"VOLUNTEERISM and CITIZEN SERVICE must lead Louisiana's recovery effort." -Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu The Louisiana Serve Commission is pleased to announce Volunteer Louisiana, a website and call center that matches volunteers with service opportunities throughout the state. Visit www.volunteerlouisiana.gov or call 866-286-3835 or 225-342-3070 to find out how you can begin a summer of service.

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January 29, 2008

CONTACT:
Seth Harvey
(225) 342-0729
sharvey@crt.state.la.us

Baton Rouge - The Louisiana Serve Commission in the Office of the Lt. Governor has awarded Learn and Serve grants to five schools for service-learning projects. These grants will provide students the opportunity to reinforce their academic studies while conducting service projects that help rebuild hurricane-damaged areas in Louisiana.

A total of $30,000 has been awarded to the following schools: Raymond K. Smith Middle School in St. Charles Parish, Jewel M. Sumner Middle School in Tangipahoa Parish, Dolby Elementary in Calcasieu Parish, South Walker Elementary in Livingston Parish, Lusher Charter School in Orleans Parish.

In addition to the Learn and Serve grants, participating schools will receive a substantial portion of the required match funds from the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation of Metairie for these 5 new programs.

"In partnership with the Brown Foundation, we are providing more opportunities to Louisiana's youth to serve while they learn. With the addition of these 5 awards, the Louisiana Serve Commission funds a total of 42 service-learning programs that engage over 3,500 students in grades K-12 across the state, "said Lt. Governor Mitch Landrieu.

According to Barbara Gasdaglis, Program Manager of the Brown Foundation Service-Learning Program, "One goal of the Brown Foundation is to improve local communities. Service-learning programs that receive financial support through our organization and the Louisiana Serve Commission help to fulfill this goal while also providing hands-on educational opportunities for students," Gasdaglis said.

Students will participate in service-learning projects that include the establishment of a school nursery to grow shrubs to be planted in areas impacted by the 2005 hurricanes and the building of benches for recreation areas to replace those destroyed by the storms.

"We are very pleased that the Corporation for National and Community Service provided hurricane-impacted areas in Louisiana with additional funds," said Gary Wheat of the Louisiana Serve Commission. "These funds will be used by these schools to enhance their students' studies while directly involving them in the recovery efforts in their communities," Wheat said.

The Learn and Serve America program, through the Louisiana Serve Commission, encourages K-12 public school teachers, schools, and school districts across Louisiana to apply for service-learning grant funds. For more information on this program, contact Denise Dowell at LA Serve at (225) 342-2038 or email her at: ddowell@crt.state.la.us.

Among its many philanthropic activities, the Joe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation provides service-learning grant opportunities to public and non-public schools in the parishes of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington. For more information, call (504) 834-3433.