WHEREAS, service to others is a hallmark of the American character, central to how we meet our challenges, and the nation’s counties are increasingly turning to national service and volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to meet county needs; and
WHEREAS, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps participants serve in more than 60,000 locations across the country, bolstering the civic, neighborhood and faith-based organizations that are so vital to our economic and social well-being, and addressing the most pressing challenges facing our communities, from educating students for the jobs of the 21st century and supporting veterans and military families, to preserving the environment, providing health services, and helping communities recover from natural disasters; and
WHEREAS, national service participants increase the impact of the organizations they serve, both through their direct service and by managing millions of additional volunteers, demonstrating commitment, dedication and patriotism by making an intensive commitment to service, a commitment that remains with them in their future endeavors; and
WHEREAS, national service expands economic opportunity by creating more sustainable resilient communities and providing education, career skills and leadership abilities for those who serve, representing a unique public-private partnership that invests in community solutions and leverages nonfederal resources to strengthen community impact and increase the return on taxpayer dollars; and
WHEREAS, Arlington is home to two AmeriCorps State programs which participate in community service projects, such as food drives for the Arlington Food Assistance Center, Adopt-a-Street, and neighborhood clean-up projects: Greenbrier Learning Center and Arlington Works!, a partnership between REEP, the Arlington Education & Employment Program, Edu-Futuro; and
WHEREAS, eight full-time Arlington Works! members provide educational services that assist low-income immigrants in gaining skills needed for greater economic and academic success, and thirteen full-time Greenbrier members provide in-school, after school and summer programs for children; and
WHEREAS, the Corporation for National and Community Service shares a priority with county executives nationwide to engage citizens, improve lives, and strengthen communities, and is joining with the National Association of Counties and county executives across the country for the County Day of Recognition for National Service on April 7, 2015;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Mary Hughes Hynes, Chair of the County Board of Arlington, Virginia, do hereby proclaim April 7, 2015, as NATIONAL SERVICE RECOGNITION DAY in Arlington County and urge all residents to recognize the positive impact of national service in our County, to thank those who serve, and to find ways to give back to their communities.