    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [December 10, 2002]
    [Pages 2176-2179]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 2176]]

    Remarks on Business Strengthening America's ``Day of Service''
    December 10, 2002

        Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming today. Thanks for your
    warm welcome. Thanks to the leaders here who represent industry and
    compassion, for your important commitment to promote an ethic of service
    in our Nation, to encourage your employees to serve something greater
    than themselves.
        You know, this is a really, really strong nation we have. We're
    strong militarily, but that's not our greatest strength. The greatest
    strength of America is the people of America. The people of America have
    got enormous hearts, great desire to help others. The enemy struck us on
    September the 11th, 2001. They obviously didn't know who they were
    striking. They struck the greatest nation on the face of the Earth and,
    in so doing, inspired a spirit of America that is alive and well. And
    those of us in positions of responsibility must capture that spirit, for
    the good of the American people.
        In our plenty, there are people who hurt. And the wealthiest nation
    on the face of the Earth, we've got to remember there are some who doubt
    the promise of America. There are people who are hungry, people who
    don't have places to live, people who are adrift. The great challenge of
    the 21st century is not only to keep the peace, but the great challenge
    of the 21st century is, turn the evil done to America into an incredible
    good by making sure that people all across our land realize the hope of
    the American experience.
        There is no question in my mind America can achieve that goal. There
    is no doubt. And today we're to talk about how--one step to achieving
    that goal.
        As you know, I've been setting up a different economic team to make
    sure we continue on the good works of the previous economic team to grow
    our economy. That's our focus. We want people working jobs. We're
    encouraging the expansion of good jobs. But our purpose today is to make
    sure that as we focus on good jobs, we also focus on good works, to make
    sure that the American spirit is alive and well in every part of our
    community.
        I want to thank our Secretary of Commerce, my great, longtime friend Don Evans, for not only his
    service to our country but his understanding about the compassion agenda
    that our country must embrace. I want to thank the chief operating
    officers of the components of the USA Freedom Corps who are here: Les
    Lenkowsky, who runs AmeriCorps and
    SeniorCorps; Mike Brown, the Deputy
    Director of FEMA, who is in charge of the Citizen Corps component; and
    Gaddi Vasquez, who is in charge of our
    Peace Corps--all obviously Corps members. [Laughter] I want to thank the
    members of the Business Strengthening America steering committee who
    organized this event and today's events.
        If we want to usher in a period of responsible behavior in America,
    people must behave responsibly. And part of behaving responsibly is to
    understand the responsibilities that come with being a CEO. It's not
    only the responsibility to tell the truth; it's the responsibility to
    use your position to encourage compassion. And I'm proud of this
    organization. And today we're going to expand the vision and goals of
    this organization.
        I appreciate the U.S. Chamber, the Center for Corporate Citizenship
    for working on these initiatives.
        After September the 11th, a lot of our fellow citizens found a
    deeper appreciation for our freedom. That's a fact. A lot of people
    began to take a look at their lives and realize that values of service
    are really important--values of faith and values of

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    family and values of service to their country. They realize that serving
    something greater than themselves is a part of being a patriotic
    American, that patriotism was being redefined in a positive way.
        And millions are now responding to the call to service in all kinds
    of ways: Volunteering in the soup kitchen. Something dear to my heart
    and Laura's heart is the mentoring of children to not only teach them
    how to read but make sure that they understand that there is love in our
    society. People are working in schools and libraries and police
    departments and hospitals.
        We've got great hearts in America, but a lot of folks don't have the
    time to serve, and that's what we're here to discuss today. They would
    like to be spending more time helping people in need, but they've got a
    job to do. They've got to show up for work, so they can put money on the
    table. And when companies support volunteer service--it's important for
    the CEOs and the COOs and the board of directors to understand, when you
    support volunteer service and provide time, you really unleash the heart
    of America. And the firms represented here are doing just that, and I
    want to thank you for that. I want to thank you a lot.
        The Business Strengthening America is led by corporate leaders who
    understand the need to encourage volunteer service. Companies that are
    part of the Business Strengthening America are making fundamental and
    institutional changes to support service to our country. Businesses are
    offering paid leave for employees who volunteer in their communities. I
    want to thank you for that. You're setting a great example for others.
    They're giving a percentage of employee time or donating products, like
    software, or making outright financial contributions in order to do your
    part to be a sound citizen of this country. You're placing senior
    executives on boards to make sure that accounting practices or legal
    practices are sound and wise. You enlist customers and clients to mentor
    or tutor. There's all kinds of things happening in America today, all
    aimed at making sure the American experience is alive and well for every
    single citizen.
        I appreciate you including information about the USA Freedom Corps
    on your web sites, on bank statements, on grocery bags all throughout
    America. We have a competitive workplace, a marketplace here in America,
    and that's healthy and strong. The more competition, the better it is
    for Americans. But in this endeavor, there is no competition; there's
    collaboration to figure out the best way to make sure America is a
    compassionate country.
        Last June, the Business Strengthening America was formed with 18
    members. Eighteen brave souls stepped forward and said, ``I want to
    help. I want to make a difference.'' In less than 6 months, the group
    has grown to 100 members. It represents 2 million employees. That is a
    major division in the army of compassion.
        Today the Business Strengthening America is launching an effort to
    increase the membership to more than 500 companies by next June. We're
    going to do so--to encourage membership, starting today. I hope the CEOs
    of America--the CEOs of America's companies, both large and small, hear
    the call to join this group, to be a part of the 500 by next June. It is
    essential that you understand the call to service extends to you as
    well.
        We're going to have regional conferences in cities across our
    country to continue the momentum of a cultural shift to service. The
    amazing thing is, I think, when a company representative talks to these
    leaders who have been involved in this project, you'll find that when
    you show concern, it helps your customer base. It helps employee morale.
    It says--sends messages into the community in which you exist that
    you're more than just a capitalistic enterprise; you're a capitalistic
    enterprise with a strong conscience.
        You'll find that employees walk a little better down the halls of
    your companies

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    when you've encouraged them to help a neighbor in need. There's nothing
    like giving a little bit of yourself to enrich your life. And when the
    person's life is enriched, so is the company as a whole.
        A lot of people talk about building loyalty in the consumer base,
    your customer base. It's amazing what happens when you serve something,
    you serve something in need, in terms of building loyalty. There's
    nothing like building loyalty by helping somebody in need.
        Acts of service are supported by businesses, yet they're obviously
    performed by people. People must lead. And today I was pleased to see
    that after this meeting, folks in this room will set an example by going
    to build a playground in Washington, DC. Take your muffler. [Laughter]
        Donnie Evans and members of my staff did
    the exact same thing. We have--all of us have a responsibility to do
    more than just talk it up. We've got a responsibility to actually
    perform and do the deed itself. And I encourage members of my
    administration to do just that. And our Secretary of Commerce set the
    example for members of my Cabinet.
        The Business Strengthening America is a part of a new culture of
    service. USA Freedom Corps is providing information to millions. John
    Bridgeland, who runs our office, has done a
    fabulous job of using modern technologies to spread the word,
    technologies that say, ``If you want to volunteer, get on the web page,
    and here are the opportunities close to your house.'' We've really got
    thousands of opportunities for people, for the individual to show up.
    And people are responding. Nearly 118,000 individuals have contacted the
    Peace Corps for applications since I put out the call. That's a lot.
        We not only encourage service at home, obviously through the Peace
    Corps initiative, we encourage service abroad as well. You see, the
    interesting thing about this country which sets us apart from the
    terrorists, for example, is we say, ``Every life matters. Everybody
    counts. Everybody has worth.'' Contrast to Al Qaida-type killers. They
    don't say, ``Everybody has worth.'' They believe only a few matter. But
    America says everybody counts, no matter if you live in America or
    elsewhere. And Peace Corps is going to spread that gospel and spread
    that message and make sure that people have got the benefits of freedom
    available for them, just like we have it here at home.
        The Senior Corps and the AmeriCorps are expanding mightily under
    Les' leadership. They're doing a lot to
    work to mentor and clean parks and take care of the elderly. Listen,
    part of making sure America is a compassionate place means acts as
    simple as walking into a shut-in's home and saying, ``I love you,'' on a
    regular basis. We're not talking about great acts of courage in order to
    change America; we're talking about simple acts of love.
        Two hundred and forty-six Senior Corps councils have been formed,
    outlets for people to express their concern about the future of our
    country. These happen to be formed to respond to a disaster of any kind,
    including a terrorist attack. But it's healthy for a community to
    provide outlets for folks to show up and say, ``I want to be a part of a
    disaster response team.'' Doctors and nurses are joining what we now
    call the Medical Reserve Corps to help communities with major
    emergencies. Volunteers are at police and fire departments now. In other
    words, the call is being responded to. And I want to thank the American
    people.
        Each of the activities that we talk about at the USA Freedom Corps
    or this organization will touch a life and strengthen the country. And
    the important thing that we're doing today, I hope, and I know you all
    hope, will send a clear signal to our young that serving something
    greater than themselves in life is a part of the American experience.
        I hope that people who are interested in serving America log on to
    the

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    usafreedomcorps.gov web site or call 1-877-USA-CORPS. It will give you a
    chance to be a part of the army of compassion. You can find ways in
    which you can serve this great Nation. You can be a part of making sure
    the American experience is strong and alive and well all across the
    greatest country on the face of the Earth.
        Thank you all for your compassion. Thank you for your care. Thank
    you for your leadership. May God bless your works, and may God continue
    to bless America. Thanks for coming.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:55 a.m. at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.