[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 50 (Monday, December 16, 2002)]
[Pages 2143-2146]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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

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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 Citizen--
Corporate Citizenship for--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 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.

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    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 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

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``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 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.