Bush: Value of service serves individuals, U.S., well

By Neil Bush | May 17, 2013 |

President Barack Obama evoked the ideals of American citizenship in his address to the class of 2013 at Ohio State University this week, beckoning graduates to “participate, and to persevere” as the actors, not the audience, in our democracy. He detailed the great challenges of our time in education, in infrastructure, in the environment and in the criminal justice system, and he matched each of those challenges with a call to serve.

My father, George H. W. Bush, and all the presidents after him – Democrat and Republican – have shared this faith in the energy and goodness of the American people, and in the value of service.

For Dad, service took him many unexpected places. It summoned him and his crew mates to the skies over the Pacific Ocean in World War II. It took him to Capitol Hill, Beijing and eventually the Oval Office. More recently, it placed him shoulder-to-shoulder with an old political adversary and now great friend, President Bill Clinton, after the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricanes Katrina and Ike.

Dad channeled his deepest faith in the American citizen through Points of Light, now the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. Points of Light – through our affiliates in 250 U.S. communities and 15 international sites – engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year touching countless lives. For example, participants in our recent “What Will You Bring to the Table?” campaign generated more than 1.2 million meals for families living in food insecure households.

Overall, 64.3 million Americans (more than one in four adults) volunteered through a formal organization last year – and the 7.9 billion hours they spent helping others is valued at $171 billion.

At Points of Light, we think 64 million volunteers is a great accomplishment, but we also think it can grow. The federal government turns away thousands of applicants to AmeriCorps every year. Our service men and women returning from overseas want to continue to serve. Children from every corner of the country can’t wait to volunteer.

Recently, President Obama proposed the restoration of a federal fund to strengthen and grow volunteerism and recommended that Congress name it the George H. W. Bush Volunteer Generation Fund. This is a great first step toward advancing volunteerism in a meaningful way.

Given the tools, resources and opportunities to help, more Americans can use their time, talent, voice and money to meet the critical needs of our communities.

Americans like Aesha Rasheed, who   CLICK HERE

There IS something we can all do — donate.  And the good thing about donating?  If we all do it, we don’t have to donate much to make a huge difference.  If you can, and if you have not, please donate $50 to Samaritan’s Purse.  CLICK HERE

I have donated (and yes, because I have a good job, I have donated more than $50.)  Just think…if 1000 of you donate $50 how much that could mean.

And yes, there are other good organizations on the ground to contribute to like the Red Cross.  I suggest Samaritan’s Purse because I am so familiar with them and see the good work they do.  They also don’t abandon projects.  They are still in Joplin (since May 2011) doing work — still doing work for those who got hit by Hurricane Sandy (last fall.)  They stick it out….they don’t do drive by help and that makes a difference… a big difference.

Here is another home: (or was a home)

IT IS SHOWTIME!!

Show Questions and Comments??? Post them right here about ON THE RECORD!!

If you want to see the relief work Samaritan’s Purse is doing, click here.

Joining us tonight: Pat Buchanan, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Dana Perino, AP lawyer David Schulz, the Washington Examiner’s Byron York and The Weekly Standard’s Steve Hayes! TUNE IN TO “SECOND TERM SCANDALS” TONIGHT AT 10PM/ET!