CELEBRATE PENNSYLVANIA MARRIAGE WEEK

National Marriage Week USA seeks to mobilize individuals, organizations, and businesses in common purpose to strengthen marriage in communities and convey what the social science clearly tells us: marriage leads to greater wealth, health, longevity and happiness.

Government:

* Get your mayor or governor to issue a Proclamation for National Marriage Week. (Download).

Churches/ Houses of Worship:

* Launch a marriage enrichment Saturday. Attend a Feb. 27, 2010 Simulcast or get the DVD program on marriage enrichment seen by 70,000 people. http://www.ccn.tv/focusonmarriage/

* Host or attend a Love & Respect conference, or order their DVD for your own group use at www.loveandrespect.com

* Organize a Community Marriage Policy: Gather clergy of every faith in your city to focus on this strategic plan for congregations and houses of worship to help reduce the divorce rate. More than 220 communities now participate. Learn more at www.communitymarriagepolicies.org

*Launch a new marriage enrichment class, and marriage preparation training for engaged couples.

Provide a Renewal of Wedding Vows Service o the Sunday closest to Valentine’s Day. For fill description and sample plan, (click here).

Business:

* Create and hand out a pocket-sized pamphlet on “What is a Healthy Marriage?” and add sponsorship with your business logo at the bottom of the brochure. Download brochure here. Or create your own brochure out of the following text “Ten Elements of a Healthy Marriage” at this link: http://www.thirdage.com/articles/10-essential-ingredients-building-healthy-relationship-0

Schools:

* Organize a school assembly on the importance of marriage and teach teens the skills needed for healthy relationships. Resources for teens from The Dibble Institute at www.BuildingRelationshipSkills.org

Universities:

* Hold a debate on “If marriage brings more wealth, greater health, longevity and happiness, why aren’t we doing more to strengthen marriage?” Resources at www.ruthinstitute.org

* Sponsor an assembly featuring John Van Epp, author of “How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk.”

Media:

* Send a press release about an event in your community. Download sample press release (click here)

* Encourage your local newspaper or TV reporters to provide coverage on marriage statistics in your county or report on enrichment efforts in your area.

* Place local ads in your town newspapers or billboards. Ads available at http://firstthings.org/page/resource-center/marketing-materials/

* Download the National Marriage Week USA campaign logo for promoting National Marriage Week in your community, church, schools, in local newspapers, billboards, and elsewhere. Click http://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/campaign/

Family

Talk with your children/ family members about how marriage bring greater wealth, health, longevity and happiness. Read short summary from “The Case for Marriage” here at this link: http://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/Marriage-Provides-Better-Health.htm

LET US AND OTHERS KNOW if you are doing an event. Register at this link: http://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/join_the_campaign.htm