[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 126, 112th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
PROCLAMATION 8797--APR. 9, 2012

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 Con-


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vention 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 Inde-


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pendence of
the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
BARACK OBAMA