HUD
No. 02-046
(202) 708-0685
|
For
Release
Friday
April 26, 2002 |
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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