WASHINGTON, D.C. - USA Freedom Corps, Peace Corps and Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP) at U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are proud to commemorate International Volunteer Day to celebrate the selfless activities of volunteers worldwide.

"Americans who volunteer overseas extend our Nation’s compassion and foster goodwill that contributes to our national security," said Desiree T. Sayle, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of USA Freedom Corps. "In this time of great challenge, we must work to encourage more citizens to put forth the best of face of America by serving internationally."

In recognition of International Volunteer Day, Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez and Peace Corps staff around the world acknowledged the dedication of all volunteers working to create a better world. Director Vasquez thanked and honored the 7,810 currently serving Peace Corps volunteers and also recognized the more than 182,000 Americans that have served around the globe throughout the Peace Corps’ 44-year history of service.

“Volunteers immerse themselves in a new culture – with no expectation for material compensation – because they have a passion for serving others and making our world a better place to live. International Volunteer Day gives us the opportunity to recognize the work that Peace Corps volunteers do everyday around the world,” said Director Vasquez.

Volunteers for Prosperity, a Presidential initiative of USA Freedom Corps, enables highly skilled American professionals to serve as volunteers to improve lives around the globe. Today, VfP recognized their 220 partner organizations that deployed 12,000 volunteers in 2005, an increase of 70 percent over the previous year. Volunteers spent time combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic, improving drinking water in rural African villages, providing educational opportunities to women in the Middle East, and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs in Asia among many other activities.

“The VfP initiative is fulfilling the promise envisioned by President Bush when he created it two years ago, as a vehicle to promote the U.S. global health and prosperity agenda,” said Jack Hawkins, Director of the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity at USAID. “These dedicated Americans demonstrate our nation’s commitment to helping those in need.”

International Volunteer Day was created by the United Nations in 1985 to add visibility to volunteers’ efforts and social development at local, national and international levels. For more information on International Volunteer Day, visit: http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org.

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities and across the globethrough volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White House, to help Americans answer his Call to Service. Visit http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service opportunity and to find more information about service programs.

Since 1961, more than 182,000 Volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment. To learn more about Peace Corps, visit www.peacecorps.gov.

VfP was established by Executive Order in September 2003. VfP works with leading U.S. non-profits and companies to deploy highly skilled American professionals in volunteer opportunities that support the global health and prosperity goals of the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit http://www.volunteersforprosperity.gov.

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