TRENTON, MAY 24, 2012 — The New Jersey Legislature paid tribute to the Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s (LWD) Youth Corps program by presenting a joint resolution of recognition today on the floor of the General Assembly.

“We are pleased by this recognition of the New Jersey Youth Corps, a program Governor Chris Christie and I have been supporting since the beginning of this administration. The program has a solid record of providing opportunities for young people to gain marketable job experience and pursue educational opportunities while doing meaningful community service work,” said LWD Commissioner Harold J. Wirths.

Youth Corps staff, flanked by about 30 of the nearly 300 corps members, attended a presentation of the resolution at the Statehouse along with Deputy Commissioner Aaron Fichtner and Assistant Commissioner Mary Ellen Clark.

Youth Corps is a year-round program for out-of-school, young adults ages 16 to 25. It provides its members with a second chance to earn their high school diplomas or prepare to take the General Education Diploma (GED) exam. It also enables them to earn college credits while developing essential employment skills through training and community service.

The resolution recognized New Jersey Youth Corps as one of the largest youth service groups in the country that engages young adults using a comprehensive service-learning approach to provide members with tools to meet their potential.

Recently, Youth Corps State Director Maj. (Retired) George W. Paffendorf, testified during an Assembly Budget Committee hearing that since July 2011, the Youth Corps has provided over 100,000 hours of service to New Jersey communities. During the 2011 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011) program year, Youth Corps members provided 141,143 hours of service to communities throughout New Jersey.

Additionally, Youth Corps members provided $2,900,488 worth of service to the State of New Jersey in 2011 and engaged in 146 community service projects including: tutoring and after school recreation; preparing and delivering 125 meals daily to homebound individuals; designing, constructing, and maintaining hiking trails, and repairing, restoring and building homes for needy individuals.

“New Jersey Youth Corps is honored to accept the Resolution from the New Jersey State Legislature which recognizes our success in working with at-risk youth for the past 28 years,” said Paffendorf.

For more information about the program go to http://careerconnections.nj.gov/careerconnections/plan/foryou/youth/new_jersey_youth_corps.shtml