Freddie Mac youth service grants available to support National Youth Service Day projects
(WASHINGTON DC) Serve DC, part of the Executive Office of the Mayor, and the National Youth Service Day (NYSD) Lead Agency in Washington DC, expects the April 15-17, 2005 event will be the biggest, single volunteer event in DC’s history.
On NYSD young people design and lead service-learning and civic engagement projects in areas like voter registration, education, literacy, environment, Homeland Security preparedness, hunger, homelessness, and help for the elderly. NYSD mobilizes millions of young people to address the needs of their communities and educates the public, the media and policymakers about the year-round contributions of young people as community leaders.
To register a service project in the District, please visit Serve DC, and fill in the online registration form. All projects must first be approved by Serve DC. Serve DC will notify applicants who do not meet requirements.
Freddie Mac Youth Service Grants, sponsored by the Freddie Mac Foundation, are available to support youth-led service projects in the District. The mini-grants, each worth up to $750, will support dozens of service projects planned for NYSD. Applications for grants can be downloaded at Serve DC. The deadline for submission is Friday, March 11, 2005 at 5 pm.
Last year, Serve DC mobilized more than 8,100 young people in 80 community service projects, making DC the third largest NYSD celebration in the country. This year, Serve DC expects the event to be even more successful. Projects in the past have included building houses, restoring schools, cleaning parks and helping the homeless. There is a Youth Service Task Force comprised of young people from across the city that assists with the planning process.
29
"Every year the District of Columbia proves that our youth are among the most committed in the country to making a difference in our communities through service," said, MaryAnn Miller, Interim Executive Director of Serve DC. "We are confident that 2004 will be the largest and best youth service celebration our city has ever seen."
Serve DC will coordinate NYSD celebrations in DC, promoting projects and events across the District. The success of NYSD in the District is due to the significant sponsorship from the Freddie Mac Foundation and NIKE.
NYSD is coordinated on the national and global level by Youth Service America, in partnership with the National Youth Leadership Council and PARADE Magazine. Financial support for National and Global Youth Service Day is provided by State Farm Companies Foundation, GM Foundation, Disney Inc., the Clay Aiken and the Bubel Aiken Foundation, AT&T Foundation and the National Education Association.
About Serve DC
Serve DC, formerly known as the DC Commission on National and Community Service, was established in 2000 by an Executive Order from Mayor Anthony A. Williams. Its mission is to strengthen and promote the District of Columbia's spirit of service through partnerships, national service and volunteerism.