 |
| Deputy Secretary Scarlett Joins Take Pride in America® for C & O Canal National Historic Park Cleanup |
(Washington, D.C.)--
Tomorrow, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett will participate in a Take Pride in America® volunteer project at the C & O Canal National Historical Park (Carderock Pavilion). The cleanup is being held in celebration of National Volunteer Week, and is the final stop on Take Pride in America’s “VolunTour Across America,” a nationwide trip promoting volunteerism on public lands. Deputy Secretary Scarlett will honor an outstanding volunteer with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.
“Nearly one third of our country is public lands available for all to share and enjoy, but with that shared birthright comes a responsibility for stewardship” Deputy Secretary Scarlett said. “The hours each volunteer gives today are a collective force for good, preserving this historic park for future generations.”
The group will spend Saturday morning: doing trail maintenance, painting picnic tables, installing BBQ grills, building horseshoe pits, and other beautification projects to put a fresh face on the popular park. At 9 a.m., volunteers will convene for a short ceremony with Deputy Secretary Scarlett, where she will present the President’s Volunteer Service Award to Adele Fenwick, an outstanding local volunteer who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to volunteerism. Fenwick has given more than 300 hours of volunteer service in the last year alone.
The welcome ceremony will also include participation by: Kevin Brandt, Superintendent of the C & O Canal National Historical Park, Matthew Logan, President of the C & O Canal Trust, Veronica Lew, Associate Director of the White House USA Freedom Corps, Derrick Crandall, CEO of American Recreation Coalition, Melissa Johnson, Executive Director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, Shannon Maynard, Executive Director of the Presidents Council on Service and Civic Participation, Gail Cunningham, Vice President of Keep America Beautiful, and Rosemary Pezzuto, Executive Director of Patuxent Area Council of Camp Fire USA.
“Take Pride in America is honored to join with several partners during National Volunteer Week to help cleanup the C & O Canal National Historical Park,” said Katie Loovis, Executive Director, Take Pride in America. “Today’s service project shows the tremendous impact a group of public, private, and nonprofit sector volunteers can make.”
After the event concludes, Take Pride in America will then move across town to another cleanup. Take Pride in America partner Keep America Beautiful is kicking off their national green space initiative, with a revitalization project in Martin Luther King Nature Sanctuary, within Marvin Gaye Park.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award, created by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, is the highest award for volunteerism to be bestowed on Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.
About Take Pride
Take Pride in America is a national partnership program aimed at increasing volunteer service on America’s public lands. It is the goal of Take Pride in America to empower volunteers from every corner of America to maintain and enhance our natural, cultural, and historical sites. Take Pride in America encourages citizen stewardship through an innovative public awareness campaign and an interactive website that showcases volunteer opportunities at natural and cultural sites. For more information, visit www.TakePride.gov.