President’s Council on Service & Civic Participation

Volunteering. Helping out others. Giving back to the community. Millions of Americans do it for many different reasons. I’ve often thought about why I do it. It feels good. I enjoy working side by side with others who share the same goals as I. I get a good sense of being an active part of my community by doing it. Many times it’s about sharing something that most people take for granted with those who don’t have it, those who are less fortunate or those who have lost it through life’s many tribulations. I like to think I got it from my mother. When my mother was alive she was always willing to help others. Always. No questions asked. My mother didn’t live an easy life. She came to this country as an immigrant with very little education. She worked hard and saved her earnings to aid the family. She was never given any of the opportunities that I have to enjoy life, to travel or to sample many of life’s treasures but she never gave up her spirit to help others in need.
That was a bit wordy, but I’m dedicating my 600^th review to my mom and the volunteering spirit that she has given me.
Earlier this month I was quite surprised to receive correspondence from a representative of the President’s Council on Service & Civic Participation informing me that I had earned The President’s Volunteer Service Award for my one hundred sixty hours of volunteer service in the year 2008. I thought it was pretty cool. Those of you who know me personally know that I often refer to myself as a «volunteer junkie». I like to roll up my sleeves and get involved, and in my lifetime I’ve probably done well over two thousand hours in volunteer time, yet it was such a great feeling to be recognized even it was for a mere hundred plus hours.
In January 2002, President George W. Bush called on Americans to dedicate at least 2 years or 4000 hours, over the course of a lifetime to serve others in the U.S. and abroad. The President’s Council on Service & Civic Participation was created in 2003 by President Bush as a means to recognize the contributions made forth by Americans of all ages to their communities by way of service or community participation and to encourage other Americans to take part. The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a tiered program which recognizes individuals and groups based on the annual total number of hours served and confirmed by over 28,000 certifying organizations. In my case the certifying organization was San Francisco-​based One Brick with whom I do the majority of my volunteer projects through. Awards begin on the bronze level [here is mine (
)], and continues to silver and gold levels. Americans who complete their 4000 lifetime hours are presented with a special award.
To date over 1.5 million Americans have received The President’s Volunteer Service Award, and that number is certain to climb with President Barack Obama’s renewed vision to expand service programs throughout the U.S. and increase public service participation through newer programs such as ServiceNation. Just recently President Obama signed into law the Serve America Act as a way to further increase public service by expanding opportunies both in the U.S. and abroad.
It’s working too. In the past two months I’ve met so many individuals new to volunteering, and the great thing is that I’m seeing many of these individuals return to take part in other projects. With one President’s Volunteer Service Award already in hand I’ve committed myself to more hours than ever before. In fact, if I continue on my torrid pace I should net well over two hundred hours for 2009.
I thank the President’s Council on Service & Civic Participation for the recognition, One Brick for making volunteering fun and I thank my mother for teaching me the importance of helping others in need.