America’s Promise Alliance Names Saginaw County
One of 100 Best Communities for Young People
In Partnership with Capital One, Competition Recognizes Outstanding,
Innovative Efforts That Benefit Children and Youth
January 25, 2007: America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth is pleased to announce that Saginaw County is a winner of a national competition to identify the 100 Best Communities for Young People. In partnership with Capital One, the 100 Best competition honors communities – ranging from small towns to urban neighborhoods across America – for their commitment to provide healthy, safe and caring environments for young people. Hundreds of communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands took part in the competition.
Saginaw County is one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People, in part, because of organizations such as Communities In Schools-The Answer to Saginaw County’s Promise (CISSCP), Saginaw Community Foundation (SCF), Saginaw County Business and Education Partnership (SCBEP), Child Abuse and Neglect (CAN) Council, Saginaw County Parks and Recreation, Operation Recreation, Youth Protection Council, Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA of Saginaw and First Ward Community Center, just to name a few.
“Nothing is more important than seeing that our children and youth have the resources and support systems they need to thrive and succeed,” said America’s Promise Founding Chairman General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.). “When a community provides all that its young people need to be healthy and secure, they deserve to be honored and showcased as an outstanding example of what it takes to successfully nurture this nation’s young people.”
A complete list of winners can be found at www.americaspromise.org. 100 Best Communities for Young People was first launched in 2005 by General Powell in partnership with Capital One Financial Corporation. Other members of America’s Promise Alliance — including United Way of America, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Association of Counties and the American Association of School Administrators and many others — took leading roles in encouraging communities to compete in the 100 Best competition.
The 2007 100 Best Communities for Young People competition opened in September 2006. Saginaw County and the other winners applied for the honor and were chosen by a distinguished selection panel of civic, business and nonprofit leaders, including United Way of America President Brian Gallagher, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom Donohue, NBC News Washington Bureau Chief and Moderator of Meet the Press Tim Russert, CEOs for Cities’ President and CEO Carol Coleta, and former Denver mayor Wellington Webb.
“This award is extremely positive for Saginaw County. Hopefully it will change the impressions that people have and help them recognize what Saginaw County has to offer.” said Stephanie Wirtz from Communities In Schools-The Answer to Saginaw County’s Promise (CISSCP). “The leadership in our community has worked hard to provide the youth with what they need. We should be very proud to have received this honor.”
The selection panel evaluated 100 Best entries that required detailed information about each community’s efforts to fulfill the Five Promises – the fundamental resources our children and youth need to succeed: caring adults who are actively involved in their lives; safe places in which to learn and grow; a healthy start toward adulthood; an effective education that builds marketable skills; and opportunities to help others.
“We held this competition to appeal to America’s competitive spirit to encourage communities to become great places to grow up.” said Marguerite W. Kondracke, President and CEO of America’s Promise – The Alliance for Youth. “Our winners’ outstanding efforts to deliver the Five Promises are shining examples of what it means to keep America’s Promise for our young people.”
"Capital One believes that every family should have the opportunity to provide for their children in ways that ensure future success," said Capital One President of Global Financial Services and America’s Promise board member Larry Klane, a member of the 2007 selection panel. "Through the 100 Best competition, we can recognize communities that foster the type of environment where children and families have opportunities and resources to realize their potential."
For more details about the 100 Best competition and the winners, please visit www.americaspromise.org.
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About America’s Promise
Founded by retired General Colin L. Powell, the America’s Promise Alliance is the nation’s largest private-public partnership committed to ensuring that every child receives the five fundamental resources – the Five Promises - essential for success: caring adults, safe places, a healthy start, an effective education and opportunities to help others.
Alma J. Powell currently serves as chair. Marguerite W. Kondracke serves as president and chief executive officer. Among the founding partners are the Corporation for National and Community Service, Points of Light Foundation, The United Way of America, Communities In Schools and MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.
America's Promise grew out of the Presidents’ Summit for America’s Future in 1997, where Presidents Bush, Carter, Clinton and Ford, with Nancy Reagan representing President Reagan, challenged the country to make children and youth a national priority. President George W. Bush affirmed his commitment in 2001.
About Capital One
Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, Capital One Financial Corporation (www.capitalone.com) is a financial holding company, with more than 324 locations in Texas and Louisiana. Its principal subsidiaries, Capital One Bank, Capital One, F.S.B., Capital One Auto Finance, Inc., and Capital One, N.A., offer a broad spectrum of financial products and services to consumers, small businesses and commercial clients. Capital One's subsidiaries collectively had $47.2 billion in deposits and $108.4 billion in managed loans outstanding as of June 30, 2006. Capital One, a Fortune 500 company, trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "COF" and is included in the S&P 500 index.
CONTACT: Stephanie M. Wirtz,
Communities In Schools-The Answer to Saginaw County’s Promise
Daytime Phone: (989) 755-0545
E-Mail: stephanie@saginawfoundation.org