Marriage Benefits Personal and National Economic Stability

News from National Marriage Week USA -- February 7 to 14, 2011

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2011 /Standard Newswire/ -- As part of an international marriage week movement in 12 countries during the week leading up to Valentine's Day, National Marriage Week USA (www.nationalmarriageweekUSA.org) -- February 7 to 14 -- announces new national initiatives to show marriage benefits personal and national economic stability and for raising more well adjusted children. National Marriage Week USA provides a new clearinghouse of marriage classes and conferences all around the country to help couples strengthen their own marriage, or to reach out and help others.

"Marriage breakdown costs taxpayers at least $112 billion a year. Research shows an alarming drop in the marriage rate from 79 percent of all adults married in 1970 to 57 percent today. Plus 40 percent of all American babies are now born outside of marriage. Combined with our 50 percent divorce rate, family breakdown is costly to the nation." said businessman Chuck Stetson, CEO of National Marriage Week USA, citing research from the esteemed Institute for American Values. "In these days of economic hardship, policy leaders and individual Americans need to get serious about our efforts to strengthen marriage."

"Marriage pays," says National Marriage Week USA executive director Sheila Weber. "Research shows that marriage makes people happier, live longer, and build more economic security. Children with married parents perform better in school, have less trouble with the law, less teen pregnancy and fewer issues with addiction."


"Most folks don't know where to go to get the help they need," said Weber. "We've created a list of hundreds of classes and conferences all around the country. Folks can locate an event near them by logging on to www.NationalMarriageWeekUSA.org."

"We also provide tools to make this year's Valentine's Day extra fun and meaningful -- take the Couple's Check Up which is discounted for the week leading up to Valentine's day, use the Great Valentine's Date idea we've posted, use a 'Love Letter Kit,' or take the 'Five Love Language' quiz and discuss it on your night out," said Weber. "We want to encourage a movement of folks across the country to reach out and help others. Ask your church to launch a marriage class at your local library or community center, become a mentor for couples in need, place the National Marriage Week USA advertisement in your local or state newspaper, plus more."

National Marriage Week USA is placing a full-page advertisement in U.S. newspapers to 13 million homes on February 6th. International efforts also occur in the UK, Germany, Ireland, Australia and elsewhere. (www.marriage-weekinternational.com)