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