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Pittsburgh Area Receives National Recognition for Volunteerism, Governor Rendell Says
2008-08-07 12:28:00
Pittsburgh Area Receives National Recognition for Volunteerism, Governor Rendell Says
Region places 11th in community service among 50 largest U.S. cities HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 7 /EMWNews/ -- Pittsburgh answered Governor Edward G. Rendell's call to community service in resounding fashion as the metropolitan area placed 11th among the 50 largest U.S. cities for volunteerism in a new study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, or CNCS. "Across the commonwealth, Pennsylvanians are responding like never before to help our communities through dedicated volunteer service to faith-based, educational, social service, environmental and other vital civic organizations," Governor Rendell said in reaction to the city's placement in the Volunteering in America report. "For Pittsburgh to be recognized among the top cities in the country for volunteers speaks volumes of the selflessness and dedication our citizens have to improving their communities." On average, one-in-three (32.1 percent) residents in the seven-county Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area volunteer their time. The 2007 national average was 26.2 percent. The Corporation for National and Community Service compiled data for large cities and states from 2005 through 2007 for the report, which can be viewed online at volunteeringinamerica.gov. In Pittsburgh, which ranked 20th in volunteer hours per capita (38.7 percent), more than 600,000 volunteers served an average of 73.2 million hours per year -- an annual economic contribution valued at $1.43 billion for 2007, according to the CNCS report. Pennsylvania's overall volunteer rate of 28.3 percent ranked 29th among states and the District of Columbia, according to the study. Pennsylvania ranked 32nd in volunteer hours per capita (35.4 percent) and led the nation in the percentage of volunteers (35 percent) that do so by fundraising. CNCS valued Pennsylvania's annual average of 347.3 million volunteer hours at more than $6.7 billion. Pennsylvania also benefited in 2007 from the service of more than 39,000 people of all ages and backgrounds who volunteered through 183 national Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America projects administered through PennSERVE: the Governor's Office of Citizen Service. These volunteers tutored and mentored children, coordinated after-school programs, built homes, conducted neighborhood patrols, restored habitat, responded to disasters, built nonprofit capacity, and recruited and managed volunteers. Philadelphia's annual average of 135.9 million volunteer hours was valued at $2.65 billion for 2007. The city's 25.1 percent volunteerism rate was 39th and its 30.9 volunteer hours per capita ranked it 37th among the 50 large cities studied by CNCS. Among mid-sized cities identified in the report, Harrisburg's 34.2 percent annual volunteerism rate placed 22nd, Lancaster (32.7 percent) 28th, Allentown (27.4 percent) 48th, and Scranton (24.6) 62nd. CNCS compiled data on mid-sized cities from 2004 through 2007. PennSERVE's mission is to promote and strengthen service programs that impact the quality of life in their communities. PennSERVE works to find ways to promote volunteerism and community service throughout Pennsylvania and it seeks to build strong communities through grassroots citizen involvement and commitment. For information regarding community service and volunteerism, visit http://www.state.pa.us, PA Keyword: PennSERVE. The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit: http://www.governor.state.pa.us. CONTACT: David Smith, L&I 717-787-7530 Barry Ciccocioppo 717-783-1116
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