FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2003
Contact: Diane Thomas
714.834.6203
Three Volunteer Programs
Win Acts of Caring Awards
(Santa Ana, CA)- Local
programs that encourage literacy and protect senior citizens
will be recognized at this year's National Association
of Counties (NACo) Acts of Caring Awards. The winners
include the Orange County Public Library, the Office on
Aging in partnership with the Council on Aging, and Probation
Community Action Association (PCAA) in partnership with
Orange County Revitalization.
"This award is one of the most prestigious national awards
granted to organizations that have made a positive and
lasting impact within the community through volunteerism,"
said Jane Dawson, Manager of Volunteer Resources. "The
winners from Orange County were selected for their outstanding
accomplishments and success in pairing community volunteers
with local government."
Orange County Public Library won for its Families for
Literacy program (READ), aimed at strengthening the literacy
skills of undereducated adults and children under five.
Community volunteers read stories, distribute books and
prepare neighborhood children for entering kindergarten.
Their goal is to demonstrate that reading is rewarding
and fun.
The Office on Aging, in partnership with the Council on
Aging won for promoting older adult self-sufficiency and
abuse prevention. The agency also won praise for its advocacy
on behalf of senior citizens.
PCAA and Orange County Revitalization won for their “Story
Time” program. This partnership successfully encourages
literacy within the County’s unincorporated communities.
PCAA will receive special recognition as this year’s only
recipient of the Youth Literacy Mentoring Award.
There were 24 programs chosen from more than 100 nominations,
all of which will be recognized on April 9 during an awards
ceremony at the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington
D.C. Acts of Caring awards honor community services provided
by a County-sponsored volunteer program that enhances
or preserves quality of life.
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