[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

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

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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 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.
GEORGE W. BUSH