Gulfport, MS - February 29, 2012 - The Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) USA TeachUp! Program's Hancock County Interns/AmeriCorps Members are working with Hope Haven Children's Services, a local nonprofit organization, to organize a walk and a day of fun that is open to all community members, with activities for people of all ages.

The event, in collaboration with Hope Haven, will be held at Hancock Medical Walking Track, at 149 Drinkwater Rd., Bay St Louis, MS, 39521 on Sunday, March 18, 2012 from 1:00-4:00 P.M. Participation is free, but Hope Haven Children's Services will be accepting donations including monetary contributions, children's clothing, toys, and other items. For more information or to register, visit http://benefitforhopehaven.weebly.com

The TeachUp! Interns/AmeriCorps Members are organizing the walk as part of National AmeriCorps Week 2012, which is a week dedicated to service nationwide. Although the TeachUp! Interns/ AmeriCorps Members primarily work to promote technology integration within local schools; they also remain committed to AmeriCorps' mission of service and to working to make a difference in their communities.

DOT USA's TeachUp! Program, a unique program developed and built in Mississippi and Louisiana through a partnership with Cisco Systems following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, has worked to empower more than 16,000 teachers, 480,000 students, and 50,000 community members since its inception in 2006. Today, with additional partners including National AmeriCorps, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, and Gulf Coast Community Foundation, DOT has recruited, trained, and placed more than 320 local, tech-savvy young adults into public schools and community centers in the Mississippi Delta, on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and in Louisiana, to help empower citizens to be successful and contributing members of a technology-driven global economy.

Hope Haven Children's Services has provided a variety of important services to children across South Mississippi for over 16 years. All funds raised by Hope Haven during this event will be used to assist the valuable work they do in the Gulf Coast Community.