The city of Philadelphia has been called to action. On September 27, 2010, the Mayor’s Office of Civic Engagement & Volunteer Service launched SERVE Philadelphia: A Blueprint for Promoting Service as a Strategy to Impact Challenges and Strengthen Communities. Headed by Catherine Wolfgang, Philadelphia’s first Chief Service Officer, the plan aims to create programs and initiatives that not only will make volunteering a part of the everyday life of
citizens of Philadelphia, but also will use volunteerism as a way to improve gaps in the education system and strengthen community vitality.

In honor of the launch of this initiative, I would like to dedicate a HUGE thank you to the army of volunteers that make the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival possible. Without each of you and every one of your work, energy, and dedication, the Festival would not happen. You may each volunteer for different
reasons: you have some free time, you have an affinity for modern dance, you have to for a class requirement, you simply love the Festival and want to participate. Regardless of the reason, you help move artistic mountains.

Over the course of the next few months, I hope that you each continue to take this momentum into all that you do. Please take a moment, visit volunteer.phila.gov. While the site is not completely finished yet, by signing
up, you can learn about other volunteer opportunities in Philadelphia.