(EMAILWIRE.COM, May 14, 2001 ) Naperville, IL -- It was June 17, 2000. In Huntsville, Ala., UPBEAT Singles partnered with Kids Care 10- to 12-year-olds to paint a mural and beautify a wall in an outdoor space frequented by residents of a Salvation Army Emergency Shelter and Substance Abuse Program. To make it possible for all volunteers to participate, the artist developed a sketch in a “paint-by-number” format.

In Tumwater, Wash., volunteers from the Stream Team, YMCA Earth Service Corps, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) and VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) formed an environmental partnership. Adults and youth worked together as they pruned, mulched and weeded to help recently planted trees take root, decrease erosion and increase wildlife and salmon habitat along the Deschutes River.

At the same time, in San Antonio, Tex., almost 400 people documented gravesites in three historic cemeteries. This information, replacing records lost in a fire, became part of the genealogy data at the main library, available to genealogy researchers and for other reference. The citywide project was organized and sponsored by Catholic Life Insurance, Order of the Sons of Hermann in the State of Texas, San Antonio Express News Youth Advisory Committee and San Antonio Parks and Recreation.

These activities represent the 3,000 projects that motivated 50,000 people all across America to volunteer on the first JOIN HANDS DAY last June.

*Plan for June 16, 2001

Scheduled annually on the third Saturday in June, this year JOIN HANDS DAY is June 16.
Sponsored nationally by America’s Fraternal Benefit Societies in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network, JOIN HANDS DAY encourages people to connect across generations to build greater mutual understanding, respect and trust. People of all ages work, side by side, to tackle projects and improve conditions in their own neighborhoods.

“Many young people have little interaction with adults except their teachers and family members. And many adults know few young people outside their own circle of family and friends,” said John L. Dutton, JOIN HANDS DAY president. “This often creates a disconnection that can lead to misunderstanding and fear of one group toward the other. Participation in JOIN HANDS DAY is one way to tear down those barriers.”

Grading Grown-Ups, a 2001 study by the Search Institute and Lutheran Brotherhood, supports the fact that most young people don’t know adults outside of their parents, teachers and coaches:
·Only half of young people say they have three or more adults in their lives who encourage them when they see each other.
·Only 20 percent of young people feel valued by adults - most young people don’t think adults listen to them.
·Only 25 percent of adults seek young people’s opinions about things that affect them.

*Create Partnerships

To create partnerships for JOIN HANDS DAY, adult groups invite youth organizations, and youth organizations invite adult groups. Usually three or four youth and three or four adults make up the planning team. Together they create the day, select a cause and determine the project. They become project partners for the entire process, from planning through implementation. People of all ages take on important responsibilities, and many new relationships continue long after JOIN HANDS DAY.
The complete JOIN HANDS DAY Action Guide can be downloaded from the web side at www.joinhandsday.org. To obtain a print version, email joinhandsday@actioncenter.org or call the JOIN HANDS DAY Action Center at 1-877-OUR-1DAY.

*Register for Excellence Awards

All projects are eligible for entry in the JOIN HANDS DAY Excellence Awards Program. Up to 20 $1,000 checks will be awarded to sponsors of outstanding projects. Each winning event will receive a distinctive JOIN HANDS DAY award, imprinted with the names of local sponsors. Twenty additional projects will receive Honorable Mention certificates.

To enter, participating groups simply register their projects. Forms are available on the web site at www.joinhandsday.org, in the Action Guide or by calling toll free 1-877-OUR-1DAY.

Media Contact:
Anthony Snyder
(630)355-6633 ext.14
asnyder@nfcanet.org
http://www.joinhandsday.org/

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Contact Information:
JOIN HANDS Corp.
Anthony Snyder
Tel:
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