Remarks – Global Children’s
Foundation Saturday, July 16, 2005

• Good evening. Thank you so much for inviting me to speak with you tonight. It is wonderful to be here with you.

• I want to give special thanks to Kim Sohn, Program Chair, whose tireless efforts made this program possible.

• You know, Americans perceive Korean Americans as hard-working, as very generous with a big heart, and as believing in education for all children; and as religious (8 out of 10 Korean Americans go to church).

• In 2002, in calling for the creation of the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush said, “My call to our fellow Americans is, love a neighbor. When you find somebody who hurts, put your arm around them. Mentor a child. Go see shut-ins. Tell somebody you love them on a daily basis. America can and will change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, thanks to the soldiers in the armies of compassion.”

• Since 1998, the Global Children’s Foundation has raised so much money – approaching a million dollars. You have helped children in so many countries. Your mission flows from the innate love of mothers and fathers for their own children, to love for children around the world. Your efforts come from the heart. The world needs more love like the love you have for all children.

• I’ve always known that it’s not how much people make, but what they do with their earnings. They can spend their money on a big house, a big car – something for their families. But what about sharing our wealth with people in need?

• Your organization is remarkable because you believe in that principle. You are among many people in America who share that philosophy.

• A 2001 poll found that 44% of adults volunteered with a formal organization in the previous year. Of these, 63% reported that they volunteered on a regular basis, monthly or more often.

• Volunteers averaged 24 hours per month of volunteer time.

• 84 million American adults volunteered approximately 15.5 billion hours.

• This volunteer workforce represented the equivalent of over 9 million full-time employees at a value of $239 billion.

• Women were more likely to volunteer than men (46% to 42%), but there was no difference in the monthly hours volunteered.

• 89% of households gave charitable donations.

• Contributors gave an average of $1,620 in the past year, or 3.1% of household income. Household giving included gifts of money, property, stocks, and other items of value.

• I often think about my own mother’s generosity. I remember every Chusok and Chinese New Year’s plus our family’s ancestor memorial services.

• My father was the oldest son in the family, so we had ancestor memorial services once a month, 12-15 times a year. My mother would have lots of food prepared. It is such a beautiful Korean tradition, sharing food the next day with the neighbors. As a little child, I saw my mother prepare tray after tray to take food to all the neighbors, one after another. It took the entire morning. And then a bunch of people came to the house for a big meal.

• That’s how I remember my mother – very caring about the neighbors – and I like to think it was a great lesson for me to observe. Giving and sharing was instilled in me. Even in my life in America, I like to break bread – sharing a meal with those around me.

• For those of you in this room, your own children will remember how generous you are with your time and money – that you share with children in Iraq, Korea, Thailand, and other countries. I can’t think of a better education than a child learning from the actions of his or her parents.

• Because of your notable, remarkable work, one of the qualities attributed to Korean Americans will be volunteer work and giving from the heart with great generosity.

• In fact, what the President cares most about America is that every one of us be kind and generous to people in need.

• Last May he invited Asian Americans who had given money for tsunami victims to the White House and honored those who gave so much for others. He said, “People from the Asian Pacific community have heard the call to serve something greater than themselves.”

• We are all grateful to everyone who contributed to tsunami relief after the tsunami hit. Many feared, though, that the people suffering the after effects of the tsunami would be forgotten as time went on, even though they needed long-term help to recover and rebuild. Your funds for long-term assistance to child victims of the tsunami will help them put their shattered lives back together.

• The President understands that government can hand out money, but it cannot put love in a person’s heart, or a sense of purpose in a person’s life. All of you are called by God to do so, and the government must stand on the side of the millions of acts of mercy and kindness that take place across the country on a daily basis.

• Thank you, and may God bless you and your families.