THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, BAKER, FERLO, GREENLEAF, HUGHES, KITCHEN, MELLOW, RAFFERTY, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, WAUGH, ARGALL, BOSCOLA, ERICKSON, FARNESE, MUSTO, BRUBAKER, KASUNIC, O'PAKE, WOZNIAK, DINNIMAN, PILEGGI, ALLOWAY, COSTA, LOGAN, WASHINGTON, WONDERLING, WARD, BROWNE AND PIPPY, APRIL 20, 2009

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 20, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the week of April 19 through 25, 2009, as "National

Volunteer Week" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, "National Volunteer Week" offers the opportunity to

thank some of the nation's most valuable citizens and to

recognize the myriad of ways that volunteers improve American

communities; and

WHEREAS, Established in 1974, "National Volunteer Week" began

when President Richard M. Nixon signed an executive order to

establish the week as an annual celebration; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers have the power to inspire by example

because they encourage the people receiving help and also

motivate people to serve; and

WHEREAS, This year's theme, "Celebrating People in Action,"

captures the meaning behind this signature week, honoring the

individuals who dedicate themselves to taking action and solving

problems in local communities; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers are at the center of social change and

have the power to make a difference, because giving of oneself

in service to another empowers both the giver and the recipient;

and

WHEREAS, "National Volunteer Week" focuses attention on

celebrating people who strive to renew our national commitment

and the culture of service that has shaped America; and

WHEREAS, The Hands On Network, which is generated by the

Points of Light Institute, is a national nonprofit organization

whose core mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to

take action that changes the world and has a network of more

than 250 affiliates which serve in all 50 states and ten

countries and in 2007 alone helped to deliver more than 33

million hours of volunteer service; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Department of Labor,

Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 61.8 million people

volunteered through or for an organization at least once between

September 2007 and September 2008; and

WHEREAS, In this Commonwealth, volunteers give of their time

and talents to help Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens,

including those who are homeless and hungry, elderly persons,

at-risk youth and citizens with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers effect positive change through large and

small volunteer actions; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers are a vital component of this nation's

future and its citizens' combined efforts ensure a true

commitment of service to others; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of April 19

through 25, 2009, as "National Volunteer Week" in Pennsylvania.