Expanding President Bush's Vision of Service

0:00 Speaker 1 Sunday morning. Well, we all do a great thing sometimes, and with us today is Jennifer sir Angelo. She’s the president and CEO of Points of Light, an international, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that helps solve people’s problems and social problems, etc.

0:23 And it was founded in nineteen ninety by President George HW. Bush and now Neil Bush is this chairman. And Jennifer, well, she’s the president and CEO. You know what does it means she does all the work. Well, Jennifer tell us about the Points of Light.

0:48 Speaker 2 John, thank you so much for having me on today. I’m so happy to share about Points of Light And as you said, it is a Points of Light as an organization that is a pre csidential legacy. It was founded by the President of the White House, and we have continued the work today. So he started it as

1:08 a way to recognize outstanding citizens, outstanding Americans for their contributions to each other. Many people will remember the President’s famous speech at both his inaugural address and his acceptance speech at the convention, where he talked about his vision that our country would have people in it spread out like stars, like a thousand points of light, helping each

1:35 other and contributing doing good in their communities. So he set out in the White House to create a way to recognize people for doing that, and it’s called the Daily Point of Light Award, and we continue to give that award every weekday today. So we’ve given over eight thousand Daily Point of Light Awards to recognize our standing service.

1:59 So that’s how we started. We continue that work today and then today we are the leading organ that we’ve grown. We’re now around the world. We have nonprofits ninety five or so here in the US and over thirty around the world that are all focused on increasing volunteering and mobilizing people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement.

2:20 Speaker 1 That is wonderful things in how many people do you helped? Over eight thousand people already.

2:30 Speaker 2 Eight thousand people have been recognized with a certificate and recognition and storytelling about them being a daily point of light. Eight thousand Americans who have served each other and done it in amazing ways. There’s so many great stories. So one of them I know is Aaron Nathan Gardner, who he is awesome. He’s out on Long Island. He’s a veteran.

2:56 He had a lot of issues from physical injuries from his work in the army, and he was really concerned about his well being. So he ended up getting one of those therapy dogs, you know, a dog that helps as a companion, and it changed his life so much that now he volunteers to raise dogs for other veterans,

3:17 and he’s out on Long Island and he helps other veterans get dogs and also get into education programs for their future. So he’s an example of where he was in a really rough place, but by giving back, Nathan is now helping other veterans.

3:35 Speaker 1 That is very Greg tell us about how do people get involved with your Points Off. Is there a website or.

3:46 Speaker 2 Yes, yes, so you can find ways to volunteer. What we’re celebrating right now is an opportunity for people to We’re just finishing up National Volunteer National Volunteer Week, and Global Volunteer Months, so we welcome everyone coming to our website pointsoflight dot org. You spell it all out Points of Light dot org and two things can happen. You

4:12 can go find a local volunteer action center like New York Cares or Jersey Cares. Wherever you live. You can find those action centers and find a way to volunteer in your community, or you can go on our website and find volunteer opportunities directly from our website, so everyone can get involved. We know that volunteering changes the people

4:38 who serve, it gives them meaning and purpose, and it also uplifts our community, so everyone is welcome and we hope everyone will consider volunteering.

4:48 Speaker 1 Well, Jennifer, many many years ago when you first started the institute, I remember going with the ambassadors Apalla to Washington to join in the celebration and was really a wonderful, iconic night, and I look forward to doing it again.

5:06 Speaker 2 Well. Thank you so much, John for being there at the very beginning of Points of Light and helping us continue to share both the story of the organization but the important future of volunteering, which we’re excited about how people can continue to stay engaged. What President Bush believed about volunteering is still true today and that means everyone

5:27 can be involved. So we hope you’ll come to pointsoflight dot org.

5:32 Speaker 1 Thank you so much, and we’ll catch up again real soon.

5:36 Speaker 2 That’s great. Thanks John,