National Volunteer Week, 2011

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8649 of April 7, 2011

National Volunteer Week, 2011

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

America's story has been marked by the service of
volunteers. Generations of selfless individuals from
all walks of life have served each other and our
Nation, each person dedicated to making tomorrow better
than today. They exemplify the quintessential American
idea that we can change things, make things better, and
solve problems when we work together.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of our schools and
shelters, hospitals and hotlines, and faith-based and
community groups. From mentoring at-risk youth and
caring for older Americans to supporting our veterans
and military families and rebuilding after disasters,
these everyday heroes make a real and lasting impact on
the lives of millions of women and men across the
globe.

Last year, nearly 63 million Americans gave of
themselves through service. Their compassion is a
testament to the generosity of the American spirit. In
difficult times, Americans are coming together--
tackling our challenges instead of ignoring them--and
renewing the principle that we are our brother's keeper
and our sister's keeper.

Today, as many Americans face hardship, we need
volunteers more than ever. Service opportunities tap
the energy and ingenuity of our greatest resource--the
American people--to improve our neighborhoods and our
world. My Administration is committed to investing in
community solutions and increasing opportunities for
Americans to serve. The bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy
Serve America Act strengthened the programs of the
Corporation for National and Community Service, which
engage millions of citizens each year in service
through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve
America. We are building the capacity of organizations
and communities to tackle their own problems by
investing in social innovation and volunteer
cultivation. And through United We Serve, a national
call to service, we are making it easier for women and
men of all ages to find volunteer opportunities or
create their own projects where they see a need.

During National Volunteer Week, we celebrate the
profound impact of volunteers and encourage all
Americans to discover their own power to make a
difference. Every one of us has a role to play in
making our communities and our country stronger. I
encourage all Americans to help us renew progress and
prosperity and build a brighter future for our Nation
by visiting www.Serve.gov to find a local project.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the
United States, do hereby proclaim April 10 through
April 16, 2011, as National Volunteer Week. I call upon
all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in
service projects across our country and pledging to
make service a part of their daily lives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.