Kauffman Scholars Join National Youth Service Day Initiative to Improve Historic Northeast Kansas City Neighborhood

April 18, 2007 -- Kansas City, MO. -- Students from the first class of Kauffman Scholars and their parents will join forces with other community volunteers in an ambitious volunteer initiative to cleanup and enhance St. John's Avenue in the Historic Northeast Neighborhood of Kansas City. Kauffman Scholars will make up a large contingent of the volunteer force, assembled as part of the National Youth Service Day celebration on Saturday, April 21, 2007.

'Many people might be surprised to discover that, on a national scale, over 55 percent of youth volunteer their time to help others each year," said Dr. Stephen Green, Kauffman Scholars, Inc. President and CEO. "Giving back to the community is a core value of the Kauffman Scholars program and we are especially pleased to have Scholars and parents join the efforts to make a difference in this historic urban neighborhood."

Teams of volunteers will be created to tackle twelve distinct projects along St. John's Avenue, including:

Landscaping and organizing project at Healing House, a faith-based recovery home for women
Basement clean-up and painting at Garrison Community Center
Mosaic tiling cement benches that will be placed at St. John's Gardens and Garrison Community Center
St. John's Avenue Litter Brigade--clean up a two-mile stretch from Concourse Park on Benton Blvd. to Budd Park
St. John's Avenue Graffiti Brigade--teams will roll paint onto the graffiti covered walls
Budd Park Litter Brigade--helping to beautify a 27-acre public park
Plant a Rain Garden at St. John's Community Garden
Mural Painting at St. John's Community Garden