The National Conference on Volunteering and Service (NCVS) Convenes in New Orleans June 6-8

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 6, 2011

                            The National Conference on Volunteering and Service (NCVS)
                                                Convenes in New Orleans June 6-8
    Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Retired U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, President of Starbucks Coffee
                    U.S. Cliff Burrows and Actor and Activist Rosario Dawson are featured speakers

WHAT: 2011 NCVS

WHERE: New Orleans Morial Convention Center (MCCNO)

WHEN: June 6-8, 2011

DETAILS: More than 4,000 attendees will convene in New Orleans June 6-8 for NCVS, the world’s largest gathering of service and volunteer leaders from the corporate, government and nonprofit sectors. The annual conference is organized by the Corporation for National Community Service and Points of Light Institute, and provides attendees with the opportunity to connect, learn and be inspired through more than 150 workshops, plenary sessions, service projects, exhibits and more.

This year’s conference will showcase the city of New Orleans as a workshop for social improvement in areas reaching far beyond disaster recovery. Working with The Road to the Gulf program, a program generously supported by the University of Phoenix and HandsOn Network designed to gather together volunteers to make a difference in local communities while contributing to the gulf region recovery, NCVS will provide multiple service project opportunities to restore public places, such as parks. More than 700 NCVS participants and local volunteers together will revitalize 25 parks and recreation centers damaged from Hurricane Katrina. Service projects include: five park cleans ups, five complete park rehabilitations and 15 additional equipment projects and park enhancement.

Retired U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen; president, Starbucks Coffee U.S., Cliff Burrows and actor and activist Rosario Dawson, will be some of the featured speakers at this year’s conference. Admiral Allen will discuss the importance of public participation in the wake of a natural disaster and his experience in being the U.S. Coast Guard Commander during Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf Oil Spill. Burrows will host the CEO Roundtable, which focuses on how companies can control their assets to create positive community change and Dawson will receive a Presidential Volunteer Service Award at the closing session and discuss her experience with charities such as: Voto Latino, The Lower East Side Girls Club, Global Cool, ONE Campaign, International Rescue Committee and much more.

Points of Light Institute inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. It has a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of change. Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share the same mission: HandsOn Network, AmeriCorps Alums and generationOn. For more information, visit www.PointsofLight.org.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, the Corporation engages more than 5.5 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.

WEBSITE: www.VolunteeringandService.org

MAJOR EVENTS: (All events held at MCCNO, unless noted otherwise)
• Mon, June 6, 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Parks and Large Scale Projects: The Road to the Gulf program sponsored by University of Phoenix will complete four park restoration projects, signature NCVS project site at Sam Bonart Park, 1201 Forstall Street between Marais and Urquhart Streets
• Mon, June 6, 1-2:30 p.m.: “Public Participation in the Wake of Disaster” featuring Retired U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, Rms 344-345
• Mon, June 6, 3:30-5 p.m.: “Opening General Session: Champions of Service, Leaders in Innovation” featuring Mayor Mitch Landrieu, political consultants James Carville and Mary Matalin, and Civil Rights activist Ruby Bridges, Hall C
• Tues, June 7, 8:30-10 a.m.: “CEO Roundtable: The Business Champions Playbook How Executives Are Leveraging Their Company’s Unique Assets for Greater Impact” featuring Cliff Burrows, president, Starbucks Coffee US, Rms 243-245
• Wed, June 8, 12:30-3 p.m.: “Closing: New Orleans – And A Nation – Says Thank You!” featuring actor and activist Rosario Dawson, Hall C

EXHIBIT HALL: MCCNO, Hall B2
HOURS: Sun, June 5: 1-5 p.m.
Mon, June 6: 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (closed during opening session from 3:30-5 p.m.)
Tues, June 7: 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Wed, June 8: 7 a.m.-Noon

PRESS OFFICE: Room 228, across from Hall B
HOURS: Mon, June 6-Tues, June 7: 7 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed during opening session from 3-6 p.m.)
Wed, June 8: 7-11 a.m.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
NCVS: Anne O’Neill, cell: 404-354-2836, aoneill@pointsoflight.org
New Orleans CVB: Tara Letort, 504-566-5019, tletort@neworleanscvb.com; Kelly Schulz, 504-421-0962, kschulz@neworleanscvb.com

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