San Jose City Hall, 801 North First Street, Room 436, San Jose, CA 95110 (408)277-5131

City to Host First Volunteer and Neighborhood Faire
to recognize and celebrate contributions of City volunteers

San Jose, California-- Mayor Ron Gonzales and the San José City Council will highlight the important role that volunteers play in the community during the first annual Volunteer Recognition and Neighborhood Faire, to be held on Saturday, October 7, 2000, from 11:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m.

"Volunteers are invaluable to strengthen our City’s ability to provide excellent services to the residents of San José," said Mayor Gonzales. "Thousands of dedicated civic volunteers help us improve the quality of life in our neighborhoods, and they help the City of San José be more responsive to the needs of our community. We are proud of our volunteers, and grateful for their contributions, and that is why we are celebrating them and their achievements."

The City has been fortunate to have excellent volunteers participating in programs such as Adopt-A-Park, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and the Police Department’s VOLT program, among others. All are constructive examples of the City’s efforts to engage volunteers in community participation opportunities and to utilize their talents in a strategic way. The City of San José also views volunteerism as an essential future element of the Strong Neighborhoods and the Community Policing Initiatives.

The purpose of the Volunteer Recognition and Neighborhood Faire is to:

• Recognize City volunteers for the increasingly important role they play in the community;
• Recruit new volunteers for City services;
• Inform residents about City services and programs; and
• Create a festive environment where residents, volunteers and City staff can collaborate and create the synergy that is conducive to information sharing and volunteer recruitment activities.

The Volunteer Recognition and Neighborhood Faire will focus on honoring the nearly 5,000 City volunteers and the important role they play in enhancing the quality of life in our community. City departments will participate in the event with displays, exhibits, and resources to inform the community about services, programs and volunteer opportunities with the City. Food will be provided courtesy of the Association of Retired San José Police and Firefighters, with music provided by the band Blue Truth.

The First Annual Volunteer Recognition and Neighborhood Faire will be held outdoors at Discovery Meadows in Guadalupe River Park, located at the corner of Woz Way and San Carlos Streets in San José. This event is free and open to the public. Residents should call (408) 277-2468 to RSVP if they plan to attend.

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