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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Vannessa Brown Rhoades, Director of Public Relations
Office:(512) 464-9714 or Cell:(512) 689-1021
Day of Event: Alissa Magrum
Cell: (512) 294-3910
"Getting Things Done" for Austin
CIS celebrates Austin AmeriCorps Awareness Day
AUSTIN, TX-April 14, 2005-Who says this generation doesn't care?
This Saturday members of the Communities In Schools AmeriCorps program, in conjunction with five other local AmeriCorps programs will blanket downtown Austin doing a variety of service projects, from cleaning up creeks to organizing a childrens read-a-thon to revitalizing Congress Avenue.
"AmeriCorps members are making a difference in the lives of children and communities throughout our nation and transforming themselves at the same time," said Alissa Magrum, Director of the Communities In Schools AmeriCorps program. "We see more and more people rising to the challenge and stepping up to fill in the gaps helping students with math and reading, mentoring kids, and strengthening our community as a whole."
Over 2,600 AmeriCorps members have provided almost 2.2 million hours of service to the Austin community over the past decade. Since 1995 local AmeriCorps members have collectively tutored, mentored, and provided after-school programming to nearly 23,000 local children; built 79 houses in East Austin; cleared and maintained 205,000 yards of local trails; and provided services for over countless local homeless citizens.
Over $34.5 million in Federal and local funding has been leveraged into Austin via local AmeriCorps programs.
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Who: Communities In Schools AmeriCorps members and members of five other AmeriCorps within Austin
What: Austin AmeriCorps Awareness Day
When: Saturday, April 16, 2005
Where: Event will begin at Austin City Hall Plaza, located at 301 W. 2nd St. Free parking available in City Hall parking garage. Parking garage entrance on Lavaca Street.
Why: To recognize and affirm the AmeriCorps service contribution to the Austin community while blanketing the downtown area with AmeriCorps members doing various service projects
How:
- 8:30 a.m. Austin AmeriCorps members meet at City Hall Plaza to leave for pre- assigned service projects
- 9:00-12:00 p.m. Service Projects, including Farmers' Market Craft Table, Town Lake Canoe Trash Pickup, Bamboo Clearing, Shoal Creek & Waller Creek Trash Pickup, Congress Avenue Painting & Planting, Children's Museum Read-a-thon
- 12:00-12:15 p.m. Return to City Hall steps
- 12:15-12:45 p.m. Rally, Speakers (including Mayor Pro Tem Jackie Goodman), City Proclamation, and AmeriCorps Pledge
- 12:45-1:00 p.m. Walk 2 blocks to the Austin Downtown Farmers' Market for Stone Soup lunch
- 1:00-2:00 p.m. Stone Soup Lunch
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