[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 21, 1999)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19683-19684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10177]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 76 / Wednesday, April 21, 1999 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 19683]]


                Proclamation 7186 of April 16, 1999

                
National Volunteer Week, 1999

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Helping others--and helping others help themselves--
                through volunteer work is a great American tradition. 
                Our Nation's dedicated volunteers come from all walks 
                of life, all races, and all ages. Whether they support 
                their communities through their churches, synagogues, 
                or other religious institutions, serve full-time as 
                AmeriCorps members, or spend a few hours a week helping 
                out organizations or individuals in need, America's 
                volunteers are bringing hope and help to their fellow 
                citizens and building a stronger, more compassionate 
                Nation for us all.

                Our volunteers know that service is one of the best 
                ways to make a difference in the lives of others--and 
                they are proving that Americans at any stage of life 
                can serve. Thousands of older Americans donate their 
                time to serve as foster grandparents, senior 
                companions, and as part of the Retired and Senior 
                Volunteer Program and other initiatives. As many as 13 
                million young Americans aged 12 to 17 also volunteer 
                each year, improving their communities, broadening 
                their educational experiences, developing new skills, 
                and increasing their understanding of the 
                responsibilities of citizenship. This week, during 
                National Youth Service Day, young people across our 
                country will participate in service activities and 
                demonstrate with their good works the power of youth to 
                strengthen our Nation.

                Volunteers will become increasingly vital to our 
                society as we enter a new millennium. We cannot rely 
                solely on charitable contributions or government 
                programs to address the challenges we see in our 
                communities. Each of us must find our own role and take 
                action as a volunteer, a neighbor, and a citizen. We 
                must work together to ensure that every child has a 
                caring adult in his or her life, a safe place in which 
                to live and grow, a good school to attend, a healthy 
                start in life, and a chance to serve the community. We 
                must continually strive to bring hope and hard work to 
                bear on the human problems we see every day. With warm 
                hearts and willing hands, we can make a lasting 
                difference.

                During this week, let us renew our spirit of community, 
                our sense of idealism, and our commitment to service. 
                Let us also honor the invaluable work of the thousands 
                of voluntary, civic, religious, school, and 
                neighborhood groups across our country that are leading 
                the way by serving their fellow Americans and improving 
                the quality of life for us all.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim April 18 through April 24, 
                1999, as National Volunteer Week. I call upon all 
                Americans to observe this week with appropriate 
                programs, ceremonies, and activities to express 
                appreciation to the volunteers among us for their 
                commitment to service and to encourage the spirit of 
                volunteerism in our families and communities.

[[Page 19684]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord 
                nineteen hundred and ninety-nine, and of the 
                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-third.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 99-10177
Filed 4-20-99; 8:51 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P