During its 25 years, Habitat volunteers have built more than 100,000 homes for the needy across the nation and in 79 countries. Through Habitat, more than half a million people now have safe, decent affordable shelter. At its present pace, a new Habitat house is being constructed every 26 minutes. The Americus, Georgia-based organization already enlists thousands of volunteers, including 700 student groups, AmeriCorps members, senior volunteers and its most celebrated participant, former President Jimmy Carter. Habitat's intention is to recruit thousands more en route to its goal of building 200,000 homes by 2005, providing housing for about one million people.

Fuller called for eliminating the "shame and disgrace of substandard housing. Everybody deserves decent housing in terms they can afford to pay." He added, "The 21st century challenge asks by what date you will end poverty housing" in your community. "It's a difficult challenge," Fuller said, "but with perseverance and determination it can be done."

Fuller received the Lenore and George W. Romney Citizen Volunteer Award from the Points of Light Foundation, one of the co-sponsors of the four-day conference. The national honor recognizes distinguished Americans have built and sustained a lifetime of volunteerism and citizenship.

Nir Eyal, a 2001 graduate of Emory University who founded the largest all-student-run America Reads program in the country, commended attendees for their many community service accomplishments. Too often, participants lose sight of those milestones while concentrating on their day-to-day activities, said Eyal, an AmeriCorps member recognized by former President Clinton for his outstanding service.

"In service, we think about a better tomorrow," said Eyal, who established the nation's first university-wide community service consortium."We don't think about how far we've come."

Addressing the theme of Sunday's closing session - inspiration - Eyal added: "I hope you'll return home inspired enough to inspire others. We've got a long ways to go, but we can get there together."

The annual conference is co-sponsored by the Corporation for National Service and the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network. The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network are the nation's leading nonprofit and nonpartisan organizations supporting the vital work of millions of volunteers in thousands of communities who are helping to solve serious social problems. For more information about local volunteer activities, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visit www.pointsoflight.org

The Corporation for National Service was established in 1993 to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to their communities. The Corporation oversees AmeriCorps, Learn and Serve America and the National Senior Service Corps, offering 1.5 million Americans opportunities to serve their communities each year. For more information, call 1-202-606-5000 or visit www.nationalservice.org/about/.