Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Recognizing the positive impact of national service in our city and thanking those who serve and find ways to give back to our community.
Body
WHEREAS, service to others is a hallmark of the American character, and central to how we meet our challenges; and,
WHEREAS, the city of Madison increasingly turns to national service and volunteerism as a cost-effective strategy to meet our needs; and,
WHEREAS, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps participants, including RSVP and Foster Grandparents, address the most pressing challenges facing our communities, from educating students for the jobs of the 21st century and supporting veterans and military families to providing health services and helping communities recover from natural disasters; and,
WHEREAS, national service expands economic opportunity by creating more sustainable, resilient communities and providing education, career skills, and leadership abilities for those who serve; and,
WHEREAS, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps participants serve in more than 50,000 locations across the country, including 125 in Madison, bolstering the civic, neighborhood, and faith-based organizations that are so vital to our economic and social well-being; and,
WHEREAS, more than 2,000 national service participants increase the impact of the organizations they serve in Madison, both through their direct service and by managing millions of additional volunteers; and,
WHEREAS, national service represents a unique public-private partnership that invests in community solutions and leverages non-federal resources to strengthen community impact and increase the return on taxpayer dollars; including more than $9 million in Madison; and,
WHEREAS, national service participants demonstrate commitment, dedication, and patriotism by making an intensive commitment to service, a commitment that remains with them in their future endeavors; and,
WHEREAS, the Corporation for National and Community Service shares a priority with county officials and mayors nationwide to engage citizens, improve lives, and strengthen communities and joined with the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, Cities of Service, mayors and county officials across the country for proclaiming April 4, 2017 at Mayor and County Recognition Day for National Service; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council of the City of Madison encourage residents to recognize the positive impact of national service in our city and thank those who serve and find ways to give back to our community.