FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 17, 2004
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Corporation for National and Community Service
Contact: Siobhan Dugan
202-606-5000 x 151
sdugan@cns.gov |
America’s Volunteer and National Service Leaders To Converge in Kansas City |
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June 6-8 National Conference Aims to Build a Nation of Volunteers
(KANSAS CITY) – More than 2,500 volunteer and national service leaders will
gather in Kansas City on June 6-8 with a shared goal of motivating more
Americans to volunteer and to make their service even more effective in meeting
social needs in communities throughout the country.
The conference comes at a time Americans are answering the call to service in
growing numbers. A recent federal study found that 64 million Americans
volunteered in 2003, an increase of 4 million over the previous year. The
national service programs Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America
are growing to record levels. Charities and congregations say they can take on
an additional 6 million volunteers, according to another recent study.
The annual conference is convened by the Points of Light Foundation and the
Corporation for National and Community Service, which is marking its tenth
anniversary this year. The theme of this year’s conference is “Changing our
Communities – One Volunteer at a Time.” Representatives of Volunteer Centers,
corporations, nonprofits, state service commissions, and national and community
service programs will attend the three-day event, which provides training and
networking opportunities.
Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin, who serves on the President’s Council on
Service and Civic Participation, will be the opening speaker for the conference
on June 6. Former President George H.W. Bush will deliver the keynote address
June 8, and will present the Awards for Excellence in Workplace Volunteer
Programs. He also will present the George Bush Corporate Leadership Award to
Robert Haas, chairman of the board of the Levi Strauss & Co.
“When people volunteer, good things happen—those who receive the services are
helped, those who provide the services are bettered, and our communities are
enriched, said Robert Goodwin, president and CEO of the Points of Light
Foundation. “Volunteering is an essential complement to services provided by our
government and large private organizations.”
“With support for volunteerism and service at perhaps its highest level ever,
we have an incredible opportunity to seize the momentum and build a culture of
service and a nation of volunteers,” said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation
for National and Community Service. “National and community service programs
work hand in glove with the volunteer world to strengthen the impact of the
nation’s 64 million volunteers, and we will be focusing more of our efforts on
that goal as we move forward.”
In conjunction with the conference, more than 400 volunteers from the Kansas
City region will partner with the Kansas City Vet Center, the Veterans of
Foreign Wars (VFW) and other local community groups to implement Heart of
America Stand Down June 4 through June 6. They will set up a tent city at the
Manual Career Center, 1215 E. Truman Road, with the intent of providing health
screenings, job skills, and other services to area homeless veterans and their
families.
“Kansas City is recognized nationally as a community with a true heart for
volunteering,” said Denny Barnett, vice president of Kansas City Promise and
co-chair of the service project committee working with Heart of America Stand
Down. “There is no better way to kick off this conference than by demonstrating
the true power of volunteering.”
The majority of National Conference activities will be held at the Kansas
City Convention Center. Topics to be addressed include family volunteering,
intergenerational volunteer programs, engaging persons with disabilities,
working with youth, corporate social responsibility, fundraising, evaluation,
and marketing.
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The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network supports
the vital work of millions of volunteers who are helping to solve serious social
problems in thousands of communications nationwide. For more information about
local volunteer opportunities, call 1-800-VOLUNTEER, or visit
www.1-800-VOLUNTEER.org.
The Corporation for National and Community Service engages Americans of all
ages and backgrounds in service to their communities through its programs Senior
Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. Together with USA Freedom Corps,
the Corporation is working to build a culture of citizenship, service, and
responsibility. For more information, call (202) 606-5000, or visit
www.nationalservice.org.
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