NEW YORK, NY – USA Freedom Corps Director Henry Lozano today joined members of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation to launch a campaign urging America’s corporate sector to expand the level and impact of skilled volunteering to bolster America’s nonprofit sector. Today’s Summit on Corporate Volunteerism convened key players including chair of the President’s Council Jean Case and more than 150 top corporate, government and nonprofit leaders to explore a redefinition of volunteerism through strategic contributions of “pro bono” services.

The Summit on Corporate Volunteerism event kicked off The Pro Bono Challenge, a three-year campaign to leverage $1 billion in skilled volunteering and pro bono services from the corporate community. To date, more than 18 companies have become Pro Bono Champions, collectively pledging to provide more than $118 million in professional services to help nonprofits address critical social needs.

“I commend the leadership of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation for fueling President Bush’s vision for volunteerism and energizing a new corporate culture of pro bono service in America,” USA Freedom Corps Director Henry Lozano said. “Today’s Summit is a catalyst our nation needs to spur solutions to some of our greatest social problems. By changing the philanthropic landscape of our corporate sector to increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations, we can, and will, only make our nation stronger.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, America’s corporate sector falls below the national average of time and talents donated to volunteer service. Today’s event urged a revitalization of corporate philanthropic activities matching the strengths of skilled workers with needs of community organizations.

In 2002, President Bush issued a national call to service and created the USA Freedom Corps to help all Americans to answer his call to serve causes greater than self. As a signature White House initiative, the USA Freedom Corps works to foster a culture of service, citizenship and responsibility, and connect Americans with opportunities serve their country, their community and their neighbors.

Americans count on USA Freedom Corps as the White House representation for the voluntary sector. Since President Bush launched the initiative in 2002, USA Freedom Corps has helped Americans answer the President’s call through its partner organizations like the Corporation for National and Community Service, Peace Corps and others. Data indicate volunteerism is at historically high levels compared to other decades. And last year, 61.2 million volunteers across America helped sustain social services and aid others in need, both at home and abroad.

For more information on the Summit on Corporate Volunteerism, visit: http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/council/probono/index.asp.

For more information on USA Freedom Corps and the President’s call to service, visit: http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov.

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