Largest National Gathering on Volunteering and Service to be Held in New York City, June 28-30
Lead Sponsor Target Lends Early Support to Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service; Record Attendance Expected
ATLANTA – Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service announced today that the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service will be held in New York City, June 28-30. This event is the nation's largest convening on service and civic engagement and will bring together more than 4,000 volunteer and service leaders and social entrepreneurs from around the world.
The announcement comes on the heels of Points of Light Institute's Presidential Forum on Service held last month at Texas A&M University, where President Obama joined former President George H.W. Bush in reinforcing the importance of service as a solution to our most pressing problems. “Service isn't separate from our national priorities or secondary to our national priorities – it's integral to achieving our national priorities. It's how we will meet the challenges of our time…” said President Obama, whose United We Serve initiative calls on all Americans to make service part of their daily lives.
Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute, noted that there is an increased interest from all sectors to help meet this challenge through service and many national and local organizations and corporations will be supporting the conference. “Target has already stepped up as the lead corporate partner to help make this gathering possible. Target is well known for its leadership in corporate social responsibility and civic engagement—and their investment in increasing volunteerism to create needed impact is exemplary.”
“Last's year's conference unleashed a jolt of civic energy that is powering new and creative ways of solving problems through service,” said Nicola Goren, Acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “This year, with New York City as our home, the conference will be a watershed moment in driving expansion, innovation, and impact for a new era of service.”
As the momentum for service continues to rise along with the unprecedented need for citizen involvement and social innovation, record participation is expected in New York, including new involvement from the international community and young people—the next generation of service leaders. Mayor Bloomberg, NYC Service, and New Yorkers Volunteer are local hosts for the June gathering, which will build upon New York's goal to make service a part of all the city's programs and operations while simultaneously creating more accessible opportunities for all New Yorkers to volunteer. Bloomberg also launched the Cities of Service initiative in September to help other mayors develop similar blueprints for their cities.
"Now is the time where we as leaders have a great responsibility to partner across sectors and with individuals in towns large and small to address the country's most pressing issues," said Laysha Ward, president of community relations, Target. "At Target service is part of our heritage, so we are proud to join Points of Light Institute and the Corporation for National and Community Service as lead sponsor for the Conference and to help sustain the momentum that we have today."
More details about the conference will be coming soon, including registration information and key speaker announcements. Visit the official conference website at http://www.volunteeringandservice.org for more information.