Pioneer Elementary School Roots And Shoots Awarded $1,000 To Lead A Service-Learning Campaign For Global Youth Service Day
By Christina Wessell
State Farm Companies Foundation Supports Service-Learning Projects in Lafayette CO and across America Lafayette CO April 3 2008–– Escuela Bilingűe Pioneer Elementary School Roots and Shoots after school PTA program (led by Debbie Daehnick) received a $1,000 award to launch a service-learning project for Global Youth Service Day on April 26 and 2008. Pioneer Elementary Roots and Shoots is one of 100 State Farm® Good Neighbor Service-Learning Award winners chosen by Youth Service America and funded by State Farm Companies Foundation. Roots and Shoots is a powerful, youth-driven, international service program launched by Dr Jane Goodall and the Jane Goodall Institute. There are over 8,000 groups in almost 100 countries that take action to improve our world through service learning projects that promote care and concern for animals, the environment and the human community. On April 26th, the children in the Roots and Shoots program (Carly, Logan, Zane, Hiatt, Jasmine, Jhoana, Roberto, Alberto, Megan, Grace, Helena, Jacob, Andres, Milena and Eden) will be planting a berry garden at school next to the orchard they planted two years ago. The lovely and fragrant berry garden will include raspberries, strawberries and service berries that all Pioneer Elem. school children will be able to enjoy for many years to come. Before planting day, the children, in grades 2-5, will be measuring out the garden space and deciding how much and what type of soil amendment to use, building the plant boxes, researching the types of plants that grow best in Lafayette and even visiting a local organic farm to learn more about plants and gardening. The Roots and Shoots group will join Project YES, Youth Service America and the City of Lafayette in a day of SeLebration on April 26, when many local service projects are planned throughout Boulder County. SeLebration will begin at Pioneer Elem. School at 9 am with registration and breakfast. The Roots and Shoots children will have lots of fun making their garden become a reality. “The State Farm Good Neighbor Service-Learning grant winners demonstrate unprecedented global caring and initiative, showing the world that young people can be leaders today, not in some distant tomorrow,” says Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America. “By combining the dynamics of leadership, service and learning, the grant recipients build some of the most valuable skills— academic achievement and workforce readiness.” "State Farm is proud to partner with Youth Service America.  As our partnership has grown so has our respect for YSA’s work. Through its strong leadership, young people around the world are experiencing fundamental necessities of democracy - the ability to serve and give back to their community - while gaining academic and workplace readiness skills that are valued by State Farm. We share with YSA the common belief that our young people are not tomorrow's leaders, they are leaders today,” says Edward B. Rust Jr., Chairman and CEO, State Farm   Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world. Global Youth Service Day is a year-round effort to expand the impact of the youth service movement. The initiative launches new service organizations, policy changes, and sustainable service programs to create a culture of engaged youth. State Farm Companies Foundation is the presenting sponsor. More than 120 national partners and 75 lead agencies throughout the United States organize campaigns. Overseas, national lead agencies in more than 100 countries participate. Youth Service America is a national nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of organizations in more than 100 countries and is committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally. Founded in 1986, Youth Service America’s mission is to expand the impact of the youth service movement with communities, schools, corporations, and governments. For more information: www.YSA.org. State Farm® insures more cars than any other insurer in North America and is the leading U.S. home insurer. State Farm's 17,000 agents and 68,000 employees serve over 75 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and more than 1.7 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 31 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®. # # #          Media Contact:            Debbie Daehnick Escuela Bilingűe Pioneer Elementary School Roots and Shoots 303 666 6468 ddaehnick at yahoo.com
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