National Volunteer Week

Last week was commemorated as National Volunteer Week by the Points of Light institute, an organization that promotes volunteerism and civic engagement. Both nationally and locally, volunteer-related developments made headlines.

Bloomberg unveils new volunteer initiative

At a rally in Washington Heights on Monday, April 20, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced a new program, NYC Service, designed to encourage New Yorkers to volunteer.

“Throughout my life, I’ve found that giving back is one of life’s greatest rewards and that civic service may be the most important thing we ever do,” the mayor said.

Here are some of the elements of his plan:

• NYC public schools will teach kids about civic engagement.
• The city’s Summer Youth Employment Program will begin to incorporate service projects.
• The city will publicize volunteer opportunities through 311 and a new website.
• Americorps volunteers will make up a new NYC Civic Corps that will help nonprofits and public agencies manage their volunteer crews.

Obama signs national service bill

President Barack Obama embraces Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., as bill co-sponsor Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, second left, and Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., watch before Obama signs the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act at the SEED School of Washington, a public boarding school that serves inner-city students facing problems in both the classroom and at home, in Washington, Tuesday, April 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act on Tuesday, April 21. The act increased the number of Americorps volunteers from 75,000 to 250,000 and boosted the educational stipends available to those who serve in that program.

The bill also:

• Funds a summer service program for schoolchildren in grades 6 through 12 that pays $500 toward future education
• Opens up new opportunities for older Americans to take part in volunteer activities
• Commits federal money to nonprofit start-ups with an experimental bent
• Creates a National Service Reserve Corps of former national service participants and veterans who may be deployed in national disasters

One Response to “National Volunteer Week”

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