The Medallions were presented at the luncheon before being placed into the Extra Mile Pathway!
VP of HANDS ON!
Chairman of Special Olympics, Mr. Shriver
Points of Light, Chairman BushNational Volunteer Week
Washington, DC April 22, 2009
Extra Mile Induction Ceremony 11am-12:30
Grand Hyatt Washington Independence Ballroom E
Greetings from Washington DC! Today I finally got to meet the people I had been talking to via email and phone with Hands on Network and Points of Light. It was nice to put faces with names! (Jesse, Victoria, Michelle, etc.) The luncheon began at 11; I was there at 10am. At 11am Michelle delivered the Welcome and she spoke about volunteers that continue to surprise her. She mentioned a 97 year old lady (who I met later) who cooked thousands of meals for inmates, and then I was honored when she mentioned my volunteer work and what I had been doing with their organization on a national level, as well as a state level! Then we had 3 honorary speakers, who I later had the privilege of meeting. Jose Rodriguez, Founder of KPMG (sponsor of the Extra Mile); Rodney Cook, JR., the President of National Monuments Foundation; and Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics. Then I helped onstage with the revealing of bronze medallions honoring 8 2008 inductees that were being recognized for their volunteer contributions to our country. Representatives for the inductees came to accept the awards and the medallions are placed in the mile long monument around Pennsylvania Avenue. The 8 inductees were:
John Muir-The founder of Sierra Club
Wallace Campbell-Founder of CARE, humanitarian relief efforts, poverty fighting projects in 66 countries with over 55 million people contributing to over $600 million
Rachel Carson-Author and Environmentalist
Robert Smith and William Wilson-Cofounders of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935
Samuel Gompers-Founder of AFL
Roger Baldwin-Founder of ACLU
Clifford Beers-Founder of the Modern Health Movement
After the luncheon, we walked the Extra Mile, which is a Points of Light Volunteer Pathway that was established in 2001. 20 medallions paying tribute to the pathways honorees were 1st dedicated by George H.W. Bush in 2005. There is room for 70 total medallions. It is designed to honor pioneers in the volunteer movement, educate and inspire other volunteer efforts. These philanthropists are great role models, and it fits the goal of the week which is to celebrate people in action! It was also Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day. Afterward I went to the hill and had a surprise visit with Paris at the RNC! We went and ate at Tortilla Coast. Then I went back to the RNC and filmed a short video on the hill. I met some girls from NC that were from the finance department. Then I went to the Chairman’s office and saw Michael Steele in passing, and made House Minority leader and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) late for their meeting with Steele! It was great to see my friend Paris, who I used to work with when I interned in the White House! I was so excited to meet some great people. Among those great people, at the luncheon I had the privilege of meeting Neil Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush and founder of Points of Light Foundation. Neil is now Chairman for P.O.L. and one fantastic, intelligent, personable individual! Points of Light Foundation and Hands on Network merged to create Points of Light Institute in 2007. It is a national organization with a global focus to put people being at the heart of volunteerism. Hands on Network is a national platform for action. In 2007 hands on and their action and volunteer centers served 50 states and 12 international communities. From Birmingham to San Francisco to Tokyo they help 31,000 non profit organizations and 4,000 companies engaging their employees, 1.2 million new volunteers in 2007 and over 33 million hours of service valued at 1.2 billion dollars. I felt so honored to be a part of this organization, and I look forward to working more with Points of Light Institute and all they are doing to help with Volunteer efforts internationally!
One thing I have learned through this experience with National Volunteer Week is that it is through people that change happens in the world! You must be the change you want to see and it is the little acts that make the biggest difference. To get that difference you must show people they have the power to make that difference!
Washington, DC April 22, 2009
Extra Mile Induction Ceremony 11am-12:30
Grand Hyatt Washington Independence Ballroom E
Greetings from Washington DC! Today I finally got to meet the people I had been talking to via email and phone with Hands on Network and Points of Light. It was nice to put faces with names! (Jesse, Victoria, Michelle, etc.) The luncheon began at 11; I was there at 10am. At 11am Michelle delivered the Welcome and she spoke about volunteers that continue to surprise her. She mentioned a 97 year old lady (who I met later) who cooked thousands of meals for inmates, and then I was honored when she mentioned my volunteer work and what I had been doing with their organization on a national level, as well as a state level! Then we had 3 honorary speakers, who I later had the privilege of meeting. Jose Rodriguez, Founder of KPMG (sponsor of the Extra Mile); Rodney Cook, JR., the President of National Monuments Foundation; and Dr. Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics. Then I helped onstage with the revealing of bronze medallions honoring 8 2008 inductees that were being recognized for their volunteer contributions to our country. Representatives for the inductees came to accept the awards and the medallions are placed in the mile long monument around Pennsylvania Avenue. The 8 inductees were:
John Muir-The founder of Sierra Club
Wallace Campbell-Founder of CARE, humanitarian relief efforts, poverty fighting projects in 66 countries with over 55 million people contributing to over $600 million
Rachel Carson-Author and Environmentalist
Robert Smith and William Wilson-Cofounders of Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935
Samuel Gompers-Founder of AFL
Roger Baldwin-Founder of ACLU
Clifford Beers-Founder of the Modern Health Movement
After the luncheon, we walked the Extra Mile, which is a Points of Light Volunteer Pathway that was established in 2001. 20 medallions paying tribute to the pathways honorees were 1st dedicated by George H.W. Bush in 2005. There is room for 70 total medallions. It is designed to honor pioneers in the volunteer movement, educate and inspire other volunteer efforts. These philanthropists are great role models, and it fits the goal of the week which is to celebrate people in action! It was also Earth Day and Global Youth Service Day. Afterward I went to the hill and had a surprise visit with Paris at the RNC! We went and ate at Tortilla Coast. Then I went back to the RNC and filmed a short video on the hill. I met some girls from NC that were from the finance department. Then I went to the Chairman’s office and saw Michael Steele in passing, and made House Minority leader and Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) late for their meeting with Steele! It was great to see my friend Paris, who I used to work with when I interned in the White House! I was so excited to meet some great people. Among those great people, at the luncheon I had the privilege of meeting Neil Bush, son of former President George H.W. Bush and founder of Points of Light Foundation. Neil is now Chairman for P.O.L. and one fantastic, intelligent, personable individual! Points of Light Foundation and Hands on Network merged to create Points of Light Institute in 2007. It is a national organization with a global focus to put people being at the heart of volunteerism. Hands on Network is a national platform for action. In 2007 hands on and their action and volunteer centers served 50 states and 12 international communities. From Birmingham to San Francisco to Tokyo they help 31,000 non profit organizations and 4,000 companies engaging their employees, 1.2 million new volunteers in 2007 and over 33 million hours of service valued at 1.2 billion dollars. I felt so honored to be a part of this organization, and I look forward to working more with Points of Light Institute and all they are doing to help with Volunteer efforts internationally!
One thing I have learned through this experience with National Volunteer Week is that it is through people that change happens in the world! You must be the change you want to see and it is the little acts that make the biggest difference. To get that difference you must show people they have the power to make that difference!
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