Illinois Mayors to Celebrate National Service

SPRINGFIELD – Nearly 2,000 participating officials will mark April 7, 2015 as the Mayors Day of Celebration for National Service. As of the date of this release, 66 Mayors in Illinois have signed on to participate. On this day, mayors and county executives will hold public events and use traditional and social media to highlight the value of national service to the nation’s cities. Last year, 1,760 mayors representing more than 110 million citizens participated in the second-annual Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service. The initiative is being led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the National League of Cities, and Cities of Service.

“Cities and counties in Illinois rely on Senior Corp and AmeriCorps to support their most in need citizens,” said Scott McFarland, Executive Director of Serve Illinois. “This year alone, nearly 15,000 volunteers will work in 2,000 service locations to help tens of thousands of community members in all 102 counties.”

Illinois National Service by the Numbers

 
• 2,800 AmeriCorps Members Service
• 12,000 seniors serving in Senior Corps
• Serving in more than 2,000 locations
• $38,680,000 in federal support 
 

Mayors Day is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the National League of Cities, Cities of Service, and Serve Illinois. The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40-member (25 voting and 15 non-voting), bi-partisan board appointed by the Governor and administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the State.

To sign up your city, view a list of participating officials, or gain access to resources for the day please visit www.Serve.Illinois.gov.   The website also hosts a search portal of over 10,000 volunteer opportunities in Illinois.