"Volunteerism and community service are central to the history of our Nation. Americans have always been a decent and deeply generous people, willing to help those in need. That was true before September 11. It is truer today. The Federal Government did not create this civic spirit; but we do have a responsibility to help support and encourage it where we can."
President George W. Bush
January 30, 2002
A commitment to serve our neighbors and our Nation is an essential part of the American character. We have always believed in an ethic of citizenship that includes helping those in need and promoting the common good. We know this makes America stronger and the world better.
The men and women who serve as Peace Corps Volunteers share a common spirit or service, dedication, and idealism. They work to bring clean water to communities, teach children, help start new small businesses, and stop the spread of AIDS.
AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 nonprofits, public agencies, and faith-based organizations. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, and help communities respond to disasters.
The Senior Corps is the national service program that puts the experience and talents of seniors across the country to work getting things done in their communities.
Learn and Serve America supports service-learning programs in schools and community organizations that help nearly one million students from kindergarten through college meet community needs, while improving their academic skills and learning the habits of good citizenship
This broad network of volunteer efforts will harness the power of the American people by relying on their individual skills and interests to prepare local communities to effectively prevent and respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, or any kind of disaster.
The Troops to Teachers program has the following two components: (1) it helps place eligible members of the Armed Services in teacher training programs designed by the States, and (2) it encourages States or partnerships to develop and implement innovative teacher certification/licensure programs for members of the Armed Services.
Since 1968, the flagship Presidential Classroom Scholars Program has given the nations most promising high school students the opportunity to spend a week in Washington, DC.
The Close Up Foundation is the nation's largest nonprofit (501(c)(3)), nonpartisan citizenship education organization. Since its founding in 1970, Close Up has worked to promote responsible and informed participation in the democratic process through a variety of educational programs.