[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 17 (Monday, May 5, 2008)]
[Pages 618-620]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
 Remarks on National Volunteer Week

 April 29, 2008

     Be seated. Welcome. What a great day for the White House. I am 
pleased to welcome volunteers from around the United States who have 
given of their time to help those who need help. And we're sure glad 
you're here. Those of you today who perform acts of kindness do so out 
of love, and you do so out of the desire not to be recognized. But 
anyway, you're going to be recognized. We have the opportunity today to 
thank you and the opportunity today to celebrate the difference that 
volunteers have made all across America.
     I want to thank Jean Case, who's the Chairman of the President's 
Council on Service and Civic Participation. And I want to thank the 
members of the Council who are here.
     And I thank David Eisner, the CEO of the Corporation for National 
and Community Service; Jack Hawkins, the Director of Volunteers for 
Prosperity, USAID; Ron Tschetter, Director of the Peace Corps; and other 
Peace Corps volunteers who are here--about which I'm going to say 
something a little later. [Laughter] This tends to be an enthusiastic 
bunch, and so I would ask you to--[laughter]--keep your enthusiasm in 
check for just a minute. [Laughter]
    The spirit of charity that is celebrated here has been a part of our 
character, our Nation's character, ever since before we were an 
independent nation. In 1736, for example, Benjamin Franklin organized 
the citizens of Philadelphia to form a volunteer fire company. Isn't 
that interesting? A lot of our--a lot has changed since then, but the 
principle that inspired Benjamin Franklin is still true today all 
throughout the communities in America.
    Those of you who are here today understand the lesson--how you can 
gain by giving. You can understand how volunteering can transform the 
souls, both who give and those they help. When you teach a child to 
read, for example, you not only improve their chances for success in the 
world, but you become invested in the progress of a young life. When you 
visit the elderly, you remind them that they are loved, and you remind 
yourself of how deeply we all feel the need for compassion. When you 
help the homeless find shelter, you remove the pain of need and 
rediscover the resiliency of the human spirit.
    While there are many ways that Government can help society's least 
advantaged--and we try to do our best here in Washington--it can never 
replicate the private acts of goodness and the ties of affection they 
create between Americans. And that is why our administration has focused 
on empowering citizens with open hearts, not just Government programs by 
opening up checkbooks.
    I strongly support the faith-based and community-based initiative. I 
believe it is in Government's interest to empower those neighborhood 
healers and helpers, social entrepreneurs to be able to complete their 
acts of love and compassion. Government is love in--Government is 
justice and law; it's not love. Love is found in the hearts of our 
fellow citizens. And the true strength of America truly is found in the 
hearts and souls of Americans who hear the universal call to love a 
neighbor.
    One of the ways that we have tried to encourage volunteerism is 
through the creation of the USA Freedom Corps. The Freedom Corps is an 
attempt--and a successful attempt, I might add--to create a culture of 
service and citizenship and responsibility. And so one way to be useful 
in the Government level is to provide a way for citizens to become 
connected to service opportunities in their communities. And it's 
working; it really is. Last year alone, more than 60 million--60 million 
volunteers from all

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across America provided social services and aid to those in need, both 
here at home and abroad.
    The volunteers oftentimes work for large charitable organizations, 
or they find individual opportunities in their own community. But it 
always requires someone willing to say, ``I want to help somebody 
else.'' And so Americans, if they want to find out how they can help, if 
you're motivated by Volunteer Week, or if you're motivated by hearing 
this message--you're motivated by a neighbor saying, ``Gosh, it's really 
made my life better to help somebody in need,'' why don't you go to the 
web site of USA Freedom Corps. And you can look it up at volunteer.gov. 
It's not all that hard. You just get on there and type volunteer.gov. 
[Laughter] And you can find opportunities to be able to serve your 
country by helping somebody who needs some help.
    Another step we've taken is the creation of the Presidential Council 
on Service and Civic Participation. And one of the Council's initiatives 
is awarding the President's Volunteer Service Award, which is a 
distinction that honors hard work and dedication. It's a way to say 
thanks. We can't give everybody an award. I wish we could. So we try to 
herald people who can set a good example for others.
    And this year, we focused on recognizing volunteer programs that are 
started in corporate America. I believe corporate America has got an 
enormous responsibility to give back to their communities--and so too 
those who are being honored today. Paul Otellini and Barry Salzberg are 
with us. I'm going to talk about each one of them individually.
    First, Barry Salzberg--he's the CEO of Deloitte, and he is--he 
understands the need to be a good corporate citizen. He understands 
corporate giving is an essential part of being a good citizen in the 
United States of America. He himself has been a board member of several 
charitable organizations, including the College Summit, the YMCA of 
Greater New York, and the Committee for Encouraging Corporate 
Philanthropy.
    Under his leadership, Deloitte has committed to providing pro bono 
services worth up to $50 million for the nonprofit sector over the next 
3 years. And, Barry, thank you very much for being here.
    And then there's Paul Otellini. Glad you're here, Paul. He happens 
to be the CEO of a little mom and pop operation called Intel. [Laughter] 
Intel will be celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. The company 
could have chosen to mark this occasion by simply looking back on its 
four decades of impressive accomplishments, but instead, as a result of 
Paul's leadership, the company has chosen to celebrate with a great act 
of compassion: Intel has committed to 1 million hours of volunteer 
service by its employees. This is a huge effort, and I can't tell you 
how appreciative we are of your generosity, but more importantly, those 
who you will help are more appreciative of your generosity. Please thank 
your employees for their--[applause].
    There is a lot of volunteer work here in America. Every day, there 
are just countless acts of compassion. And interestingly enough, it 
doesn't require one Government law. As a matter of fact, oftentimes 
people are inspired by a higher law.
    And there are also countless acts of compassion overseas. One of the 
great joys for Laura and me is to--as we travel is to be able to see 
ordinary citizens from the United States helping save babies' lives as a 
result of the malaria initiative or working with orphans who have been 
left alone because of HIV/AIDS. And also, it's a chance for us to really 
run into one of the great organizations that Government has sponsored. 
It's called the Peace Corps.
    Forty-seven years ago, President John F. Kennedy, in the Rose 
Garden, sent the first team of Peace Corps volunteers to Africa. And in 
the intervening years, more than 190,000 Peace Corps volunteers have 
carried our country's great spirit of generosity and compassion 
throughout the world.
    Laura and I met with Peace Corps volunteers in Ghana recently, and 
they are some kind of fired up. [Laughter] And a matter of fact, it is 
exciting to be with those good souls who are motivated to put--to go 
help, and in so doing, it really is the best foreign policy America 
could possibly have.
    And today I just had my picture taken with a group of spirited 
volunteers--[laughter]--who are headed to Guatemala. And I thank

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you all for your service. And I'm glad you're here, and thanks for 
coming.
    I believe strongly in the admonition, to whom much is given, much is 
required. Those of you here today are living up to that noble calling, 
and you carry on the best traditions of American citizenship. In my 
first Inaugural Address, I said, it's important to be a citizen, not a 
spectator. And there's no better way to be a citizen [than] * to be a 
soldier in the armies of compassion, a foot soldier.
    * White House correction.
    And so today we commemorate your work and the work of volunteers all 
across the country, here at the White House. I appreciate the lasting 
legacy that you've helped create in the hearts of our fellow citizens. I 
thank you for what you do. And I ask for God's blessings on your work. 
Thanks for coming.

Note: The President spoke at 2:58 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House.