For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 25, 2003
National Volunteer Week, 2003
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Volunteering is central to the American character and is a
fundamental expression of responsible citizenship. From our Nation's
earliest days, people came together to do whatever was needed for the
public good -- from raising barns and pro-viding mutual security to
organizing educational activities and caring for their neighbors.
Though our country has changed dramatically since its founding, the
need for service has not. During National Volunteer Week, we recognize
our proud legacy of volunteer service and resolve to encourage more
Americans to continue strengthening our country by helping others.
This is a time for all Americans to be active citizens, not
spectators. For that reason, I have created the USA Freedom Corps to
mobilize our citizens and provide opportunities for individuals and
organizations to contribute to important causes. As part of this
initiative, I have asked all Americans to dedicate at least 4,000 hours
over the rest of their lives to serving their neighbors and their
Nation. Since that call to service, our citizens have responded with
an outpouring of kindness that is transforming our country, one heart
and one soul at a time. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
more than 59 million Americans volunteered last year through charitable
organizations.
These individuals served in a variety of ways -- mentoring and
tutoring children, providing companionship to the elderly, running
community theaters and arts programs, cleaning highways and parks,
staffing essential community organizations, and offering physical and
spiritual aid to the hungry and homeless. In addition, citizen
volunteers have contributed to the ongoing war on terror by helping
families and communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to
emergencies. Across our Nation, our citizens are recognizing that
everyone can do something to help and that serving those in need
benefits the volunteer also.
My Administration has taken several steps to build on this progress
and continue the momentum created by these millions of acts of
service. Most recently, I formed the President's Council on Service
and Civic Participation, and charged them with creating a nationwide
recognition program called the President's Volunteer Service Awards.
These awards will be given to individuals and organizations engaged in
a variety of volunteer services who have made a sustained commitment to
service over the course of 1 year, and enhance our ability to pay
tribute to volunteers and the impact their service has on our
communities and our country.
National Volunteer Week offers each of us the opportunity to
recognize one of the true strengths of our Nation -- the compassionate
spirit of our citizens. I urge all Americans to continue to uphold
this spirit and answer the call to service to help ensure that all our
citizens realize the promise of America. Together, we can achieve a
hopeful future for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution
and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 27 through May
3, 2003, as National Volunteer Week. I call on all Americans to join
together to celebrate the invaluable work that volunteers perform every
day across our country, and to commit themselves to do more for their
neighbors in need through the many volunteer programs available in
their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth
day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand three, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-seventh.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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