Press Releases
Hands on DC Announces 2006 Event Co-Directors
A vision of better schools and brighter futures for DC students moves into a second decade with dedicated volunteer directors leading the way.Washington, DC, Jan. 23, 2006 As Hands on DC (HoDC), an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that conducts an annual, citywide work-a-thon to improve and refurbish Washington, DC, public schools, begins its 12th year, Caroline Clayton and Matthew Herzog have been named 2006 Event Co-directors. This year's work-a-thon will be held on April 29, 2006, at more than 30 public schools across the District of Columbia. Through the dedication of volunteers, community members, principals and sponsors alike, HoDC has created better schools and brighter futures for the students in the District of Columbia. In its first decade, Hands on DC painted, landscaped, and improved the conditions of the District's more than 150 schools. During this time, the community-based nonprofit organization, which is run entirely by volunteers, has raised more than $420,000 for college scholarships.
In volunteering to co-direct, Clayton and Herzog have accepted a major responsibility to oversee the organization of an event that will bring together more than 3,000 local volunteers, students, families and DC public school staff.
Caroline Clayton has been involved with HoDC for the past seven years. As a graduate of the public school system herself, the mission of HoDC resonates with her life experience. Clayton notes that she is involved with Hands on DC "because of the simplicity of its mission and the great people I've worked with." As a resident of the District of Columbia and an employee of the Federal Government, she brings to Hands on DC many years of experience, a life-long dedication to volunteer service and civic responsibility, and her belief in the importance of a healthy education system.
Matthew Herzog has been involved with Hands on DC since 2000, participating in various capacities within the organization. A supporter of both local and international efforts to better the lives of children, Herzog has provided his organizational and technological skills to a number of local nonprofit organizations, such as HoDC, since moving to Washington, DC, in 1998. "Hands on DC has a strong tradition of building bridges between diverse people and communities, and I welcome the opportunity to contribute to such an outstanding tradition of service. You can see it in the face of every student, teacher and volunteer - we are making a difference," Herzog said.
The D.C. city council will soon decide on whether to appropriate public school funding in an effort to fix what the Washington Post deems "pathetically decrepit buildings." As the city waits in anticipation of these appropriations, with or without them, Hands on DC will be and has been working for community-based and community-led public school improvement. Hands on DC is not about rebuilding entire schools-it is about building awareness, creating community, and turning around public schools one brush stroke at a time.
To learn more about Hands on DC and its efforts, please visit www.HandsonDC.org
HoDC is an all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that conducts an annual citywide work-a-thon to improve Washington, DC public schools, raise funds to support local college scholarship programs, and encourage greater community involvement in public schools.
For more information contact:
Eleanor McCormick, (203) 522.0543
Kristina Rundquist, (703) 739-8711
