Thursday Network to Conduct 7th Annual National Day of Service

Online, June 7, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Washington, D.C. - On Saturday, June 12, Thursday Network, the young professionals' auxiliary of the Greater Washington Urban League and the Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals, will host a "Family Fun & Fit Day" as part of its annual Young Blacks Give Back community service campaign, in conjunction with the National Urban League Young Professionals' 7th Annual National Day of Service.

The National Day of Service (NDoS) is a one-day service commitment made by Urban League Young Professionals chapters across the country to serve their local communities. This year, NDoS will focus on health and wellness to align with the National Urban League's Health and Quality of Life Empowerment agenda.

Family Fun & Fit Day will take place at William Paca Elementary School in Landover, Maryland from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Participants can look forward to free food; healthy cooking demonstrations; outdoor games for children including kick ball, dodge ball and relay races; health screenings for high blood pressure, diabetes, HIV and other ailments; aerobics classes for adults and youth; and group jogs and walks.

Young Blacks Give Back (YBGB) is an annual service initiative that gives members the opportunity to give back to the D.C. metro area community. Traditionally, YBGB is a month-long series of community service events in the month of May. This year marks an extension of YBGB events, which will conclude on June 19.

"The National Day of Service is just one of many YBGB activities that empower our members to serve the community," said Thursday Network President Rita Lassiter. "Through NDoS and the Young Blacks Give Back campaign, we are supporting the National Urban League's I AM EMPOWERED social mobilization initiative, by planning activities that promote healthy living."

Each year, YBGB is recognized by a D.C. mayoral proclamation as an outstanding and noteworthy civic achievement. In 2010, YBGB events have included supporting participants in the Avon Breast Cancer Walk; participating in Hands On D.C.'s 16th annual Spring Work-A-Thon to improve the physical condition of D.C. public schools; volunteering at the first Arts & Technology Public Charter School College and Career Day; conducting a museum crawl for local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and the children of local residents; and fielding a team to participate in the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure.

As in years past, YBGB events reinforce Thursday Network's empowerment agenda which includes community service, personal and professional development, social consciousness and political involvement, and economic empowerment. This year's YBGB events will conclude on Saturday, June 19, with Sports Jam, Thursday Network's "field day for adults." Sports Jam provides the opportunity for five-person teams to compete in various sports challenges. Registration is $25 per person and proceeds benefit Thursday Network's 2010 I EMPOWER Scholarship Fund.

For more information about NDoS, Thursday Network and the Young Blacks Give Back campaign, please visit www.ThursdayNetwork.org, or contact Jemarion Jones at (703) 585-9840 or [email protected].

Information on all YBGB events can also be found on the official Facebook page and on Twitter @ThursdayNtwk.

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Thursday Network (TN) is the young professionals' auxiliary of the Greater Washington Urban League and the Washington, D.C. chapter of the National Urban League Young Professionals. TN has nearly 100 members dedicated to giving back to the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area through mentoring, philanthropy and community service. The mission of TN is to provide a forum for young adults, ages 21 to 40, to focus their energies on community service and foster professional development, social consciousness and political involvement.

Thursday Network is one of over 50 chapters that comprise the National Urban League Young Professionals, an auxiliary of the National Urban League. Along with the Greater Washington Urban League, Thursday Network will help host the National Urban League's Centennial Conference in Washington, D.C., July 28-31, 2010.