Secretary Norton & Gov. Napolitano Honor Arizona Volunteers with Take Pride in America Award to Gardens for Humanity

PHOENIX -- Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano presented a national Take Pride in America award today to Gardens for Humanity at a demonstration garden in Phoenix.

Accepting the award at a ceremony at the University of Arizona Extension Services were Adele Herter Seronde, Founder, Gardens for Humanity, Sedona, AZ; Rose Marie Licher, director, Gardens for Humanity, Sedona,AZ; Jordan Isaac, Navajo Volunteer carpenter, Cow Springs, AZ; and Aimee Beth Ward, Phoenix School Projects Volunteer.

Gardens for Humanity, a nonprofit volunteer organization that plants "healing" gardens, was honored for contributing 11,751 volunteer hours over the past year at various locations in Arizona. The demonstration garden at the University of Arizona Extension Services Building, 4341 E. Broadway Road, Phoenix, features wall murals of nature's cycles by children from the Villa Housing project.

"When Gardens for Humanity puts their art into action, the resultant gardens in places like schools and healthcare facilities and reservations bring moments of healing peace to all who stop by," said Secretary Norton. "We learned after 9/11 that going back to nature and the solitude and beauty offered in our parks and refuges across this country offered a renewal of spirit. At Interior, we have invested a great deal of time and effort in the Take Pride in America program because we believe we can renew spirit and pride one acre at a time across this nation."

Take Pride in America is a national partnership that aims to support and recognize volunteers who work to improve our national parks, forests, grasslands and wildlife refuges, public lands, cultural and historic sites, playgrounds and other recreation areas. It is part of the President's USA Freedom Corps. For more information, see www.takepride.gov.