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4/14/2004
Contact:
K.E. Schwab -- 724-738-2199; e-mail:
karl.schwab@sru.edu
SEVEN
YEARS IN THE MAKING, NEW CASTLE ‘I CARE HOUSE’ READY
FOR DEDICATION;
PROJECT
TO USE APRIL 17-24 TO SALUTE SRU, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN
SUCCESS
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Seven years in the making, the I Care
House on New Castle’s east side, is a Slippery Rock
University Institute for Community, Service-Learning and Nonprofit
Leadership and community project now serving residents with adult
and children’s programming that is making a difference in the
life of the neighborhood.
The
institute will observe a weeklong celebration April 17-24 to
showcase the house and nearby I Care Community Garden while
saluting those who made the project possible and spotlighting the
facility’s on-going activities at 602 Court St., New
Castle.
Festivities
open with an 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. workday April 17 at the house where
summer gardens will be prepared and small house repairs made. On
April 19 “Senior Appreciation Day” will be observed at
the house at 11 a.m. allowing senior citizens to express their
thoughts on what the house means to them. On April 20 and April 22,
SRU students will celebrate the project’s success with an
on-campus “Be A Kid Again” event outside Bailey
Library.
A
6:30 p.m. April 21 reception in the University Union is titled
“Volunteer Appreciation Day at the Rock” and will honor
those high school and college students who have volunteered their
time to make a difference.
Events
for April 22 include a 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Partner
Appreciation Day” at the house and a 5:30 p.m. event for
those who have sponsored and donated to the house project.
“Youth Night at the I Care House” is set for 5:30 p.m.
April 23 allowing youth in the neighborhood to talk about their
future and what the house means to them. A movie and snacks will
follow.
The
official opening, set for 1:30 p.m. April will include dedication
of Ebony Hall, the home’s hallway being named in honor of the
late Ebony Scott, one of the institute’s first
AmeriCorps members who was instrumental in promoting the idea of a
community center in New Castle. A carnival for children and area
families will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the house and garden followed
by a 5 p.m. reception for SRU students who kept the I Care House
dream alive and brought it to fruition.
Those
planning to attend any of the I CARE House dedication week events
are asked to call the institute at
724-738-2273.
The
house concept was first proposed in 1997 by SRU students who were
tutoring children on New Castle’s east side. The Court Street
property was purchased with funds from the city of New Castle and
is in the process of becoming an independent nonprofit organization
officially called “The I Care House and Community Development
Corp.” The organization is dedicated to making
community-identified social changes that enhance the quality of
life of local residents, engage students and faculty in
community-based learning and encourage a civil society. The
two-story house is used as a neighborhood gathering place for
senior citizen luncheons, craft sessions and after-school programs
for area youngsters.
The
project has been spearheaded by Alice Kaiser-Drobney, assistant
professor of department of political science and director of the
institute.
PN, PgN, WPN, PR,
PT
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