Governor Deal Declares “Georgia Marriage Week”
Event celebrates and emphasizes the importance of healthy marriages in the state.
February 13, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Stephen Daniels, 770-242-0001, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
NORCROSS – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Governor Nathan Deal signed a proclamation today naming February 7 through 14 “Marriage Week” in Georgia and declaring that “marriage is one of the most vital institutions in our society and can be the bedrock for stable and loving families, so essential to American life.”
Governor Deal’s proclamation coincides with nationwide efforts during National Marriage Week to highlight the importance of marriage to the wellbeing of society. The week-long commemoration leading up to Valentine’s Day also encourages individuals and organizations to help strengthen marriages in their communities.
The number of weddings in Georgia has been declining in recent years, mirroring the national trend that shows more couples choosing to delay marriage or forgo it altogether. In 2010, the number of couples tying the knot in Georgia was 48 percent lower than it was in 1970. Georgia has the eight highest divorce rate in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“We are grateful to Governor Deal for recognizing the importance of marriage,” said Randy Hicks, president of Georgia Family Council. “Healthy marriages are a significant contributor to human wellbeing and it is helpful when our state’s leaders acknowledge the unique role marriage plays in strengthening our state.”
“Social science and everyday experience tells us that children being raised by their married mom and dad are more likely to thrive in life. Married adults are also happier, healthier and better off financially than their unmarried counterparts,” Hicks continued. “It is important that everyone who recognizes how critical good marriage is to the wellbeing of kids and adults takes time to promote a positive view of marriage, starting in our own homes.”
For more information about National Marriage Week visit http://www.nationalmarriageweekusa.org/.
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Georgia Family Council is a non-profit research and education organization committed to fostering conditions in which individuals, families and communities thrive.
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