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On the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, Americans remembered the day with solemn memorials, prayers, and moments of silence. On September 8th, 2008, President Bush hosted a White House event highlighting the accomplishments of USA Freedom Corps, the volunteer initiative launched as part of a national Call to Service after the attacks of 9/11 to help more Americans connect with opportunities to serve their neighbors in need. The President honored the work of America's armies of compassion and repeated his call for Americans to devote 4,000 hours – or two years, in service to our country over their lifetimes.
 Read the President's Remarks
Fact Sheet: USA Freedom Corps: Strengthening Service to Meet Community Needs
USA Freedom Corps Report: Answering the Call to Service (PDF)
USA Freedom Corps Report Appendix: Executive Orders (PDF)
Mrs. Bush's Remarks at the ServiceNation Summit
USA Freedom Corps Discussed on "Ask the White House"
Find a Volunteer Opportunity
 To empower Americans to help others in the wake of September 11, 2001, President Bush launched the USA Freedom Corps. The goal of the USA Freedom Corps was to connect Americans with opportunities to serve our country, to foster a culture of citizenship, responsibility and service. Over the last six years, USA Freedom Corps has met these goals.
Click here for video on the President's call to service (Windows Media) |
On October 28th, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne signed an order extending the authorization of Take Pride in America within the Department of the Interior through the year 2010. The program, designed to encourage volunteerism on public lands, had been set to expire on November 1, 2008.
The secretarial order further solidifies three strategic Take Pride in America priorities: engaging youth in service, promoting voluntourism, and supporting beautification as an economic development strategy. Secretary Kempthorne signed the order at a ceremony recognizing the volunteer efforts of students from Hyattsville Elementary in Hyattsville, Md., and others from across the country.
Learn more
Fact Sheet: Take Pride in America 2008
En Español
On September 1st, Hurricane Gustav made landfall in the United States along the Louisiana coast as a strong Category 2 hurricane; Hurricane Ike struck the Texas coast on September 13th. Today, national service participants and volunteers in the Gulf Coast region and across the country are responding in the aftermath of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. The USA Freedom Corps office at the White House and the Corporation for National and Community Service are working in close coordination with numerous federal agencies and state and local leaders to respond to the needs of those affected by the hurricanes.
All residents in the region affected by Hurricane Ike are encouraged to follow the instructions given by local emergency management officials. We are currently urging those who want to help people affected by Hurricane Ike to make cash donations to nonprofit organizations that are active in disaster work.
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