The Corps Network Praises American Eagle Outfitters for Million Dollar Commitment to Support 21st Century Conservation Service Corps
Secretary Sally Jewell and American Eagle Outfitters Vice President Helga Ying (left of Jewell), joined with Corpsmembers for a photo underneath one of FDR’s famous quotes at his Memorial.
WASHINGTON– This morning at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C., American Eagle Outfitters joined Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell to announce a $1 million commitment to supporting the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps. The investment in the initiative is hoped to be the first leading to up a total private sector investment of $20 million to help America’s youth and veterans gain further opportunities to serve their country and communities while restoring valuable public lands including national parks, forests, rivers, and urban greenways.
“We are very pleased that American Eagle Outfitters and Secretary Jewell have made such a big commitment to putting young Americans and veterans to work on our public lands, so that they can preserve, protect, and promote some of America’s great national treasures. We hope this is the first of many commitments that boost America’s next great generation of conservation and community leaders,” said Mary Ellen Ardouny, President & CEO of The Corps Network.
Several Corps programs attended the event, including Earth Conservation Corps, the Student Conservation Association, Washington Parks and People / DC Green Corps, and Montogomery County Conservation Corps. LaShauntya Moore, a former Corpsmember and current staff member for Earth Conservation Corps was among the people who spoke at the event, and later joined Secretary Jewell, American Eagle Outfitters Vice President of External Engagement and Social Responsibility Helga Ying, Corpsmembers, and other partners for a tour of the Memorial.
The 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC) is a bold national effort to put thousands of America’s young people and veterans to work protecting, restoring, and enhancing America’s great outdoors. The Corps Network and its members are leading the Partnership for the 21CSC, an effort to work in collaboration with federal representatives to guide the implementation of the initiative. Additional information about the 21CSC, and a full list of programs who have been designated as official 21CSC programs is available at www.21csc.org
About The Corps Network
The Corps Network’s 127 members operate in all states and the District of Columbia. Each year they collectively enroll over 27,000 Corpsmembers from ages 16-25. Corps organize an additional 289,000 community volunteers who work alongside Corpsmembers to generate 638,684 additional hours of service annually, at an estimated value of $14,140,463. It is the mission of The Corps Network to provide national leadership and promote the growth and quality of its member Corps as they provide education, workforce development, and an ethic of stewardship to diverse youth who address important community and conservation needs.
Media Contact:
Levi Novey
The Corps Network
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