In Washington D.C, Points of Light hosted "All Together Now: A Celebration of Service," a historic, nationally televised event celebrating the leadership of President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush in advancing the modern-day service movement. The evening spotlighted the power of voluntary action to create change. President Bill Clinton served as honorary chairman of the event, while he attended the program with former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, showcasing the strong bipartisan heritage of the service movement.
The Tribute Event was a once-in-a-lifetime celebration to recognize the power of volunteering and service
President Obama paid tribute to President George H. W. Bush and the role volunteering plays in bringing our nation together
Miranda Cosgrove donated her time and talent and stressed the importance in finding ways to give back to your community
President Clinton reflected on President George H. W. Bush, "all he asked me to do was to preserve the Points of Light. Now as a result of that he can virtually do no wrong in my eyes"
Garth Brooks and a host of celebrities entertained, inspired and galvanized the audience for an unforgettable evening
Cee Lo Green and Sam Moore showed support for volunteering through a unique rendition of "stand by me"
The former presidents all awarded extraordinary citizens who have taken action to make change in their communities as Points of Light
Carrie Underwood lent her voice to the power of voluntary action, speaking out about the importance of investing in service and social good
More than an evening of celebration, the event honored President George H. W. Bush's legacy and called on all Americans to be points of light and create change in their own communities. A full house at the Kennedy Center and the NBC television audience were treated to a star-studded lineup of performers, including Garth Brooks, Miranda Cosgrove, Cee Lo Green, Reba McEntire, Sam Moore, Brad Paisley, Kid Rock, Darius Rucker and Carrie Underwood, all lending their voices to support the power of voluntary action.
No individual has done more to advance the modern voluntary service movement than President George H. W. Bush. He understands that service is a privilege of our very liberty as citizens, and that service is particularly vital to healthy communities given the limits of government in a free society. He championed the bipartisan appeal of voluntary service, that voluntary action binds our nation together across divides of politics, economics, race and faith. President George H. W. Bush’s call to action has continued with every succeeding president.
The Tribute was the culmination of our $30 million dollar Service Generation Campaign. Thanks to the generous support of donors from around the world, and the tremendous leadership and investments of the Tribute Committee, we exceeded our goal with $30.7 million total raised (from 2008 to 2011). This support, in addition to strategic investments from our corporate and foundation partners, has provided critical capital infusions that power innovation and help inspire, equip and mobilize our networks, including the next generation of volunteers, as well as improving our financial health.
The success of the Service Generation Campaign has propelled our work forward in the coming months and years and the event has helped generate new energy and sustained optimism in each and every one of us, to remain stalwart in our commitment to take concrete action, to support not only Points of Light, but those in our own communities who are taking action to create change. Money raised for the campaign now supports pivotal investments in technology, young people, programming and on-the-ground strategies that will ensure that President Bush's legacy continues to result in innovative civic solutions.
Special thanks to the Points of Light Tribute Committee, our Congressional Committee members and our Social Media Ambassadors. Stewart & Stevenson, LLC and Samsung provided underwriting support for the event.
Find educational resources surrounding the Tribute event here.
