America's Volunteer and Community
Service Leaders Meet in Utah
Laura Bush to Address 3,000 Volunteer
Leaders on President's Call to Service
(Washington, D.C.) – The leaders of America's volunteer and community service sector will
converge in Salt Lake City June 9-11 to discuss how they can help usher in a new era of service
and citizenship in the wake of September 11 and President Bush's call to service. Laura Bush
and USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland will give keynote addresses on the President's
call to all Americans to dedicate at least two years of their lives to volunteer service.
Convened by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service and the nonprofit Points
of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network, the National Conference on Community
Volunteering and National Service will be held at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Coming from
across the US, attendees will learn skills to become more effective in meeting local needs and
organizing volunteers in their home communities.
Media are encouraged to attend the following conference highlights. All events are in the Salt
Palace Convention Center ballroom unless otherwise noted.
Sunday, June 9
10 to 11:30 a.m.
- Utah Lieutenant Governor Olene Walkerwill receive the Community Leadership
Award and discuss the importance of community service.
- Bob Goodwin, CEO of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center
National Network, and Leslie Lenkowsky
, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, will challenge attendees to
carry out the President's goal of a nation of active citizens.
- Margaret Wheatley, President of the Berkana Institute, will discuss
leadership and how organizations can be effective in chaotic times.
Monday, June 10
9 to 10 a.m.
- John Bridgelandis Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom
Corps, President Bush's call to service initiative. He will discuss the progress of the USA
Freedom Corps and the President's goal of creating a culture of service, responsibility and
citizenship. He will also lead a panel on the role of citizens in homeland security.
- Utah Governor Mike Leavittpresents the Governor's Point of Light
Award to Steve Young, former San Francisco 49er quarterback and founder of the Utah-based
Forever Young Foundation . Utahn Pamela Atkinson, a homeless and low-income
advocate, will receive the Daily Point of Light for June 10.
- Conference attendees will participate in a Blood Drive for Utah hospitals in the Exhibit
Hall from 10 am to 4 pm.
Tuesday, June 11
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
- Laura Bushhas comforted the nation since September 11. She will discuss
how Americans are responding to the tragedy and the President's call to service. NOTE: media check
in will be from 3:00- 4:00 p.m., mult-box and risers.
- Mrs. Bush will also highlight a new initiative promoting volunteer service in Senior Corps
at an event 10:30 at a.m. Tuesday. Press should call 202-607-6840 for details.
- Anne Romneywill present the prestigious Lenore and George W. Romney
Citizen Volunteer Award to Marie Osmondon behalf of the Osmond family.
Past honorees of this award include Bob Hope, Dorothy Height, and Colin L. Powell.
- The Alliance for Unitywill assemble 500 personal hygiene kits for
distribution to Utah nonprofits from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Exhibit Hall.
Editor's Note: Interviews with participants may be arranged in advance. Please call or stop by the
conference news room in Room 254-A at the Salt Lake Palace from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 8 through 11.
###
Created in 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service engages more than 2 million
Americans annually in improving their communities through three programs:
AmeriCorps, Senior
Corps and Learn and Serve America. For more
information, visit www.nationalservice.org/about.
The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network engages and mobilizes millions
of volunteers who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities.
Through a variety of programs and services, the Foundation encourages people from all walks of
life – corporations, faith-based organizations, low-income communities, families, youth, and
older adults – to volunteer. By calling 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visiting www.1800volunteer.org,
interested persons can get connected to volunteer opportunities within their communities.
|
