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Keep America Beautiful Applauds Signing of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act

Posted on: Friday, 24 April 2009, 12:30 CDT

Increased volunteerism will bolster the grassroots efforts of hundreds of affiliates

STAMFORD, Conn., April 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nonprofit education and volunteer action organization Keep America Beautiful (KAB) heralds President Barack H. Obama's signing of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which encourages those from the national service field to reach even greater heights in their efforts to rally volunteers from all walks of life.

"The passage of this bill comes at an important time as many Americans are enthusiastic and eager to help communities during the economic crisis," said Keep America Beautiful President & CEO Matthew McKenna. "Now more than ever, our affiliates rely on the support of volunteers to assist their efforts to make their communities cleaner, greener and more livable. The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act will certainly have a positive impact on our ability to attract, engage and retain the volunteer support that is so essential to our mission."

Keep America Beautiful's network of nearly 600 local affiliates engages approximately 3 million volunteers annually. Many of these volunteers are taking part in the Great American Cleanup(TM), the nation's largest community improvement event, which takes place annually from March 1 through May 31 in all 50 states and beyond. Nearly 400 additional, non-affiliate organizations also lend support to the effort, including local, state and federal agencies, and partnering volunteer organizations like AmeriCorps and HandsOn Network, which support local projects and initiatives.

Co-authored by Senator Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Senator Orin Hatch (R-Utah), the bill reauthorizes and expands national service programs with the goal of employing 250,000 AmeriCorps participants annually by 2017 and increasing service options for youth and individuals ages 55 and older. By establishing a nationwide Call to Service campaign and a September 11 National Day of Service, millions of Americans will have the opportunity to serve their communities. The Serve America Act also establishes a Social Innovation Fund that will help to provide solutions to some of the nation's most difficult community problems. Grants will also be awarded to states and nonprofits to assist them in developing stronger programs.

Additionally, the bill will expand participation opportunities through other service-oriented organizations such as ServiceNation, a campaign that enhances and connects volunteers with service opportunities. Keep America Beautiful is one of nearly 140 organizations that are part of the ServiceNation organizing committee, which is committed to mobilizing constituents in support of service.

While this legislation is important, it is still only a step in the right direction. President Obama noted, "I call on all Americans to stand up and do what they can to serve their communities, shape our history and enrich both our own lives and the lives of others across the country."

About Keep America Beautiful

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., established in 1953, is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This national nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments. The Great American Cleanup is one of its many programs that encourage people to care for communities through volunteer participation. To join the Great American Cleanup and let green start with you, visit www.kab.org.

CONTACTS Robert Wallace/Larry Kaufman Tel: 203.659.3016 / 203.659.3014 Email: rwallace@kab.org / lkaufman@kab.org Web site: www.kab.org

SOURCE Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

Source: PR Newswire

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