FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Newark, NJ – January 14, 2011 – City of Newark Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement Margarita Muñiz, members of the Newark Municipal Council, Brick City SERVES Chief Service Officer Nichelle Holder, PSE&G Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Vaughn McKoy, La Casa de Don Pedro Executive Director Raymond Ocasio, representatives from the New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) and the Rutgers University Energy Service Corps will hold a ceremony to launch “MLK 25 Days of Service,” to honor the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday as a national holiday on Monday, January 17, 2011, at 9 a.m. at the headquarters of PSE&G at 80 Park Plaza, in Newark.
“MLK 25 Days of Service” is part of a national initiative to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s commitment to service and his challenge, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?” With this in mind, the City of Newark, Brick City SERVES, PSE&G, La Casa de Don Pedro, New Jersey Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) and the Rutgers University Energy Service Corps will be leading a city-wide volunteer effort to provide free, basic, home weatherization to 100 Newark families during a 25-day period. PSE&G is a major sponsor of this initiative.
At the ceremony, volunteers will be issued with equipment, given training, and sent off to weatherize houses. Teams will visit homes in all five wards of Newark to perform basic weatherization at no cost. Volunteers will seal cracks around windows and doors, change old light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs, and distribute energy-efficient materials.
For more information about volunteer opportunities with the City of Newark’s “MLK 25 Days of Service” volunteer initiative please contact Brick City Serves at (973) 733-4674 or brickcityserves@gmail.com
WHO: City of Newark Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Engagement Margarita Muñiz, members of the Newark Municipal Council, Brick City SERVES Chief Service Officer Nichelle Holder, PSE&G Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Vaughn McKoy, La Casa de Don Pedro Executive Director Raymond Ocasio, representatives from NJ Public Interest Research Group (NJPIRG) and the Rutgers University Energy Service Corps.
WHAT: Will launch “MLK 25 Days of Service,” a city-wide volunteer effort to honor the 25th anniversary of the establishment of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday as a national holiday.
WHEN: Monday, January 17
9 a.m.
WHERE: PSE&G
80 Park Plaza (At the intersection of Raymond Boulevard and Broad Street)
Newark
Press Information Office – (973) 733-8004
E-mail: Pressoffice@ci.newark.nj.us
PSE&G Press Office: Bonnie Sheppard – (973) 430-7734
E-mail: bonnie.sheppard@pseg.com