NEW CASTLE (Feb. 13, 2013) – The deadline for nominations for the Governor’s Outstanding Youth Volunteer Service Awards is Friday, Feb. 15. These awards recognize the important contributions that Delaware’s youth volunteers make to their communities through volunteerism. Award recipients will be honored at a special ceremony April 25 in Dover.

The awards honor individuals, school organizations and community groups in the areas of arts and culture; education; community service; environment; health; human needs; and social justice. Nominees, 18 and younger, who were enrolled in an elementary, middle, high school or home school at the time of their service, are eligible. Volunteer efforts must have been performed during 2012.

“Every day across our state, we see an incredible commitment from young people in the service of others,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “They are learning the value of giving back by helping to build stronger communities and lifting up individuals and organizations in need of support. The Governor’s Outstanding Youth Volunteer Service Awards is an opportunity to recognize individual young people and groups for their service, and to celebrate their growing spirit of volunteerism.”

To request a nominating form, contact Carrie Hart at (302) 857-5006, carrie.hart@delaware.gov or find the form online at https://volunteer.delaware.gov.

Nomination packets must be delivered by Friday, Feb. 15 to the Office of Volunteerism, Attn: Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards, 805 River Road, Dover, DE 19901, or emailed to carrie.hart@delaware.gov

The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor and coordinated by the State Office of Volunteerism and the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.

“Delaware’s communities definitely are better places because of the contributions of our youngest volunteers,” said Rita Landgraf, secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, which oversees the State Office of Volunteerism. “Through their commitments, these young people are developing what I hope will be a lifetime passion for public service and an understanding that a successful future will be measured by the difference they make in our society.”

In a nationwide survey, the Corporation for National and Community Service ranked Delaware No. 1 for the greatest percentage increase in volunteering from 2010 to 2011 – up 5.3 percentage points – to 26.6 percent. Delaware’s volunteer rate for teens is almost 20 percent.

To find volunteer opportunities or to post the need for volunteer assistance, go to https://volunteer.delaware.gov.

For more information about the awards, go to https://volunteer.delaware.gov, or contact Carrie Hart, Volunteer Service Administrator, at (302) 857-5006.

Agencies to Use Social Media for Book Drive for Terry Children’s Center

Wilmington – The Children’s Department is hoping the power of social media can be harnessed to give young people at its Terry Children’s Center Facility an opportunity to further support their treatment efforts through the use of books and family-focused DVDs.  Beginning Friday, February 1st, Department staff, in coordination with the Governor’s Office, the Department of Health and Social Services and the Delaware Libraries will begin using Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Flickr to launch a month-long donation effort to the children at the Terry Center.

“The many benefits of reading to children, including how it sets them up for academic and life-long success, cannot be underestimated,” said Governor Jack Markell. “We saw a great response during the Week of Service last month, as it relates to the goodwill and supportive nature of Delawareans. We also saw an increased level of engagement from the online community with the health-focused social media campaign. Harnessing the power of both efforts is a simple way we can support the boys and girls of the Terry Center.”

During the month of February, the public is encouraged to donate new or gently used children’s books that are appropriate for ages 6 – 12, as well as family-friendly DVD’s that can be used at the Terry Center.  Six Delaware libraries have offered to serve as designated drop-off spots for the items.  They are the Wilmington, Hockessin, Newark, Dover, Bridgeville, and Millsboro Public Libraries. The books will be picked up by AmeriCorps members and delivered to the Children’s Department, where they will be screened for appropriateness. The agencies involved will use #helpDE and #KidsDE to engage the public through social media and facilitate online discussions regarding the many benefits of reading to children.

The Terry Children’s Center (TCC) is a Residential Treatment Center serving children ages 6 – 12, who may be experiencing one or more of a variety of mental health challenges.  Both residential and day treatment services are available.  The TCC serves up to 42 children at any given time. TCC Director Tom Olson said donations of books will especially benefit the children they serve, because books and other reading materials are often not readily available in their homes.

“This book drive will help us address this discrepancy.  Reading can open up new worlds to children, especially for those who may be developmentally or emotionally lagging behind others in their age group,” said Olson.  “Also, the one on one focused interaction of parents and staff reading to a child can give the child self confidence and a sense of being valued.”

Throughout the month of February, follow the Children’s Department on Twitter @DelKIDS for updates on the progress of the campaign.  Photos will be available throughout the month on Flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/delchildrensdept.

“We’re very excited to use social media in a way that allows citizens to become partners in helping the vulnerable children we serve.  In many ways, this affirms our belief that children in residential treatment are children that have the same needs hopes and goals shared by all of us,” said Karryl McManus, Acting Secretary for the Children’s Department.

The Children’s Department provides a range of services to children who have been abused, neglected, are dependent, have mental health or substance problems, and/or have been adjudicated delinquent by the Courts. For more information, please visit www.kids.delaware.gov.

For more information, contact Jill Fredel, Director of Communications, (302) 255-9047 (office)
or (302) 357-7498 (cell).

NEW CASTLE (Jan. 28, 2013) – Nominations for the Governor’s Outstanding Youth Volunteer Service Awards are now being accepted by the State Office of Volunteerism. These awards recognize the important contributions that Delaware’s volunteers, 18 and younger, make to their communities through volunteerism. Award recipients will be honored at a special ceremony in April.

The awards honor individuals, school organizations and community groups in the areas of arts and culture; education; community service; environment; health; human needs; and social justice. Nominees, 18 and younger, who were enrolled in an elementary, middle, high school or home school, at the time of their service, are eligible. Volunteer efforts must have been performed during 2012.

“Every day across our state, we see an incredible commitment from young people in the service of others,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “They are learning the value of giving back by helping to build stronger communities and lifting up individuals and organizations in need of support. The Governor’s Outstanding Youth Volunteer Service Awards is an opportunity to recognize individual young people and groups for their service, and to celebrate their growing spirit of volunteerism.”

To request a nominating form, contact Carrie Hart at (302) 857-5006, carrie.hart@delaware.gov or find the form online at https://volunteer.delaware.gov. Nomination packets must be delivered by Feb. 15 to the Office of Volunteerism, Attn: Governor’s Youth Volunteer Service Awards, 805 River Road, Dover, DE 19901, or emailed to carrie.hart@delaware.gov.

The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Awards are sponsored by the Office of the Governor and coordinated by the State Office of Volunteerism and the Governor’s Commission on Community and Volunteer Service.

“Delaware’s communities definitely are better places because of the contributions of our youngest volunteers,” said Rita Landgraf, secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, which oversees the State Office of Volunteerism. “Through their commitments, these young people are developing what I hope will be a lifetime passion for public service and an understanding that a successful future will be measured by the difference they make in our society.”
In a nationwide survey, the Corporation for National and Community Service ranked Delaware No. 1 for the greatest percentage increase in volunteering from 2010 to 2011 – up 5.3 percentage points – to 26.6 percent. Delaware’s volunteer rate for teens is almost 20 percent.

For more information about the awards, go to https://volunteer.delaware.gov, or contact Carrie Hart, Volunteer Service Administrator, at (302) 857-5006.

DOVER (Jan. 8, 2013) – For the 2013 Governor’s Week of Service from Jan. 11 to 21, the DNREC Divisions of Fish and Wildlife and Parks and Recreation are looking for volunteers to help with winter projects at state wildlife areas and state parks.

“Part of our state’s great quality of life revolves around our precious natural resources,” said Governor Jack Markell. “The week of service provides an opportunity to work together preserving and maintaining places that make our state a better place to live, work and raise a family.  It’s part of what makes Delaware a state of neighbors.”

“Every year, thousands of volunteers dedicate time to protect and improve our treasured natural resources,” said DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara. “These volunteers provide essential services, solve emerging challenges, and supplement the efforts of DNREC staff to enhance our parks and shoreline, our waterways and wildlife areas, our recreational trails and parks, and help clean up our rivers, bays and beaches. During Governor Markell’s annual Week of Service, we recognize these volunteers and encourage more Delawareans to come out and join them.”

 

• DuPont Nature Center Winter Work Day* will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 12 at the DuPont Nature Center at Mispillion Harbor Reserve, 2992 Lighthouse Road, east of Milford. Directions are available by clicking on the calendar of events at www.fw.delaware.gov/volunteers.

A variety of projects will be available during the nature center’s first Winter Work Day, including deck maintenance, Hurricane Sandy parking lot cleanup, beach cleanup, and roadside/marsh trash clean-up. Work gloves andtools will be provided, but volunteers may also bring their own. Volunteers under the age of 18 must provide a parental consent form, which also can be found on the website.

For more information or to sign up for these projects, please contact Lynne Staub at 302-735-3609 or email lynne.staub@delaware.gov. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to pre-register with contact information in case of inclement weather leading to postponement.

The DuPont Nature Center is open winter hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 302-422-1329, or visit www.dupontnaturecenter.org.

 

• Lums Pond Nature Center Renovation Days will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 12; 1 to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 14; 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, Jan. 15; and 1 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, at Lums Pond State Park near Bear. Volunteers are encouraged to wear work clothes and bring water. All supplies will be provided.

On Jan. 12, volunteers will clear out displays and furniture from the Nature Center, prep and dust walls for painting and begin painting the ceiling. From Jan. 14 to Jan. 16, volunteers will complete the ceiling and paint the walls.

Lums Pond State Park is located at 1068 Howell School Road, Bear. For more information or to sign up, please visit www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov

 

• Cedar Swamp Winter Cleanup* will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 12 at the Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area, with volunteers meeting at the check station parking lot on Collins Beach Road, east of the Smyrna/Townsend area. Directions are available by clicking on the calendar of events at www.fw.delaware.gov/volunteers or View Map.
  

Multiple projects will be available during this cleanup, including roadside trash cleanups and invasive plant removals. Work gloves and tools will be provided, but volunteers may also bring their own. Volunteers under the age of 18 must provide a parental consent form, which also can be found on the website.

For more information or to sign up for these projects, please contact Lynne Staub at 302-735-3609 or email lynne.staub@delaware.gov. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to pre-register with contact information in case of inclement weather leading to postponement.

 

• Fresh Pond Trail Maintenance will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, Jan. 13, with volunteers meeting at the main parking area for Fresh Pond, located in Delaware Seashore State Park near Ocean View.

 

Volunteers will remove invasive plants and shrubs, natural debris and any litter that impedes Fresh Pond Trail in order to improve trail safety and recreational access. Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather, including long pants and closed-toes shoes, and to bring work gloves and water.

Delaware Seashore State Park is located off Delaware Route 1, Ocean View. For more information or to sign up, please visit www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov

 

• Cape Henlopen State Park Trail Project* will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 19, with volunteers meeting at the Glade Road Access point for Junction and Breakwater Trail, located off the Rehoboth Little League Parking lot near Lewes.

The main project focus is to improve safety and trail enjoyment along the Junction and Breakwater Trail. Project participants will help remove shrubs and undergrowth at intersections that are posing visibility and safety risks along this popular and heavily used bike and pedestrian trail. Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather, wear closed-toed shoes, and bring work gloves and water.

Cape Henlopen State Park is located at 15099 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes. For more information or to sign up, please visit www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov.

 

• Brandywine Creek State Park Weed Warriors Project will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 19, with volunteers meeting in the main parking lot at Brandywine Creek State Park.

Volunteers will be pulling up and cutting invasive wine berry, which will be composted down to provide places for some of the local birds to land and shelter. Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather, including long pants and closed-toes shoes, and to bring work gloves and water.

Brandywine Creek State Park is located at 41 Adams Dam Road, Montchanin. For more information or to sign up, please visit www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov

 

• White Clay Creek State Park Weed Warriors Project will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 20, with volunteers meeting at the White Clay Creek State Park entrance on Nine Foot Road, off Thompson Station Road across from Deerfield.

 

Volunteers will be pulling up and cutting invasive plants to help native plants continue to grow and provide good food sources for the native animals. The invasive plants will be composted down in small piles to provide places for local birds to land and shelter. Volunteers are encouraged to dress for the weather, including long pants and closed-toes shoes, and to bring work gloves and water.

White Clay Creek State Park is located off Thompson Station Road in Newark. For more information or to sign up, please visit www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov

 

• Cedar Swamp’s Bye Bye Boxwood* project will be held from 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 20 at the Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area with volunteers meeting at the Vogel Tract off Collins Beach Road east of the Smyrna/Townsend area. Directions are available by clicking on the calendar of events at www.fw.delaware.gov/volunteers, or View Map.
  

Ornamental boxwood shrubs are degrading native wildlife habitat at this Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area site by outcompeting native plants and taking over the understory. Volunteers will be using hand saws, pruners and loppers to remove the shrubs and open the understory. Work gloves and tools will be provided, but volunteers may also bring their own. Volunteers under the age of 18 must provide a parental consent form, which also can be found on the website.

The Cedar Swamp Wildlife Area is located east of Smyrna/Townsend area.

For more information or to sign up, please contact Lynne Staub at 302-735-3609 or email lynne.staub@delaware.gov. Volunteers are strongly encouraged to pre-register with contact information in case of inclement weather leading to postponement.

For information on other volunteer opportunities with the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, visit www.fw.delaware.gov/volunteers.

For more information on other volunteer opportunities with the DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation, please visit www.https://volunteer.delaware.gov

 

*These projects also are part of DNREC’s Bayshore Initiative, a landscape approach to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat, increase volunteer participation in habitat stewardship projects, enhance low-impact outdoor recreation and ecotourism opportunities, and promote associated environmentally compatible economic development. For more information on the Bayshore Initiative, click Delaware Bayshore .

(Dover, DE)   Governor Jack Markell and Lt. Governor Matt Denn are announcing their inaugural events will include an interfaith prayer service, a public inaugural ball, a series of volunteer projects during a Week of Service and a call for donations to a new Boys & Girls Club revitalization initiative, in addition to the traditional swearing-in ceremony.

The Governor and Lt. Governor, along with their spouses, are urging Delawareans to join in service projects scheduled between January 11 and 21, listed at https://volunteer.delaware.gov

“I often say that this is a state of neighbors, and one of the great things about neighbors is they take care of each other,” Governor Markell said.  “The start of my second term serving the state is a great time to highlight that effort.”

“Thousands of Delawareans volunteer their time and their talents every day, and our state wouldn’t function as well without their efforts,” said First Lady Carla Markell, who has spearheaded volunteerism efforts during the first term and is leading the Week of Service for the inaugural. “We want to celebrate all those who already volunteer while encouraging others to participate.  It’s easy to get involved.”

The Markells and Denns will participate in the following projects to illustrate some of the many ways that Delawareans can serve others.

Friday, January 11, 10 a.m.: A kickoff of the Week of Service with the Governor, Mrs. Markell,  cabinet secretaries and staff from the office of the Governor doing renovations and repairs at the Boys & Girls Club, 454 Central Ave., Laurel.

• Friday, January 11, 11 a.m.: Lt. Gov. Denn, who has encouraged companies to allow employees to mentor in schools, will speak to potential mentors at Chesapeake Utilities, 909 Silver Lake Blvd., Dover.
• Saturday, January 12, 1 p.m.: Gov. Markell will take part in a work day at the DuPont Nature Center, 2992 Lighthouse Road, Milford.
• Sunday, January 13, 8 a.m. – Mrs. Markell will help serve breakfast to women and children at the Sunday Breakfast Mission, 110 N. Poplar St., Wilmington.
• Monday, January 14, 1 p.m.: Lt. Governor Denn brings four U.S. Army veterans to William Penn High School to talk with the AFJROTC about their service to our country.  They will share stories of their 53-man remote deployment near the Pakistan border.  William Penn High School, 713 East Basin Road, New Castle.
• Wednesday, January 16, 11 a.m.: Lt. Governor Denn will join the Delaware Mentoring Council during their “Forum on Mentoring in Juvenile Justice Settings” at Delaware State University Student Center, Parlor C,  1200 N. DuPont Highway, Dover
• Wednesday, January 16, 2 p.m.: Gov. Markell and Lt. Gov. Denn will help sort donated food at the Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover.
• Thursday, January 17, 11:30 a.m.: Mrs. Markell will read to preschoolers at the Latin American Community Center, 403 N. Van Buren St., Wilmington
• Friday, January 18, 11 a.m.: Gov. and Mrs. Markell will attend a Blood Bank of Delmarva Community Blood Drive at the Springer Building on DHSS’s Herman Holloway Campus, U.S. 13, New Castle.

“One of the great things about volunteering is how rewarding it can be for the person doing the volunteer work,” Lt. Governor Denn said. “I’ve been mentoring a young man once a week at his school for the last four years.  He is now in sixth grade and it has been gratifying to me to see him mature.”

In commemoration of the inauguration and in keeping with the theme of service, the Markells are also requesting donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware “Project Renewal.”  Project Renewal aims to mobilize volunteers, community leaders, and resources across the state in a coordinated effort to renew and upgrade the facilities at Boys & Girls Clubs in Delaware. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Delaware serve 20,000 children annually at 41 sites around the state.  Donations can be made online at  www.bgclubs.org/projectrenewal

The inaugural events, all of which are open to the public, include:

Sunday, January 13, 4 p.m.: An Interfaith Prayer Service, Arts & Science Center Theater, Delaware Technical Community College, Georgetown.

• Tuesday, January 15, 11 a.m.: The Inauguration Ceremony, Legislative Mall, Dover, followed by Public Greeting inside Legislative Hall (inclement weather location is Central Middle School Auditorium, 211 Delaware Avenue, Dover).
• Tuesday, January 15, 7 p.m.: The Inaugural Ball, Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington – advance registration and $25 per person ticket required from www.markell.org/ball

 

The interfaith prayer service participants will include Dr. Jeffrey Hawtof of the Seaside Jewish Community, Delaware National Guard chaplain Lt. Col. Ed Brandt, Seaford City Councilwoman Pat Jones, Common Pleas Judge Kenneth Clark, the Rev. Max Wolf, St. George’s Chapel/ All Saints Episcopal Church, Sister Rosa Alvarez of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity, Mouad Bekka Imam, Islamic Society of Central Delaware and representatives of other faiths. Music will be provided by the Sussex Vo-Tech High School Choir and by Dover High School music teacher Brad Whitenight.

The inaugural ceremony, where Gov. Markell and Lt. Gov. Denn will take their oaths, deliver their inaugural addresses and officially begin their second terms, will feature the Newark High School Band and the 287^th Army Band of the Delaware National Guard, as well as singing by University of Delaware student Elizabeth I. Rivera and Cab Calloway School of the Arts student Chad Michael Jervis. Participants in the program will include Delaware State University President Dr. Harry Williams, Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Bishop W. Francis Malooly, and Rabbi Peter Grumbacher. The ceremony will feature a 19-gun salute by the Delaware National Guard and posting of the colors by the Delaware State Police. Supreme Court Chief Justice Myron Steele will administer the Governor’s oath and Superior Court Judge Jan Jurden will administer the oath to Lt. Governor Denn. The swearing-in is an outdoor ceremony in front of Legislative Hall in Dover, but if the ceremony must be moved inside nearby Central Middle School for weather, an announcement will be made at 7 a.m.

A public greeting will follow the ceremony, where residents can meet Gov. Markell and Lt. Gov. Denn in the Governor’s office on the second floor of Legislative Hall. Captain Shane Mason, Commander of the 1049th Transportation Company of the Delaware Army National Guard, will act as Military Aide to the Governor for the greeting.

The theme of the inaugural ball is “Celebrating Volunteerism In Our State” and will feature photos of volunteers in action around Delaware. The ball will highlight the culinary creativity and talent of the state with hors d’oeuvres provided by restaurants of the Delaware Restaurant Association as well as beer and wine tastings by Delaware breweries and wineries. Entertainment is by legendary Delaware band Love Seed Mama Jump and disc jockey Marc Emerick. The ball, which is black tie optional, requires advance registration and space is limited. Tickets are $25 per person and there will be a cash bar with complimentary soft drinks.

Those interested in attending any of the events – but especially the ball — can RSVP at www.markell.org/ball or by calling (302) 528-0207. The deadline for ball RSVPs is Thursday, January 10. Inauguration security protocols will be in effect at all events, so attendees should allow adequate time to enter.

Note for Media Coverage:

Reporters and photographer should plan to prominently display their media outlet employee identification on their person for inaugural events.  It will be required for entry to the designated media area.  To register for the three main inaugural events, reporters should email Cathy Rossi   catherine.rossi@delaware.gov to confirm their attendance at the Prayer Service, Inaugural Ceremony, Inaugural Ball. Security protocols will be in place and media representatives’ names will need to be on the media list for admission to designated media areas.  Special instructions and more detailed information will be added to our day-ahead schedules.

Photos can be viewed here.