Contact:
Kimberli Meadows, 202-729-3238
KMeadows@pointsoflight.org
Paul Quirk, 202-338-8700
Paul.Quirk@gmmb.com

AMERICA'S 63 MILLION VOLUNTEERS TO BE HONORED DURING NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK, APRIL 18-24

Thousands of individuals, schools, and organizations across the country will receive President's Volunteer Service Award

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - As America celebrates the contributions of volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, thousands of individuals, schools, and organizations across the country will receive the President's Volunteer Service Award to recognize their exemplary citizenship and commitment to volunteer service. The 31 st annual celebration of National Volunteer Week marks the first year that volunteers will receive presidential recognition through the newly launched President's Volunteer Service Award program.

"National Volunteer Week is an annual time to recognize our nation's volunteers," said Robert K. Goodwin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Points of Light Foundation, the group that sponsors the Week. "We hope that as outstanding volunteers are honored with the President's Volunteer Service Award this week, their achievements will inspire even more Americans to make a commitment to volunteer service".

During National Volunteer Week, volunteer centers, nonprofits, businesses, government agencies, military units, hospitals, communities of faith, and schools will host awards ceremonies recognizing volunteers for their outstanding contributions over the past year. In addition, local community service events are scheduled to take place in honor of the Week.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, 63.8 million Americans volunteered from September 2002 to September 2003, an increase of 4 million from the previous year. In addition, a national survey by the Urban Institute found an hour of a volunteer's time to be worth approximately $20 in financial resources to the organizations in which they serve.

"Volunteers meet urgent and everyday needs in our communities, and help grow the capacities of our most vital public services," said Darrell Green, two-time Super Bowl Champion and Chair of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation, the group issuing the Awards on behalf of President George W. Bush. "Everyone, no matter what age or background, can do something to volunteer."

Volunteers earn the President's Volunteer Service Award by tracking and attaining a specified number of volunteer hours and submitting them through their local volunteer organization. For more information about National Volunteer Week go to www.pointsoflight.org/NVW. To find out more about the President's Volunteer Service Award and how to earn it, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov or call 1-866-545-5307.