New Orleans-Based Nonprofit Kicks Off National Tour in Minneapolis to Drive Volunteerism and Charitable Donations Back to the Gulf Coast Where Residents Continue to Suffer - Particularly Children.

Amid Soaring Crime and Battered Infrastructure, the Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps Triggers 'Call to Action' Campaign to Rebuild Youth Social Services that Remain Devastated from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The New Orleans-based Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps (GYAC) will kick off a national "Call to Action" tour Friday, January 26, at the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis to recruit college-student volunteers and urge civic-minded corporations and individuals to step up and contribute to the cause of rebuilding youth recreational and social programs that remain devastated from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

"In the face of skyrocketing crime and failing infrastructure, our goal for the Action Corps is to rebuild a healthy environment in the Gulfsouth where our children can be inspired, learn and regain hope for the future," says Dr. Kyshun Webster, who heads the Action Corps, an extension of his nonprofit organization Operation REACH, Inc. (ORI). "Youth recreational and social programs, such as summer camps, are still in a state of complete disarray from the devastation of the hurricanes. Our mission is to set those services in motion again -- for the kids."

Last year, the Action Corps recruited 30 college volunteers from across the country to staff three Gulfsouth summer camps for middle-schoolers. Webster hopes to increase that number to 80 volunteers. The eight-week camps were provided free of charge to nearly 400 youngsters offering productive summer activities. Action Corps volunteers commit to a rewarding experience engaging, inspiring and empowering local youths in recreational and social- service programs in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast.

The University of Minnesota campus visit will enable Action Corps directors to expose last year's campers to institutions of higher learning and give them a platform to share "Still Weathering the Storm" -- a film highlighting poignant personal Hurricane Katrina stories -- with a captive audience of potential volunteers, donors and members of the media. The "Call to Action" event will take place in the Coffman Memorial Union Theatre at 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and will include a presentation by Dr. Webster, a screening of the documentary and Q&A session featuring GYAC campers.

For more information, visit http://www.thegyac.org/.

CONTACT: Peter Wendel, [phone], [e-mail], for Gulfsouth Youth Action Corps

Web site: http://www.thegyac.org/