National Volunteer Week, 2012

Vol. 77

Thursday,

No. 71

April 12, 2012

Part III

The President

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Proclamation 8797--National Volunteer Week, 2012

Proclamation 8798--Pan American Day and Pan American Week, 2012

Proclamation 8799--National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day,
2012

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Title 3--
The President

Proclamation 8797 of April 9, 2012

National Volunteer Week, 2012

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

Our Nation has been profoundly shaped by ordinary
Americans who have volunteered their time and energy to
overcome extraordinary challenges. From the American
Revolution and the Seneca Falls Convention to the
everyday acts of compassion and purpose that move
millions to make change in their communities, our
Nation has always been at its best when individuals
have come together to realize a common vision. As we
continue to pursue progress, service and social
innovation will play an essential role in achieving our
highest ambitions--from a world-class education for
every child to an economy built to last. During
National Volunteer Week, we pay tribute to all who give
of themselves to keep America strong, and we renew the
spirit of service that has enriched our country for
generations.

That spirit lives on today in countless acts of service
around our country. When one of the deadliest tornados
in our Nation's history touched down in Joplin,
Missouri, in May 2011, thousands of volunteers stepped
forward to serve their fellow citizens. They turned a
university into a hospital. They repurposed doors for
stretchers. They rushed food to those in need and
filled trucks with donations. To date, they have
committed more than half a million hours to bringing
support and shelter to a community during a time of
profound hardship and heartache. In Joplin and across
America, we see the transformative power of service--to
unite, to build, to heal.

My Administration remains steadfast in our commitment
to empower more Americans with tools to shape their
communities. During my first 100 days in office, I was
proud to sign the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act,
a landmark national service law that laid out a
strategy to link service with innovation, established
the groundbreaking Social Innovation Fund, and charted
the expansion of AmeriCorps. Last month, we launched
FEMA Corps, a new service corps that will enhance our
national capacity for disaster response and prepare its
members for careers in emergency management. Through
United We Serve and national service days, we continue
to connect individuals young and old to new
opportunities to reinvent their world through service--
from fighting hunger and expanding access to healthy,
affordable food to mentoring young people and fostering
literacy. In all of these efforts, we are reminded how
volunteer work can expand opportunity not only for
those in need, but also for those who give. Service can
teach valuable skills that pave the way to long-term
employment and stay with volunteers throughout their
careers and lives.

Service is a lifelong pursuit that strengthens the
civic and economic fabric of our Nation. With every
hour and every act, our lives are made richer, our
communities are drawn closer, and our country is forged
stronger by the dedication and generous spirit of
volunteers. I encourage every American to stand up and
play their part--to put their shoulder up against the
wheel and help change history's course. To get started
on a project near you, visit www.Serve.gov.

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 15 through

April 21, 2012, 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
ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two
thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United
States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.