Fresh Air Fund Day March 20

In honor of The Fresh Air Fund's 131st Anniversary of serving children, Governor Martin O' Malley has proclaimed March 20 "Fresh Air Fund Day" throughout the state of Maryland.

Families who participate in The Fund's Friendly Town

program open their hearts and homes to New York City

children for two weeks or

more in the summer.

"By sharing their homes with New York City children, our host families tell us that they

gain a new appreciation for

their own communities

and form relationships that

last a lifetime," says Jenny Morgenthau, Executive Director of The Fresh Air Fund. "This year, we are looking for

new host families in and around the Cumberland area to

celebrate the 131st Anniver-

sary of giving youngsters a summertime break from the sometimes dangerous city streets."

First-time Fresh Air visitors are six to 12 years old. Reinvited youngsters can

participate in the Friendly Town program through age 18.

Volunteers simply want to share what they have with

city children and introduce

them to the joys of suburban

or country life. Families find hosting so rewarding that

over 65% of all Fresh Air

children are invited to visit host families year after year.

Fresh Air hosts range from young families to grandparents, and there is no age-limit. All

it takes is the willingness to open heart and home to a New York City child.

The Fresh Air Fund, an

independent, not-for-profit organization, has provided

free summer vacations to

more than 1.7 million inner-

city children since 1877.

For more information about becoming a Fresh Air volun-teer, call Stephanie Over

814-793-2573, or The Fresh Air Fund at 800-367-0003.