Dream Weaver Foundation has declared that 2017 will be a year dedicated to the juvenile volunteer by helping young people to take action to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals for the 29th Annual Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) April 21-23, 2017 partnering with cities and non-profit organizations throughout North Texas.
As the largest service event in the world, GYSD recognizes the contributions that young people make to their communities 365 days a year. Youth-led community projects are taking place in all 50 U.S. states and DC, and in over 100 countries across 7 continents April 21 to 23. Youth are working to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and to make their communities healthier, greener, smarter, fairer, cleaner and safer.
“We are thrilled to once again be designated a GYSD lead agency and to expand our partners to include Impact Grand Prairie/City of Grand Prairie and the City of Dallas for 2017,” says Kim Phipps, Executive Director of Dream Weaver Foundation. “We’ve seen an amazing outpouring of interest from organizations and individuals for volunteer opportunities as we start the new year. As part of our mission to mobilize and inspire middle- and high-school youth to leave a legacy of service in their communities, we want to create a bigger awareness campaign of our efforts and celebrate the volunteer accomplishments of these youth kicking off with GYSD 2017 and working throughout the year.”
This year Dream Weaver Foundation is partnering with Earth Day Texas, State Fair of Texas, Volunteer Now, YMCA Grand Prairie and Young Women’s Preparatory Network for GYSD 2017. Additional partners, organizations and civic groups who would like to participate in the GYSD 2017 initiative can submit an email to Kim Phipps at kphipps@dwfoundation.org or call 214.716.0266. Deadline for project submission is January 31, 2017. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are also available.
Dream Weaver Foundation, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was founded in 2006 soon after Hurricane Katrina by Kim Phipps and Martrina Reed-Holmes, both former middle school teachers who recognized the need to engage young people in productive activities during out-of-school time. Sadly, however, Martrina passed away from Stage IV breast cancer in 2009 and never had the opportunity to see the full reality of Dream Weaver Foundation – connecting middle and high school youth to service projects in their communities. Dream Weaver Foundation is in Grand Prairie in Dallas County and serves the North Texas communities.