It is with tremendous enthusiasm and great pride that I share with you the success of our first annual Long Beach Volunteer Day that I hosted on Saturday, April 25 in advance of Public Service Recognition Week: Honoring Our Public Servants, Connecting Citizens with Their Government, on May 3-9, 2015.
Over five hundred volunteers joined together to contribute over 2,000 hours of community service on projects spread throughout the Fifth District including cleanup, painting and tree planting in our parks and public spaces.
I am continually humbled by the number of volunteers and organizations who step-up to make Long Beach the best around. Residents, community members and local businesses brought forth ideas and spent large amounts of time and resources to make this day of service a springboard for future volunteer day events designed to involve the entire city.
In addition to the numerous individuals who played a critical role, participating organizations included: SCAN Health Plan; The Boeing Company; 76 Gas Station; Long Beach Junior Chamber; Action Sports Kids Foundation; Ladies of Athena; Soka Gakkai International; Greater Long Beach Church of Christ; Solid Landings Behavioral Health; Questing Heirs Genealogical Society, Inc.; Latter Day Saints Long Beach California Stake; Boy Scouts of America Long Beach Area Council; Long Beach Republican Women Federated; Long Beach Community Garden Association, Inc.; Long Beach Firefighters IAFF Local 372; and the Long Beach Police Officers Association.
Thanks again to everyone, as it is important to remember how we, as neighbors, are at the heart of civic change and are responsible for empowering positive leadership in our community.