Respond to September 11
by Building a Nation of Volunteers
"Armies of Compassion" Rally
as National Conference Opens in Utah
(Salt Lake City, Utah) – Leaders of America's volunteer sector were urged to tap
the renewed sense of patriotism in the wake of September 11 to build a nation of volunteers
and a new culture of responsibility, as the 2002 National Conference on Community Volunteering
and National Service opened in Salt Lake City today.
"We will never forget September 11 – the utter horror and instinctive heroism. Out of
the smoldering ruins of those towers was born a new sense of purpose and patriotism," said
Leslie Lenkowsky, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service.
Lenkowsky urged the 3,300 conference attendees to turn "civic outrage into civic engagement"
by increasing the reach and effectiveness of volunteer programs. "Our task is to build a
nation of active citizens, who will in turn make us a stronger nation. If we succeed, nothing will
be beyond our reach." Read Dr. Lenkowsky's full remarks.
Robert Goodwin, President and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National
Network, urged attendees to strengthen the nation's volunteer infrastructure by improving customer
service, having a more businesslike focus on results, and using technology to recruit and manage
volunteers. "Your ability to organize and lead people effectively to solve our most serious
social problems has never been more important."
Goodwin also urged attendees to carry out volunteer projects in remembrance of the victims of
September 11, as called for by the Unity in the Spirit of America (USA) Act signed by President B
ush last January. He showed new public service ads and a video message from USA Act sponsor S
enator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and thanked corporate sponsors DisneyHand and Ronald McDonald House
Charities.
Also today, Utah Lieutenant Governor Olene S. Walker received the 2002 Community Leadership Award
from the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. The award was
established in 1992 to recognize an outstanding citizen volunteer in the community that is host to
the national conference. Walker, chair of the Utah Commission on Volunteers, was chosen as this
year's recipient based on recommendations by the Salt Lake City Host Committee.
"Lt. Gov. Olene Walker's life is filled with service to others. Her leadership and example in
these areas has inspired a generation of Utahns to give something back to those in need," said
Tim Bridgewater, chair of the Host Committee. Walker's community leadership efforts include Utah's
Promise, which worked in partnership with Utah Reads to train more than 100 Community Literacy Teams
to help more than 12,000 children read at grade level. Because of her concern that services to the
state's homeless population would dwindle during the 2002 Winter Olympics, Walker helped to bring
250 AmeriCorps members to work in homeless shelters during the games.
"Volunteerism is alive and well in Utah, as exemplified by the thousands who are searching for
Elizabeth Smart and the 60,000 who volunteered for the Olympics," Walker said.
MONDAY'S CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
The conference moves into its second day starting at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Highlights include:
- John Bridgeland, Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps, will discuss
the President's call to service and progress towards 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 Leavitt will present 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 p.m.
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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.
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