WASHINGTON, DC – Youth Service America (YSA), a Washington, D.C.-based resource center committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people, today announced it will continue to partner with the State Farm Companies Foundation. YSA, State Farm and the State Farm Companies Foundation agreed to a three-year partnership that includes both financial and in-kind support.

To immediately launch its expansion of National Youth Service Day, already the largest service event in the world, YSA is accepting applications from community and youth development organizations across the country to serve as Lead Agencies for National Youth Service Day 2004, April 16-18. Also, students or teachers may apply for separate grants to support service-learning initiatives that coincide with National Youth Service Day through the State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Awards, a competitive grant process managed by Youth Service America.

The 50 Lead Agencies will receive $2,000 planning grants to serve as local, regional or statewide liaisons for National Youth Service Day, promoting projects and celebrations, coordinating volunteer recruitment, local media outreach and hands-on participation by elected officials. As part of the separate Good Neighbor Awards, 100 service-learning projects, which link community service with academic study, will receive $1,000 grants enabling students, educators and service-learning coordinators to bring the positive benefits of service-learning to more young people.

As the Presenting Sponsor of National Youth Service Day 2004, State Farm Companies Foundation is making a substantial commitment to Youth Service America’s service-learning initiatives. In addition to financial support, many of State Farm’s employees and agents, and their families will participate in local National Youth Service Day events nationwide.

“Our partnership with Youth Service America over the last two years has demonstrated what an effective partnership with a national nonprofit should look like," said Laura Sullivan, vice president and secretary State Farm Companies Foundation. "For the next three years, YSA will have the opportunity to show how service-learning fulfills State Farm’s belief that strong communities begin with strong schools and a community investment in the lives and futures of our young people."

National and Global Youth Service Day is a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days a year. As the largest service event in the world, engaging millions of young people, the campaign draws together a remarkable consortium of local, regional, national and international partners, while supporting youth on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement. Thanks to support from the GM Foundation youth in 125+ countries also participate, including Iran, Qatar, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Yugoslavia, Mexico, China, Rwanda and Colombia.

“As our greatest asset, it is only fitting that young people play a lead role in meeting community needs, while lending their time, energy, commitment and experience,” said Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. “Corporate partners, with the deep level of commitment exemplified by State Farm, fuel the positive, long-term cultural change that will make service-leaning the common expectation and the common experience of all young people,” Culbertson added.

Lead Agencies and members of their coalition may include, but are not limited to: K-12 schools, universities, student councils, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, statewide service commissions, public agencies and various nonprofits. Applications are due October 15, 2003 and can be obtained at www.YSA.org/NYSD. Applications for the State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning Awards (for teachers, students and service-learning coordinators) are also available at this site and are due December 8, 2003.

Service-learning, now used in about one-third of all U.S. schools, improves academic performance, cultivates tolerance, instills civic responsibility and enhances workforce readiness. State Farm’s support of service-learning is part of the company’s long history of investment in communities and public education. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company Chairman and CEO Edward B. Rust, Jr., is a national business leader focused on partnerships that raise academic standards, improve educational accountability and strengthen public confidence in education. He serves on numerous state and national boards addressing education reform.

YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA (YSA) is a resource center which partners with thousands of organizations committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people in America, ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally and globally. Founded in 1986, YSA's mission is to strengthen the Effectiveness, Sustainability and Scale of the youth service and service-learning fields. YSA envisions a powerful network of organizations committed to making service and service-learning the common expectation and common experience of all young people in America. A strong youth service network will create healthy communities, and foster citizenship, knowledge and the personal development of young people. In addition to National and Global Youth Service Day, which take place concurrently each April, YSA also hosts SERVEnet (www.SERVEnet.org), an award-winning one-stop site for information and resources on service and volunteering.

Youth Service America

Youth Service America

Youth Service America is a national nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of other organizations committed to strengthening the youth service movement. Youth Service America's programs and services help to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and scale of the youth service and service-learning fields on a local, national, and global level. In addition to National Youth Service Day and Global Youth Service Day, which take place concurrently each April, YSA also hosts SERVEnet (www.SERVEnet.org), providing the largest database of volunteer opportunities in America. For more information, visit: www.YSA.org.

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