WASHINGTON, DC – Over thirty-five thousand volunteers engaged in community service. Joining together for a three day event called National & Global Youth Service Day, youth from every ward in the District organized and led over 200 projects. The 2007 goal set in the District of Columbia was to double 2006’s numbers: 100 projects with 10,000 volunteers. Serve DC, the lead local agency, exceeded their goal with 205 projects and more than tripled last year’s results, setting a record number of 35,381 people and 20,128 youth under the age of twenty-five.

Serve DC, within the Executive Office of the Mayor, involved hundreds of organizations to plan and execute National & Global Youth Service Day (NGYSD). An extremely successful outreach and awareness campaign was conducted through help from schools, faith-based groups, non-profits, city government agencies and businesses. NGYSD Youth Spokesperson Derrell Simpson said, “This weekend shows that service is a solution to problems in our community.” He continued, “The recording-smashing success in 2007 is directly related to the support of all our partners in the community.” Multiple projects were planned and held in every single ward of Washington.

Volunteerism rates among youth ages five to twenty-five in the District of Columbia has steadily risen. A report released last week by the Corporation for National & Community Service showed that from 2001 to 2006, Washington, DC had the largest increase in volunteerism across the entire country. The dramatic turnout during NGYSD illustrates this continuing trend and the growing commitment to volunteerism in the community.

National & Global Youth Service Day Coordinator Adam Rosenblatt said, “This weekend shows that the youth of the District care about their community. They are committed to improving their own lives and others, through leadership and service.” He added, “The youth leaders today taking part in NGYSD will no doubt emerge as future leaders of our city, of our nation, and of our world.” Pictures are available at http://www.cflp.com/07n&gysd.htm.     

Serve DC’s mission is to strengthen and promote the District of Columbia's spirit of service through partnerships, national service and volunteerism. This is Serve DC’s sixth year as the lead local agency for NGYSD in the District of Community. NGYSD is a program of Youth Service America.

For more information on local volunteer initiatives, please contact Dy Brown, Communications Director at (202) 727-7925.