FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 06, 2003
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Small Business Administration
Contact: Sue Hensley (202) 205-6444
Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/opc |
Businesses Urged to Give Back to the Community by Supporting Volunteerism and USA Freedom Corps |
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WASHINGTON – Business owners this summer can help young people develop new
skills, give their employees opportunities to contribute to the quality of life
in their communities, and renew civic pride among their customers by supporting
USA Freedom Corps, said Hector V. Barreto, Administrator of the U.S. Small
Business Administration.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for business owners to take the lead in
making a difference in their communities, a real chance to give back to the
people who have supported your company,” said Barreto. “Supporting volunteerism
at this level can improve the quality of local community services, and provide
new talent and ideas to meet the needs of the community, which ultimately
strengthens the local economy.”
Barreto said business owners can add the USA Freedom Corps link to their
company’s Web site (www.usafreedomcorps.gov), providing an online resource for
customers, employees and students about volunteer opportunities. The
organization also has a public service announcement titled “Everyone Can Do
Something,” available for distribution via print, television, radio and the
Internet. Owners of retail businesses are encouraged to print the PSA and place
it in a prominent spot. To order the PSA, call Hartford Direct at 1-800-933-7727
and ask for USA Freedom Corps kits, or go to
http://adcouncil.org/campaigns/usa_freedom_corps/.
The USA Freedom Corps volunteer network provides information on more than
75,000 organizations nationwide and around the world in need of people to teach
children to read, help communities prepare for disasters, or support local
health screenings and blood drives.*
Founded by President Bush in January 2002, the USA Freedom Corps’ mission is
to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Under the USA
Freedom Corps umbrella are the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Learn,
Serve America, and Citizen Corps.
As of August 6, more than 575 business organizations that employ nearly four
million workers have joined Business Strengthening America, an initiative aimed
at engaging employees and customers in volunteer service.*
Included on the USA Freedom Corps website are tips on how to foster community
and employee involvement in volunteerism, as well as links to groups working to
further the corporate sector’s interest in community service. For more
information visit
www.usafreedomcorps.gov, or call 1-877-872-2677.
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[* Corrected release]
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