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NEWS
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Messenger Index - May 9, 2007
Starfish Promise
Coalition Receives National Award
National Association of Counties News Release
Janet Monti, Messenger Index
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Gem County was
honored for its Starfish Promise Coalition program by receiving an
Acts of Caring Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo)
during an annual ceremony on Capital Hill last week. The national
award was presented in recognition as the best county volunteer
program in the country in the children and youth category.
Seventeen award-winning programs
received national recognition for establishing innovative and
effective partnerships between county governments and the communities
they serve to enhance the quality of life in those communities.
“As the voice of America’s counties,
NACo is pleased to honor this year’s Acts of Caring Award winners for
their outstanding public service,” NACo President Colleen Landkamer,
commissioner, Blue Earth County, Minn., said. “While counties are
increasingly challenged each day to provide essential services to its
residents, the counties being honored today in the nation’s capital
have gone above and beyond and deserve our high praise.”
The Acts of Caring Awards were
presented in the Rayburn House Office Building as part of National
County Government Week (April 22-28). The winners were selected by a
distinguished, independent panel of judges. The Acts of Caring is part
of Counties Serve America, a long-term project of NACo in partnership
with Freddie Mac designed to raise public understanding and awareness
about county government. |
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Starfish Promise
Coalition has had an average of 30 volunteers per year and over 1,300
hours of volunteer time donated. The annual budget exceeds $65,000, and
there are two staff members. Melissa McDaniel is the Coalition’s
community coordinator.
In 2002, representatives from local
businesses and community organizations joined together to form the
Coalition — the main focus is to deliver America’s Five Promises to
youth. These promises include:
1) access to caring adults; 2) safe
places with structured activities after school; 3) a healthy start; 4)
marketable skills through effective education; and 5) opportunities to
serve.
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The National
Association of Counties (NACo) is the only national organization that
represents county governments in the United States. Founded in 1935,
NACo provides essential services to the nation’s 3,066 counties. NACo
advances issues with a unified voice before the federal government,
improves the public’s understanding of county government, assists
counties in finding and sharing innovative solutions through education
and research and provides value-added services to save counties and
taxpayers money. |
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More information about NACo and the Acts of Caring Awards is available
at
www.naco.org
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