2,630 Mayors and County Leaders Recognize Impact of National Service

Officials participating in Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service represent 149 million Americans, nearly half of U.S. population

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A record number of 2,630 mayors and county leaders across the country are uniting to thank AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers for their commitment to service and their positive impact on pressing challenges facing the nation.

Local elected officials from large cities, small towns, rural areas, and tribal communities across the nation are participating in the third annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service by holding events, issuing proclamations, joining service projects, and using social media to thank service participants.

The number of participating mayors and county leaders has more than tripled since the first recognition day in 2013. Altogether, the elected officials participating today represent more than 149 million Americans, nearly half the U.S. population. A full list can be found here.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), which administers AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Social Innovation Fund, leads the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service in partnership with the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, and Cities of Service.

“We are thrilled by the extraordinary turnout of mayors and county leaders from across the country for this bipartisan recognition of the impact of national service,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “The fact that elected leaders representing nearly half of the nation are participating is a strong testament to the dedication and effectiveness of all those who serve in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.”

“Every day, in cities across the country, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members are making a powerful difference through national service. These dedicated citizens are tackling tough challenges facing our communities – helping kids graduate, fighting poverty, making neighborhoods safer, and much more,” said Mayor Ralph Becker, of Salt Lake City, Utah, President of the National League of Cities. “I believe in the power of national service and am encouraged so many mayors and county officials across the country are joining to recognize the positive impact of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps in our cities.”

This year, more than 470 county government leaders are participating in the recognition day, the result of a partnership launched last fall between CNCS and the National Association of Counties.

“We’re pleased that counties across the country are participating in the County Day of Recognition for National Service,” said NACo Executive Director Matthew Chase. “It’s important to reflect on and recognize the role of volunteerism in our communities. Whether tutoring students, restoring parks, strengthening public safety, or supporting veterans and seniors, dedicated citizens help to improve residents’ quality of life.”

“Cities of Service is proud to help more than 200 mayors and city executives in our coalition move the needle on pressing local issues,” said Myung J. Lee, Executive Director of Cities of Service. “Every day, we learn of and celebrate the great impact volunteering being done with national service members who help to accelerate, reinforce and sustain the efforts of committed citizens, with the essential leadership of our mayors and support from the Corporation for National and Community Service.”

As the federal agency for service and volunteering, CNCS annually engages more than 345,000 AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers in results-driven service to meet local and national needs. Serving at more than 60,000 locations, these citizens tutor and mentor children, support veterans and military families, provide health services, restore the environment, respond to disasters, increase economic opportunity, and more.

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service and champions community solutions through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

The National League of Cities is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns, and villages representing more than 218 million Americans. For more information, visit www.nlc.org.

The National Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935, NACo assists America’s 3,069 counties in pursuing excellence in public service to produce healthy, vibrant, safe and resilient counties. For more information, visit www.naco.org.

Cities of Service is a national nonprofit that supports mayors and city executives to design and implement high-impact volunteering initiatives that can apply to multiple issues from supporting youth and education to sustainability. Founded by Michael R. Bloomberg in 2009, Cities of Service is a nonpartisan coalition which currently supports a coalition of 207 cities in the U.S. and UK whose mayors are committed to engaging citizen volunteers to solve local pressing challenges. Cities of Service helps coalition cities share solutions, best practices, and lessons learned, as well as spreads awareness about meaningful work happening in cities. For more information, visit www.citiesofservice.jhu.edu.

Contact

SAMANTHA JO WARFIELD, CNCS
SJWARFIELD@CNS.GOV; 202-606-6775