for your program.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps, VISTA, NCCC, and Learn and Serve America. The Corporation improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. For more information, visit nationalservice.gov.

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