Inaugural statewide initiative to empower Texans to take on fire safety projects and show gratitude to firefighters.

(AUSTIN) – Texas Campus Compact, an Austin-based statewide non-profit advocacy organization, hosted by The University of Texas System, announces the launch of its premier statewide initiative, Live. Learn. Serve. Remember.

This pilot project was developed in response to the Corporation for National and Community Service’s call to action and to rekindle the spirit of unity and compassion that swept our nation on September 11, 2001.

This September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance 10th Anniversary Challenge, (http://sept11day.challenge.gov/), encourages Americans to engage in meaningful service projects that not only address community issues, but that honor the efforts of those who helped the United States recover from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2011.

Texas’ Live. Learn. Serve. Remember. is designed to honor, commemorate, and assist firefighters, who are in overdrive, working tirelessly at their jobs, especially given Texas’ current drought and the increased fire risk across the state.

The initial part of the program challenges college students to recruit Texans to go to the Texas Campus Compact website (www.texascampuscompact.org)

to select one of four E-cards. Each E-card of thanks to firefighters also includes a pledge to commit to a service action: making a fire safety plan for family/household, educating rural wild land fire protection using the “Firewise Landscaping Course,” distributing fire safety tips to friends, or teaching friends and family the proper use of a fire extinguisher.

“This is a simple, meaningful way that Texans can personally involve themselves in service to our state while improving fire safety, thanking firefighters, and commemorating the 10th anniversary of 9/11 – and it can all start with the simple click of a link on our website,” says Patricia Potyka, executive director of Texas Campus Compact. “We believe that Texans can and will commit to this call for a national day of service.”

In addition to the E-card pledges, the Texas Campus Compact website will have information on each of the service options available, helping Texans to make commitments, learn, and fulfill their pledges.

“Fire safety is a critical and important initiative, and it is at the cornerstone of our service learning efforts here at Collin College,” said Dr. Cary Israel, President of Collin College and board member at Texas Campus Compact. “We’re looking forward for the chance to civically engage our college students as well as Texans from all walks of life in a project that truly makes our state better.”

Texans are encouraged to go to www.texascampuscompact.org and send E-cards through Fire Prevention Week, October 9-15.

Texas Campus Compact currently oversees service learning programs at more than 70 higher education campuses throughout Texas. For more information on Texas Campus Compact, please visit the organization’s website at www.texascampuscompact.org.