FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, December 10, 2002
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Corporation for National and Community Service
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President thanks leaders of Business Strengthening America for their commitment to Volunteer Service |
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Multimedia |
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10:55 A.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming today. Thanks for
your warm welcome. Thanks to the leaders here who represent industry and
compassion, for your important commitment to promote an ethic of service in
our nation, to encourage your employees to serve something greater than
themselves.
You know, this is a really, really strong nation we have. We're strong
militarily, but that's not our greatest strength. The greatest strength of
America is the people of America. The people of America have got enormous
hearts, great desire to help others. The enemy struck us on September the
11th, 2001; they obviously didn't know who they were striking. They struck the
greatest nation on the face of the Earth, and in so doing, inspired a spirit
of America that is alive and well. And those of us in positions of
responsibility must capture that spirit, for the good of the American people.
In our plenty, there are people who hurt. And the wealthiest nation on the
face of the Earth, we've got to remember there are some who doubt the promise
of America. There are people who are hungry, people who don't have places to
live, people who are adrift. The great challenge of the 21st century is not
only to keep the peace, but the great challenge of the 21st century is turn
the evil done to America into an incredible good by making sure that people
all across our land realize the hope of the American experience.
There is no question in my mind America can achieve that goal. There is no
doubt. And today we're to talk about how—one step to achieving that goal.
As you know, I've been setting up a different economic team to make sure we
continue on the good works of the previous economic team to grow our economy.
That's our focus. We want people working jobs. We're encouraging the expansion
of good jobs. But our purpose today is to make sure that as we focus on good
jobs, we also focus on good works, to make sure that the American spirit is
alive and well in every part of our community.
I want to thank our Secretary of Commerce, my great, longtime friend Don
Evans, for not only his service to our country, but his understanding about
the compassion agenda that our country must embrace. I want to thank the chief
operating officers of the components of the USA Freedom Corps who are here—Les
Lenkowsky, who runs AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps; Mike Brown, the Deputy
Director of FEMA, who is in charge of the CitizenCorps component; and Gaddi
Vasquez, who is in charge of our Peace Corps. All obviously corps members.
(Laughter.) I want to thank the members of the Business Strengthening America
Steering Committee who organized this event and today's events.
If we want to usher in a period of responsible behavior in America, people
must behave responsibly. And part of behaving responsibly is understand the
responsibilities that come with being a CEO. It's not only the responsibility
to tell the truth, it's the responsibility to use your position to encourage
compassion. And I'm proud of this organization. And today we're going to
expand the vision and goals of this organization.
I appreciate the U.S. Chamber the Center for Corporate Citizen—Corporate
Citizenship for—for working on these initiatives.
After September the 11th, a lot of our fellow citizens found a deeper
appreciation for our freedom. That's a fact. A lot of people began to take a
look at their lives and realize that values of service are really
important—values of faith and values of family and values of service to their
country. They realize that serving something greater than themselves is a part
of being a patriotic American, that patriotism was being redefined in a
positive way.
And millions are now responding to the call to service in all kinds of
ways: Volunteering in the soup kitchen. Something dear to my heart and Laura's
heart is the mentoring of children, to not only teach them how to read, but
make sure that they understand there is love in our society. People are
working in schools and libraries and police departments and hospitals.
We've got great hearts in America, but a lot of folks don't have the time
to serve, and that's what we're here to discuss today. They would like to be
spending more time helping people in need, but they've got a job to do.
They've got to show up for work, so they can put money on the table. And when
companies support volunteer service—it's important for the CEOs and the COOs
and the board of directors to understand, when you support volunteer service
and provide time, you really unleash the heart of America.
And the firms represented here are doing just that, and I want to thank you
for that. I want to thank you a lot. The Business Strengthening America is led
by corporate leaders who understand the need to encourage volunteer service.
Companies that are part of the Business Strengthening America are making
fundamental and institutional changes to support service to our country.
Businesses are offering paid leave for employees who volunteer in their
communities. I want to thank you for that. You're setting a great example for
others.
They're giving a percentage of employee time or donating products like
software, or making outright financial contributions in order to do your part
to be a sound citizen of this country. You're placing senior executives on
boards to make sure that accounting practices or legal practices are sound and
wise. You enlist customers and clients to mentor or tutor. There's all kinds
of things happening in America today, all aimed at making sure the American
experience is alive and well for every single citizen.
I appreciate you including information about the USA Freedom Corps on your
websites, on bank statements, on grocery bags all throughout America. We have
a competitive workplace, a marketplace here in America, and that's healthy and
strong. The more competition, the better it is for Americans. But in this
endeavor, there is no competition, there's collaboration to figure out the
best way to make sure America is a compassionate country.
Last June, the Business Strengthening America was formed with 18 members.
Eighteen brave souls stepped forward and said, I want to help. I want to make
a difference. In less than six months, the group has grown to a hundred
members. It represents 2 million employees. That is a major division in the
army of compassion.
Today, the Business Strengthening America is launching an effort to
increase the membership to more than 500 companies by next June. We're going
to do so to encourage membership starting today. I hope the CEOs of
America—the CEOs of America's companies, both large and small, hear the call
to join this group, to be a part of the 500 by next June. It is essential that
you understand the call to service extends to you, as well.
We're going to have regional conferences in cities across our country to
continue the momentum of a cultural shift to service. The amazing thing is, I
think, when a company representative talks to these leaders who have been
involved in this project, you'll find that when you show concern, it helps
your customer base. It helps employee morale. It says—sends messages into the
community in which you exist that you're more than just a capitalistic
enterprise; you're a capitalistic enterprise with a strong conscience.
You'll find that employees walk a little better down the halls of your
companies when you've encouraged them to help a neighbor in need. There's
nothing like giving a little bit of yourself to enrich your life. And when the
person's life is enriched, so is the company as a whole.
A lot of people talk about building loyalty in the consumer base, your
customer base. It's amazing what happens when you serve something—you serve
something in need in terms of building loyalty. There's nothing like building
loyalty by helping somebody in need.
Acts of service are supported by businesses, yet they're obviously
performed by people. People must lead. And today, I was pleased to see that
after this meeting, folks in this room will set an example by going to build a
playground in Washington, D.C. Take your muffler. (Laughter.)
Donnie Evans and members of my staff did the exact same thing. We have—all
of us have a responsibility to do more than just talk it up. We've got a
responsibility to actually perform and do the deed itself. And I encourage
members of my administration to do just that. And our Secretary of Commerce
set the example for members of my Cabinet.
The Business Strengthening America is a part of a new culture of service.
USA Freedom Corps is providing information to millions. John Bridgeland, who
runs our office, has done a fabulous job of using modern technologies to
spread the word; technologies that say, if you want to volunteer, get on the
webpage, and here are the opportunities close to your house. We've really got
thousands of opportunities for people, for the individual to show up. And
people are responding. Nearly 118,000 individuals have contacted the Peace
Corps for applications since I put out the call. That's a lot.
We not only encourage service at home, obviously through the Peace Corps
initiative, we encourage service abroad, as well. You see, the interesting
thing about this country which sets us apart from the terrorists, for example,
is we say every life matters, everybody counts, everybody has worth. Contrast
to al Qaeda-type killers, they don't say everybody has worth. They believe
only a few matter. But America says, everybody counts, no matter if you live
in America or elsewhere. And Peace Corps is going to spread that gospel and
spread that message, and make sure that people have got the benefits of
freedom available for them, just like we have it here at home.
The Senior Corps and the AmeriCorps are expanding mightily under Les's
leadership. They're doing a lot to work to mentor and clean parks and take
care of the elderly. Listen, part of making sure America is a compassionate
place means acts as simple as walking into a shut-in's home and saying, I love
you, on a regular basis. We're not talking about great acts of courage in
order to change America, we're talking about simple acts of love.
Two-hundred-forty-six Senior Corps councils have been formed, outlets for
people to express their concern about the future of our country. These happen
to be formed to respond to a disaster of any kind, including a terrorist
attack. But it's healthy for a community to provide outlets for folks to show
up and say, I want to be a part of a disaster response team. Doctors and
nurses are joining what we now call the Medical Reserve Corps to help
communities with major emergencies. Volunteers are at police and fire
departments now. In other words, the call is being responded to. And I want to
thank the American people.
Each of the activities that we talk about at the USA Freedom Corps or this
organization will touch a life and strengthen the country. And the important
thing that we're doing today, I hope, and I know you all hope, will send a
clear signal to our young that serving something greater than themselves in
life is a part of the American experience.
I hope that people who are interested in serving America log on to the
usafreedomcorps.gov website, or call 1-877-USA-Corps. It will give you a
chance to be a part of the army of compassion. You can find ways in which you
can serve this great nation. You can be a part of making sure the American
experience is strong and alive and well all across the greatest country on the
face of the Earth.
Thank you all for your compassion. Thank you for your care. Thank you for
your leadership. May God bless your works, and may God continue to bless
America. Thanks for coming.
END 11:11 A.M. EST
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