Congratulating City Year Greater Philadelphia on Its Achievements and Welcoming the New Class of Corps Members for 2004-2005 As They Begin Their Year of Service.

WHEREAS, City Year’s mission is to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership and social entrepreneurship; and

WHEREAS, Young adults between the ages of 17 to 24 commit to a year of service full-time for 10 months working with schools, neighborhoods and community-based organizations; and

WHEREAS, Corps members receive college tuition and professional training in leadership development and project management, in addition to the positive changes they make through their public service; and

WHEREAS, City Year has fifteen programs throughout the United States and has operated in the City of Philadelphia since 1997; and

WHEREAS, City Year Greater Philadelphia is the largest site in the network and has grown by 100% since its inception; and

WHEREAS, The Philadelphia program has delivered over 1,250,000 hours of community service, has positively impacted more than 50,000 Philadelphia children by providing academic help, and has graduated more than 1,000 corps members; and

WHEREAS, A five-year study of City Year Greater Philadelphia alumni found that, upon completing a year of service, they vote at nearly twice the rate of their peers, 89% are likely to volunteer regularly, and 81% of those who had joined City Year prior to receiving a high school diploma completed their GED; and

WHEREAS, After completing a year of service,

95%

of corps members state that they have expanded job or educational options; 98% say that they made friends with people from different races, economic backgrounds, religion and educational levels; and,

95%

state that they made an important difference in someone's life; and

WHEREAS, Starting this fall, the new class of 175 corps members will be outfitted in their signature red jackets and Timberland boots, and they will be a positive force throughout the City; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby congratulate City Year Greater Philadelphia on its achievements and that we welcome the new class of corps members as they begin their year of service.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to City Year Greater Philadelphia as a symbol of this body’s sincere appreciation for its positive contributions to the City, as well as for its role in promoting civic commitment and volunteerism, and developing our future leaders.

End