June 23, 2009
On June 22, First Lady Michelle Obama joined 4000 service leaders at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service to announce a major expansion of the government’s campaign to increase volunteerism, the United We Serve Initiative.
“It’s been said that our true calling in life is where our heart’s greatest gladness meets the world’s deepest need,” said the First Lady as she called on Americans to integrate service into their daily lives in order to address community challenges. President and Mrs. Obama, both life-long public servants, have called for civic action that will build a new foundation for economic growth in America, and a civic response to the Administration’s investments in education, health, energy and the environment, and community renewal.
Beginning on June 22 and culminating on September 11, now a national day of service and remembrance under the Serve America Act, United We Serve aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. The administration has created an online service portal, www.Serve.gov, where volunteers can connect to organizations, post projects of their own designing, and share stories.
The National Conference on Volunteering and Service was held in San Francisco from June 22-24 and is the largest gathering of volunteer leaders in the world.
In addition to serving as the launch of the United We Serve initiative, the conference was a venue for major discussion around the White House’s new Office of Social Innovation and the $50 million Social Innovation Fund included in the Serve America Act. Sonal Shah, director of the developing office in the White House, said social innovation in the nonprofit sector will allow for the growth of capital as well as leadership development.