June 6, 2008

Contact: Douglas Robinson
202-220-2360
drobinson@nw.org

 

NeighborWorks Week Kicks off Community Building and
Neighborhood Improvement across the Nation
Community residents will transform neighborhoods into better places to live, work and play, June 7-14, 2008

WASHINGTON– Today NeighborWorks® America announced that it expects thousands of residents to fan out into their communities around the country during the 25th annual NeighborWorks Week, June 7-14, 2008.  Community volunteers from Jacksonville, Fla., to Aberdeen, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska, to San Juan, Puerto Rico, are expected to show their community spirit during the national community building effort.

Of the more than 160 community celebration and education events that are planned, 62 events will kick off NeighborWorks Week on June 7 with the first-ever NeighborWorks Paints! initiative – a new national effort where more than 60 local NeighborWorks organizations will collectively use over 800 gallons of paint with low volatile organic compounds to beautify and preserve their neighborhoods. 

From painting housing and cleaning vacant lots, to fast-paced 5K runs to raise money and awareness, and one-on-one homeowner counseling sessions, the goal of all NeighborWorks Week events and activities is to engage residents and businesses in efforts that transform their communities into better places to live, work and play. 

“NeighborWorks Week events are varied, but they all focus on one common goal – improving communities and the lives of residents,” said NeighborWorks America CEO Ken Wade. “NeighborWorks Week efforts empower residents to take charge of their communities, and when coupled with partnerships with local business and civic groups, they serve as catalysts for positive change throughout the year.”

For more information about NeighborWorks Week events throughout the nation, visit http://events.nw5.org/.

About NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. Since 1991, we have assisted nearly 1.2 million low- to moderate-income families with their housing needs. Much of our success is achieved through our support of the NeighborWorks network ― more than 230 community development organizations working in more than 4,400 urban, suburban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated more than $15 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWork America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals. www.nw.org.