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MARTINEZ WORKS WITH MIAMI GIRL SCOUTS TO PROMOTE
NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK

HUD Announces $2 Million for Girl Scouts of the USA

MIAMI - Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez today celebrated National Volunteer Week and announced $2 million in funding for Girl Scouts of the USA. Promoting the Bush Administration's call to citizen service, Martinez joined the Girl Scouts of Miami-Dade County to plant trees at the Gwen Cherry Apartments in Miami.

"Volunteering not only enhances communities, it builds neighborhoods and creates a culture of responsibility and caring that inspires greatness," said Martinez. "President Bush called on all Americans to join together and celebrate the vital work that volunteers perform every day across the country and today, these Girl Scouts are answering that call."

Funded through a special Congressional appropriation under HUD's Economic Development Initiative Program (EDI), Girls Scouts of the USA will receive $2 million to help operate existing programs and start new programs for girls who are residents of public and Indian housing. This funding will help the organization reach more girls and young women living in public housing communities and provide them with the opportunity to participate in Girl Scouting.

"Regardless of a girl's socioeconomic status, Girl Scouting can expand its reach to every girl everywhere with the critical support HUD provides nationwide," said Marty Evans, National Executive Director of Girl Scouts of the USA.

Martinez worked side-by-side with 70 local Girl Scouts, planting and nurturing shrubs and shade trees for the public housing residents. The newly cultivated courtyard at the Gwen Cherry Apartments provides a location for children to play, friendships to form and neighbors to bond. The participating girls are not only working to receive a Girl Scout patch, they also call the public housing development home.

The Girl Scout Council of Tropical Florida serves over 15,000 girls in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. Between 800 and 1,000 of these girls live in public housing developments and fully participate in Girl Scouting through a program designed to meet their needs. Now in it's 90th year, Girl Scouting continues to help cultivate values, social conscience, and self-esteem in young girls, while also teaching them critical life skills that will enable them to succeed as adults. In Girl Scouting girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. More information about Girl Scouts of the USA is available.

HUD is the nation's housing agency committed to increasing minority homeownership, creating affordable housing opportunities for low-income Americans, supporting the homeless, elderly, people with disabilities and people living with AIDS. The Department also promotes economic and community development as well as enforces the nation's fair housing laws. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet.

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