[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 83 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 23023-23024]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-10784]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 83 / Wednesday, April 30, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 23023]]


                Proclamation 7667 of April 25, 2003

                
National Volunteer Week, 2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Volunteering is central to the American character and 
                is a fundamental expression of responsible citizenship. 
                From our Nation's earliest days, people came together 
                to do whatever was needed for the public good--from 
                raising barns and providing mutual security to 
                organizing educational activities and caring for their 
                neighbors. Though our country has changed dramatically 
                since its founding, the need for service has not. 
                During National Volunteer Week, we recognize our proud 
                legacy of volunteer service and resolve to encourage 
                more Americans to continue strengthening our country by 
                helping others.

                This is a time for all Americans to be active citizens, 
                not spectators. For that reason, I have created the USA 
                Freedom Corps to mobilize our citizens and provide 
                opportunities for individuals and organizations to 
                contribute to important causes. As part of this 
                initiative, I have asked all Americans to dedicate at 
                least 4,000 hours over the rest of their lives to 
                serving their neighbors and their Nation. Since that 
                call to service, our citizens have responded with an 
                outpouring of kindness that is transforming our 
                country, one heart and one soul at a time. According to 
                the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 59 million 
                Americans volunteered last year through charitable 
                organizations.

                These individuals served in a variety of ways--
                mentoring and tutoring children, providing 
                companionship to the elderly, running community 
                theaters and arts programs, cleaning highways and 
                parks, staffing essential community organizations, and 
                offering physical and spiritual aid to the hungry and 
                homeless. In addition, citizen volunteers have 
                contributed to the ongoing war on terror by helping 
                families and communities prevent, prepare for, and 
                respond to emergencies. Across our Nation, our citizens 
                are recognizing that everyone can do something to help 
                and that serving those in need benefits the volunteer 
                also.

                My Administration has taken several steps to build on 
                this progress and continue the momentum created by 
                these millions of acts of service. Most recently, I 
                formed the President's Council on Service and Civic 
                Participation, and charged them with creating a 
                nationwide recognition program called the President's 
                Volunteer Service Awards. These awards will be given to 
                individuals and organizations engaged in a variety of 
                volunteer services who have made a sustained commitment 
                to service over the course of 1 year, and enhance our 
                ability to pay tribute to volunteers and the impact 
                their service has on our communities and our country.

                National Volunteer Week offers each of us the 
                opportunity to recognize one of the true strengths of 
                our Nation--the compassionate spirit of our citizens. I 
                urge all Americans to continue to uphold this spirit 
                and answer the call to service to help ensure that all 
                our citizens realize the promise of America. Together, 
                we can achieve a hopeful future for all.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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 27 through May

[[Page 23024]]

                3, 2003, as National Volunteer Week. I call on all 
                Americans to join together to celebrate the invaluable 
                work that volunteers perform every day across our 
                country, and to commit themselves to do more for their 
                neighbors in need through the many volunteer programs 
                available in their communities.

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

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 03-10784
Filed 4-29-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P