EUGENE, Ore. -- (Apr. 16, 2010) - More than 200 University of Oregon students, faculty and staff will participate beginning Saturday in this year's National Volunteer Week, with projects ranging from a park cleanup to a dinner for homeless youths.

The UO Service Learning Program initiated the university's involvement in National Volunteer Week this year due to a growing trend toward volunteerism among students.

National Volunteer Week was established under President Richard Nixon in 1974, and has been proclaimed each year since by every U.S. president. It now operates under the umbrella of the Points of Light Institute - a national nonprofit organization dedicated to engaging people and resources in the resolution of social problems.

The national observation runs from April 18 to April 24, but UO project will begin and end a day earlier - April 17 to April 23.

The UO's Service Learning Program is joining other universities in encouraging campus members to actively engage in their communities through volunteerism. Arranging community service projects at more than 10 service sites, the UO program will match volunteers to projects throughout the week.

While focused on UO participants, other community members also are welcome to take part in this week's Service Learning Program efforts. More information is available at http://serve.uoregon.edu/programs/national_volunteer_week

Planned projects include planting garden beds in front of the UO Library, preparing and serving dinner for youth living on the street at Hosea Youth Services, turning an empty lot into a play area at The Arc of Lane County, sorting and organizing a library for Committed Partners for Youth and mentoring students at Springfield's Agnes Stewart and Hamlin middle schools.

In recognition of Earth Week (April 17-25), the Service Learning Program has also arranged projects such as helping at the Federal Courthouse Garden and cleaning Hendricks Park.

The volunteer week will end with a recognition reception. The Duck Corps - a program that supports service and volunteer efforts at UO - will recognize its members with the highest numbers of logged hours. Volunteers of Oregon will recognize students, faculty and staff who have made impacts on the campus and in the community through service and civic engagement.

About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of the 62 leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact: Morgan St. Jean, Coordinator of Community Relations, Service Learning Program, 541-346-4351 [office], 503-319-3356 [mobile while on site], mstjean@uoregon.edu

Links: for the Service Learning Program, http://serve.uoregon.edu
For National Volunteer Week, http://serve.uoregon.edu/programs/national_volunteer_week
For a list of projects, http://serve.uoregon.edu/programs/national_volunteer_week/projects

Media Contact: Joe Mosley, media relations associate, 541-346-3606, jmosley@uoregon.edu