Newark is among 10 cities to receive $200K for volunteerism efforts

By James Queally/The Star-Ledger
January 18, 2010, 6:07PM

NEWARK -- Newark is one of 10 cities across the nation that will be awarded a $200,000 two-year grant to help increase public service citywide, officials said today.

The grant money will allow Newark to hire a Chief Service Officer, an official tasked with motivating city residents to volunteer for programs aimed at improving "high-priority areas," like education, economic recovery or community development.

Jennifer Brown/The Star-LedgerMovie star Ashton Kutcher, left, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker challenge each other to raise more volunteer hours than the other in this September 2009 file photo. The city was among 10 cities today that were awarded $200,000 for its volunteer efforts.
"The city of Newark is honored to be selected as one of the first recipients of the Cities of Service Leadership Grant. Critical to the achievement of our civic goals is the leadership, involvement and service of our citizens," said Newark Mayor Cory Booker. "This grant will better help us to focus, coordinate and inspire the service of our residents, enabling our city to more boldly achieve our highest aspirations."

The grant money was awarded by Cities of Service, a national coalition of mayors founded in September 2009 that aims to improve volunteerism in cities nationwide.

More than 50 cities applied for the grant and were asked to identify two areas where volunteers were most needed. Newark, the only New Jersey city to receive the grant, selected education and public safety.

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