The Boy Scouts of America will take part in National Youth Service Day, April 15-17, 2005. Young people across America will address important unmet community needs through service and service-learning projects addressing hunger, inadequate housing, poor health, literacy, public safety, and the environment as part of the 17th Annual National Youth Service Day. A program of Youth Service America, National Youth Service Day takes place through the efforts of more than 100 national partners, including the Boy Scouts of America. To strengthen this effort, State Farm Companies Foundation is the presenting sponsor of National Youth Service Day 2005.

In an effort to increase community participation in serving others, the Boy Scouts of America has introduced Good Turn for America. Good Turn for America is an initiative designed to increase collaborations between the millions of BSA members and participants and other groups and organizations to better meet community needs. Nationally, partnerships include the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity.

"Scouting's oath to America has always been to serve other people at all times. We take that oath very seriously and provide an average of 48 million hours of service in communities throughout the country each year," stated Roy L. Williams, Chief Scout Executive. "While Good Turn for America is a Scouting initiative, it is meant to include everyone in the community. You don't have to be a member of Scouting to join in on many of the public service projects."

"In Scouting, we are committed to opening doors of hope and opportunity for youth. Service is a wonderful way to strengthen our community while teaching valuable skills and life lessons," explained John C. Cushman, BSA president. "As a proud national partner of National Youth Service Day, we look forward to watching young people reap the rich rewards that can result from giving back to others."

"It is a distinct honor to have such well-regarded organizations as national partners. Their leadership increases the scale and visibility of youth service year-round and helps young people in America play a lead role in learning about community needs while giving their time, energy, commitment, and experience," said Steve Culbertson, president and CEO of Youth Service America.

On National Youth Service Day, a public awareness and education campaign that highlights the amazing contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days a year, young people will design and lead service-learning projects in areas ranging from literacy and the environment to health care, hunger, and help for the elderly. As the largest service event in the world, engaging millions of young people, National Youth Service Day draws together a remarkable consortium of local, regional, and national partners, while supporting youth on a lifelong path of service and civic engagement.

National Youth Service Day is coordinated by Youth Service America, in association with the National Youth Leadership Council and in partnership with Parade magazine. In addition to thousands of projects led by youth, schools, community and faith-based groups, 50 organizations across the country serve as lead agencies for National Youth Service Day. The lead agencies are local, regional, or statewide liaisons for National Youth Service Day, promoting projects and celebrations, and coordinating volunteer recruitment, local media outreach, and hands-on participation by elected officials.

For more information about getting involved with the Boy Scouts of America or to find a local council near you for National Youth Service Day celebrations, please visit www.scouting.org.

Serving more than 4 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age with more than 300 local councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. For more information on the Boy Scouts of America, please visit www.scouting.org.

Youth Service America is a national nonprofit resource center that partners with thousands of other organizations committed to strengthening the youth service movement. YSA's programs and services help strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and scale of the youth service and service-learning fields on a local, national, and global level. In addition to National Youth Service Day and Global Youth Service Day, which take place concurrently each April, YSA also hosts SERVEnet (www.SERVEnet.org), providing the largest database of volunteer opportunities in America. For more information, visit www.YSA.org.

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