President Bush Discusses National Volunteer Week

Michael, from Powell, Tn writes:
What was the Freedom Corps started for?

Henry Lozano
Great question, Michael. President Bush recognizes that volunteers are one of America’s most precious assets. In his 2002 State of the Union address, the President issued a national call to service and launched USA Freedom Corps to more effectively engage what he calls America’s “armies of compassion” – those who are looking to serve a cause greater than themselves to help others in need. With the establishment of USA Freedom Corps, Americans now have a one-stop shop to find volunteer opportunities through the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network. And research shows Americans are now volunteering in record numbers. Last year alone, more than 60 million volunteers from across the United States provided critical social services in communities. In this year’s State of the Union address, the President outlined his key priorities for the year ahead. Once again, among them was to strengthen his compassion agenda and promote policies that support volunteer service, both at home and abroad.

Marcus, from Princeton, New Jersey writes:
Director Lozano, I work for a non-profit organization that actively encourages its employees to volunteer, they even provide employees with time off to volunteer for other non-profit organizations. Does the Federal Government have similar programs for its employees? Would you encourage private industry to consider offering such benefits?

Regards,

Marcus

Henry Lozano
Marcus, thank you for your question. It's an important one, and I'm encouraged to hear that your nonprofit encourages employee volunteering. Employee volunteer programs that engage individuals in service to the communities where they live and work reaps enormous benefits for the individual, the company and the community. Here at USA Freedom Corps, we call it a win-win-win situation. The federal government does have policies to encourage federal employees to volunteer, including flexible work schedules, administrative leave and in some cases, paid time-off. And in April 2006, President Bush issued an Executive Order to help ensure that the federal government supports and encourages volunteer community service and establishing a volunteer service liaison in federal agencies. Additional guidance for federal agencies on granting time off for volunteer activities can be found at www.opm.gov, the website of the Office of Personnel Management. I also encourage federal employees to check with their own human capital departments, as some agencies have special policies to further encourage employee volunteering.

And to address your question on private industry, this year, USA Freedom Corps along with the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation launched a new initiative in February at the Summit on Corporate Volunteering to encourage more skills-based volunteering in America's businesses. Today, the President is welcoming two great examples of corporate pro bono volunteering - Deloitte and Intel - to the White House to recognize their efforts to leverage their employees' talents to support our nation's nonprofits meeting critical needs in communities. To find out more about the Summit, our partners and the pro bono movement, visit our website at www.volunteer.gov

Michael, from Long Beach, CA writes:
Dear Mr. Henry C. Lozano, First of all I would just like to say thank you for choosing to work as a part of something that I really do appreciate doing, volunteering. I think it's a great way to help out for your community, helping the environment, and creating a better society. My question for you is: What is the White House doing to encourage more people to volunteer and take part in helping out? It seems like everyone else is busy, it would sure be a lot more merrier if people actually took the time and do something to help out. It makes me feel great that I'm doing something good for the community and it sure is "hard work." Thanks for your consideration.

Henry Lozano
Michael, thank you for your kind comment. And from a fellow native California, thank you for volunteering in your community. Through the USA Freedom Corps website at the White House, www.volunteer.gov, we have created the largest online clearinghouse for volunteer opportunities. You can simply enter your ZIP code and your preferred volunteer activities and find the service opportunity that's right for you.

President Bush also created a Council on Service and Civic Participation, made up of 25 athletes, celebrities, entertainers and leaders that promote volunteering and civic engagement wherever they go. One of the great things we do to keep people volunteering is to honor them with the President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA), which President Bush created to award Americans of all ages who complete a significant amount of service to their communities. President Bush has personally met and presented the award to over 600 volunteers since March 2002. And the Council reported this week that over 790,000 President's Volunteer Service Awards of all levels have been presented to date. To find out more about the Council and how your organization can become a certifying organization for the PVSA, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

Chinesa, from KCMO writes:
What exactly is the Freedom Corps?? What do they do?

Henry Lozano
Hi Chinesa, thanks for being with us today from Missouri. As a White House office, USA Freedom Corps is charged with building a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility in America. USA Freedom Corps promotes and expands volunteer service in America by partnering with national service programs, working to strengthen the nonprofit sector, recognizing volunteers and helping to connect individuals with volunteer opportunities both at home and abroad.

We have numerous focus areas and special initiatives that we focus on to spotlight opportunities for all Americans to volunteer - everything from disaster preparedness and response to mentoring youth to economic development overseas. At USA Freedom Corps, we are constantly amazed at the critical human needs being met by American volunteers in nations all around the world. To find out more about current opportunities to get involved during National Volunteer Week, like AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, Volunteers for Prosperity and Take Pride in America; and exciting upcoming initiatives like Great Outdoors Month, Military Appreciation Week, Summer of Service, and others, keep checking our website at www.volunteer.gov

Michele, from Rockville, MD writes:
Are there opportunities for children under the age 16 to volunteer? What are some suggestions particularly in Northern Virginia. Thank you.

Henry Lozano
Michele, thanks for asking about young people volunteering. At USA Freedom Corps, we are fortunate to hear so many great stories about our nation’s young people embracing the President’s Call to Service. And we know that volunteering at a young age leads to a lifetime of service and civic engagement. USA Freedom Corps supports numerous youth service activities throughout the year, including Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Global Youth Service Day, Make a Difference Day, and of course, National Volunteer Week. We’ve also developed a volunteer website just for kids at www.usafreedomcorpskids.gov with neat tools to get kids involved and get them talking to their peers and friends about fun volunteer opportunities.

Cliff, from Brimfield, Ohio writes:
Director Lozano: Has the worlds terror issue had an affect on the Freedom Corps and voluntering? Thank You

Henry Lozano
You ask a very good question, Cliff. And the answer is yes. After the devastation of 9/11, President Bush knew Americans were searching for ways they could help others Americans in need. That’s why he created USA Freedom Corps – to help connect individuals with ways to offer a hand to their neighbors in need and extend the goodwill of the American people across the country. Today, volunteering is at historically high levels. To build on the countless acts of service, sacrifice and generosity that followed the attacks of Sept ember 11th, millions of Americans are finding ways they can contribute solutions to some of our greatest social problems. In a world where hate exists, they offer hope to the needy and make America a better place through their acts of compassion.

Cody, from Boiling Springs writes:
Who can become a member of the Freedom Corps?

Henry Lozano
Hi Cody,

USA Freedom Corps was designed as a coordinating council across government for National volunteer programs and initiatives. As an office within the White House, USA Freedom Corps works to promote the President’s volunteer agenda and help connect Americans with opportunities to serve within their community and around the globe.

Currently, USA Freedom Corps partners with six national service initiatives. Under President Bush's leadership, these organizations are helping Americans find ways to respond to critical issues facing our communities. For example:

Peace Corps volunteer levels are at an all-time high – over 190,000 volunteers have been mobilized since its creation. AmeriCorps has deployed over 540,000 members since 1994 to mentor and tutor youth, respond to disasters, build homes, preserve the environment, and mobilize other volunteers. Learn and Serve America engages over one million students a year in service-learning programs in schools. Volunteers for Prosperity have engaged over 74,000 Americans in service overseas.

Additionally, nonprofits around the nation partner with us through our national service organizations to post information on service opportunities on the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer network, the nation’s largest online clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities.