FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

YMCA OF THE USA AND KIDS VOTING USA COLLABORATE TO BOOST YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

CHICAGO, October 7, 2004 - In an effort to engage more young people and their families in the democratic process, YMCA of the USA and Kids Voting USA® (KVUSA) have announced a collaborative effort to increase youth civic engagement.

YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for America's 2,575 YMCAs, and Kids Voting USA are teaming up to get more young people involved in civic life and the electoral process, and committed to being active adult citizens. By facilitating partnerships between YMCAs and KVUSA affiliates at the community level, these two organizations will share resources designed to broaden youth involvement, provide mentoring opportunities, strengthen community support and prepare young people to be informed, engaged, civic-minded adults.

YMCAs began offering Youth and Government programs in 1936 in Albany, NY. Currently, 620 YMCAs offer these programs, through which teens participate in state-organized model governments to learn about the democratic process and gain leadership skills. In July 2002, YMCA of the USA launched the YMCA Civic Engagement Initiative to increase the capacity of local YMCAs to promote the development of attitudes, skills and behaviors necessary for successful civic involvement, especially in young people. KVUSA provides comprehensive civics education activities that teach young people about the concepts of citizenship and the importance of individual political participation. The KVUSA program will help YMCAs reach more young people and involve them as active participants in civic life.

"YMCA of the USA is pleased to work with an innovative organization like Kids Voting USA," said Kenneth L. Gladish, Ph.D., national executive director, YMCA of the USA. "This groundbreaking collaboration will enable YMCAs nationwide to play a more pivotal role in educating young people about the electoral process and the importance of voting, informing them about issues and candidates, and explaining how democracy works in America."

"We know that long before teens are eligible to vote, they begin forming opinions about issues, candidates and government in general," said Gladish. "Our hope is that this collaboration captures the curiosity of these youngsters and leverages it into a lifelong commitment to civic engagement and involvement in the political process."

"This collaboration will help both organizations build on the community-based foundation that has made us successful," said Chris Heller, Kids Voting USA president & CEO. "Combining Kids Voting USA's civics education resources that focus on students and their families with America's YMCAs will allow us to help more young people participate in our representative democracy."

Several YMCAs and KVUSA affiliates currently have successful relationships. For example, in Phoenix, Kids Voting Arizona works with the Valley of the Sun YMCA's Youth and Government group where students participate in a mock government. Kids Voting Mecklenburg (N.C.) and Kids Voting Wisconsin use YMCA volunteers to staff their polling sites during elections, and in Kansas City, Mo., the YMCA of Greater Kansas City fully operates and directs the Kids Voting affiliate.

YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for America's 2,575 YMCAs, collectively the nation's largest not-for-profit community service organization and largest providers of child care. YMCAs serve 19.2 million people of all faiths, races, ages and incomes, including over 9 million children, through offer a broad range of programs including youth leadership and volunteerism. Financial assistance is available. To learn more visit www.ymca.net.

Kids Voting USA is a national nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that fosters an informed, participating electorate by educating and actively engaging students and their families in voting and other elements of effective civic engagement.

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For more information contact:

Media Relations Manager
312-419-8758

Paula Case
Kids Voting USA
(480) 921-3727
paula@kidsvotingusa.org