Pennsylvania Mayors Join Nationwide Effort to Recognize Impact of National Service

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 7, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania mayors from 22 towns and cities joined more than 1,000 mayors nationwide to participate in the third annual Mayors' Day of Recognition for National Service. The program is a nationwide bipartisan effort that highlights the impact of national service in tackling city problems.

PennSERVE, located within the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) and a sponsor of Mayors' Day of Recognition, provides funding for national service programs in Pennsylvania that use community service as a tool to address issues such as education, disaster preparedness, food security, and health issues.

Along with the PennSERVE-funded programs, more than 2,400 AmeriCorps members and 15,000 Senior Corps volunteers are serving in Pennsylvania this year, helping students learn to read, mentoring at-risk youth, and helping a number of local nonprofits organizations to serve commonwealth residents. 

"We are delighted that so many mayors across the commonwealth are recognizing the great work done by AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and other committed national service volunteers," L&I acting Secretary Kathy Manderino said.

A few of the mayor-sponsored activities for this day include:

• Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia will hold Philadelphia's third annual Mayor's Day of Recognition Ceremony, presenting the Mayor's Award for Distinguished National Service to standout national service participants serving in Philadelphia;
• Mayor Ormond Bellas of Ligonier will visit local elementary schools tolearn about the service projects that national service participants provide to students;
• Mayor Jonathan Bravard of Lock Haven is inviting local AmeriCorps members to a city council meeting and will honor their service to the community;
• Mayor Barbara Crudo of Oil City will meet with and present certificates of recognition to National Service participants for  their service to the community;
• Mayor Gabriel Campana of Williamsport plans to visit national service sites across the city and honor national service participants for their service.

The day is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the National League of Cities, and Cities of Service, and U.S. Conference of Mayors. By shining the spotlight on the impact of service and thanking those who serve, mayors hope to inspire more residents to get involved in their communities. 

For additional information on PennSERVE, visit www.dli.state.pa.us/pennserve or call 1-866-6-SERVEU. For more information on the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, including background and a list of participating mayors, visit www.nationalservice.gov/mayorsforservice.

Media contact:  Sara Goulet, PA Department of Labor & Industry, 717-787-7530

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry