Dear PCYC,

Our friends at ServeNext.org, an organization that advocates for expanding national service, asked us to pass along an action alert about national and community service legislation that will come before the Senate this week for a vote.

One of PCYC's main goals is to foster greater civic engagement and community service among the youth community. Recognizing that we are part of something greater, both within our generation and within our country, it is important we lend our voice to some issues that extend beyond the boundaries Pike County. We feel this is one of them.

The Serve America Act (S. 277) will drastically increase the opportunities for young people to become involved in full and part-time service programs, such as AmeriCorps. It also lays the foundation for funding of programs, like ours, that facilitate youth volunteerism.

ServeNext has identified PA Senator Arlen Specter as a member that might need some extra convincing on this legislation. So please take one minute of your time to give his office a call and urge passage of this important bill.

Thanks!

Nick Troiano, Executive Director



PS.

Here are some tips when you call:

1. Call Senator Specter’s office at 202-224-4254.

2. When the receptionist answers, identify yourself as a constituent and student from Pike County

3. Then deliver your message of support, something like:

“As a constituent of Senator Specter’s, I’m calling to urge him to vote ‘yes’ for the Serve America Act this week. Our communities are struggling and the demand for services is expanding dramatically. Nonprofit organizations need human capital to help them provide vital assistance to communities in need. I appreciate Senator Specter’s past support for national service and ask that he support this critical bill. Thank you.”

Milford–The Pike County Youth Coalition will award two scholarships to graduating seniors at Delaware Valley High School this year. The scholarship application tasks students with completing the following prompt:

“Imagine you are one of the Pike County Commissioners. If you had to pick one issue to work on that directly affects young people in the county, what would it be and what would you do?" Winning submissions will be presented at the Youth Coalition’s annual dinner in front of community leaders and to the Pike County Commissioners. One award will be in the amount of $250, the other will be $100. In addition, a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate will be awarded to an applicant at random, just for applying. The deadline is May 15th.

The Pike County Youth Coalition is a youth-led non-profit organization that seeks to educate the community about youth issues, service a resource for young people, and encourage greater youth volunteerism and civic engagement. More information, including the submission form, is available at www.pikeyouth.org/awards. Download the application here: http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tmejqm3iiym.

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Media Contact:

Kaitlin Paul, Communications Director

press@pikeyouth.org, (845) 741-2754