Designation includes $2,000 grant for community improvement through youth-led service
Family Service of Roanoke Valley will serve as a Lead Agency for Global Youth Service Day, as designated by Youth Service America (YSA) and accordingly will organize over 500 Roanoke Valley youth to lead projects that improve their communities.
As the lead agency, Family Service is recipient of a $2,000 grant, as well as ongoing training and expert consulting, to develop high-visibility, youth-led community service projects in the lead-up to Global Youth Service Day (GYSD), April 17-19.
“We have had the opportunity to organize Roanoke’s participation in this global day of service for 14 years,” said Family Service Youth Development Director Karen Pillis. “Each year we look for innovative ways to engage youth in service-learning projects that will be meaningful to them and the community.”
Service projects and post-service celebration at Washington Park will impact family violence prevention, multiculturalism, safe driving, and healthy living. Volunteer opportunities include a blood drive, animal advocacy, children’s health and welfare, environmental enthusiasts, elderly outreach, poverty prevention and volunteers for veterans.
Project planning begins on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (January 19, 2015), and projects culminate on Global Youth Service Day, the world’s largest service event. GYSD reaches more than one million young people via partnerships with schools, community groups and faith-based organizations. Service projects will occur in more than 100 countries and will address community needs such as healthy living, childhood hunger, and environmental conservation.
Local sponsors of GYSD include MemberOne and First Citizens Bank. Family Service of Roanoke Valley is one of 100 recipients of the State Farm Lead Agency grant. State Farm awarded a total of $200,000 in Lead Agency grants to support youth-led projects designed to improve communities.
