Volunteers to Beautify Sgt. Delancy Park During Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service
(MIAMI, January 13, 2014) - Hundreds of volunteers will join together to participate in a day of service to commemorate the civil rights movement and honor the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Sgt. Joseph Delancy/Richmond Park, 14450 Boggs Drive in Miami, on Saturday, January 18, 2014. The event is hosted by Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, in partnership with the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade, AARP, Miami Dolphins Special Teams, the Miami Dade College Institute for Civic Engagement and Democracy, and Miami-Dade County District 9 Commissioner Dennis C. Moss.
Over 300 volunteers from the neighboring community, local schools, and the various host organizations will paint, landscape, weed and clean to make a difference in the community.
The Miami Dolphins Special Teams driven by Chevy Program will be remodeling a multi-purpose room at Sgt. Delancy, as well as painting the new library in Miami Dolphins’ colors, to add a vibrant welcoming environment for children in the park’s after-school program.
Volunteers will also repair the park’s above-ground cement BBQ pit, a great park amenity for picnics and family friendly gatherings that will be available for special event rentals.
The event will begin with an opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. at Sgt. Delancy Park featuring Miami-Dade Parks Director Jack Kardys, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis C. Moss and representatives from the various participating organizations.
Sponsoring organizations, as well as local donors, furnish all of the supplies needed to complete the projects, including providing 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 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 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.liveaparklife.org.