Volunteers to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by participating in Miami-Dade Parks’ MLK Day of Service at West Perrine Park
In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.(MLK) and his legacy of service, the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (MDPROS), the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, AARP, Service For Peace Miami Office, Florida International University’s Center for Leadership and Service, and the Miami Dade College Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy, will host the MLK Day of Service Project on Saturday, January 19, from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at West Perrine Park, 10301 SW 170 Terrace, in Miami.
Over 400 volunteers from the neighboring community, local churches, the Florida branch of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the Miami Dolphins Special Teams, Marlins Ayudan and The Marlins Foundation, Project Green Team, and the various host organizations will participate in numerous service projects starting at West Perrine Park and then expanding out to Colonial Drive Park and Zoo Miami. General work projects will include painting, landscaping, weeding, cleaning, and other much-needed improvements for a day of service that will make a difference in their local community.
The Miami Dolphins Special Teams driven by Chevy Program will be remodeling a multi-purpose room at West Perrine Park with new wall paint in Miami Dolphins colors, wall art, new bean bag chairs and area rugs, providing a warm environment where children from the Miami-Dade Parks’ after-school program can use as a library, computer lab, and quiet room to complete their homework.
Marlins Ayudan and The Marlins Foundation and their volunteers will be on hand to help beautify and improve the ballfield at West Perrine Park. In addition, the Foundation will be distributing giveaways to guests and volunteers in attendance.
The event will kick-off with an opening ceremony at 9 a.m. at West Perrine Park featuring Miami-Dade Parks Director Jack Kardys and representatives from the various participating organizations. The event will also host the MLK Jr. Food Drive to benefit local food pantries, joining AARP’s national campaign “Drive to End Hunger.” Volunteers are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items.
Every year, Miami-Dade Parks, in partnership with many of the host organizations, holds the annual volunteer project in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. attracting more than 400 volunteers of all ages who support their Miami-Dade County community by enhancing its surrounding parks. The sponsoring organizations, as well as local sponsors and donors, furnish all of the supplies needed to accomplish these projects and provide refreshments and lunch for the volunteers.
To register as a volunteer, visit http://www.miamidade.gov/parks/about-volunteering.asp. To sponsor the MLK Day of Service or for future volunteer projects at parks across the county, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Angie Gomez at 305-961-2781 or e-mail at [email protected].
About AARP
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to either political campaigns or candidates. We produce AARP The Magazine, the definitive voice for 50+ Americans and the world's largest-circulation magazine with over 34.5 million readers; AARP Bulletin, the go-to news source for AARP's 40 million members and Americans 50+; AARP Segunda Juventud, the only bilingual U.S. publication dedicated exclusively to the 50+ Hispanic community; and our website, AARP.org. AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. We have staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
About Service For Peace, Miami Office
Service For Peace – Miami Office is a nonprofit organization that engages Miami’s diverse population in service-learning opportunities by connecting people to peace through service, and creating Communities of Peace throughout our Greater Miami community.
About Florida International University’s Center for Leadership and Service
Florida International University’s Center for Leadership and Service provides students with developmental and experiential opportunities that foster leadership and community involvement, grounded in values and moral purpose. Through leadership education, service learning, advocacy, and volunteerism, students will become active global citizens on campus, in their respective communities, and in the workplace.
About Miami Dade College Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Miami Dade College’s Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy engages thousands of students in the community through service-learning. Days of service like the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service is an extended opportunity and experience for the students to foster civic responsibility and conscious beyond the classroom setting.
About Marlins Ayudan
Marlins Ayudan (Spanish for “help”) is our front-office volunteer program. The purpose of Marlins Ayudan is to provide a sustainable corps of volunteers willing and ready to effectuate positive change in our community. The goal of Marlins Ayudan is to leave a lasting legacy as a result of Marlins Ayudan activities; to engage our front office in volunteer work as well as act as a conduit to help each employee find a cause they are passionate about; and finally, to be recognized by our community as a corporate leader in volunteerism that fulfills an integral role within the community. The three-tier program consists of organizational Days of Service, team events and individual volunteer opportunities.
About The Marlins Foundation
The Marlins Foundation supports the charity partners of the Miami Marlins through philanthropy and service. The Foundation is committed to improving the lives of our youth through education, the arts and baseball, with a special focus on children with special needs. The funds raised by the Foundation provide unique experiences for kids in our schools, parks and on the water. The Foundation community partnerships and outreach efforts demonstrate the Marlins' leadership in corporate responsibility and civic engagement.
About Miami Dolphins Special Teams
In 2010, South Florida ranked dead last in the nation in percentage of volunteers and volunteer hours per. To combat this problem, the organization created the Special Teams Program, Driven by Chevy, a volunteer group that offers hands-on services to communities and families in need, to partner with existing organizations on worthwhile social, civic and charitable programs and to support community efforts in times of emergency. For more information about Special Teams, please visit miamidolphins.com/specialteams or call 305-943-7900.
About Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award and winner of the 2009 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For more information about Miami-Dade Parks, call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks.
About The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that supports the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s effort to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, please visit www.parksfoundationofmiami-dade.com.