PRINTER'S NO.  1048

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

No.

87

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY FONTANA, KITCHEN, STACK, FERLO, ARGALL, RAFFERTY, KASUNIC, COSTA, BREWSTER, TARTAGLIONE, HUGHES, ERICKSON, ORIE, SOLOBAY, DINNIMAN, PILEGGI, FARNESE, SCHWANK, WAUGH, WASHINGTON, ALLOWAY AND LEACH, APRIL 12, 2011

  

  

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 12, 2011  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

1

Recognizing the week of April 10 through 16, 2011, as "National

2

Volunteer Week" in Pennsylvania.

3

WHEREAS, National Volunteer Week has been established as a

4

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

5

recognize the many ways that volunteers strengthen our

6

communities; and

7

WHEREAS, During this week, all over the nation, service

8

projects will be performed and volunteers recognized for their

9

commitment to service; and

10

WHEREAS, Established in 1974, National Volunteer Week began

11

when President Richard M. Nixon signed an Executive order to

12

establish the week as an annual celebration; and

13

WHEREAS, The 2011 theme, "Celebrating People in Action,"

14

provides an opportunity for individuals, families, nonprofit

15

organizations and government entities to celebrate ordinary

16

people who accomplish extraordinary things through service; and

17

WHEREAS, The Hands On Network has merged with the Points of

- 1 -

 


1

Light Institute to become the largest volunteer management and

2

civic engagement organization in the nation whose core mission

3

is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that

4

changes the world, and it has a network of more than 250

5

affiliates across the country which deliver approximately 30

6

million hours of volunteer service annually; and

7

WHEREAS, Entire communities can inspire, equip and mobilize

8

people to take positive action that changes the world; and

9

WHEREAS, Individual volunteers are at the center of social

10

change, discovering their power to make a difference, and by

11

exercising their power to help others they become involved in

12

shaping our future as a caring and productive Commonwealth; and

13

WHEREAS, Volunteers give their time and talents to help

14

Pennsylvania's most vulnerable citizens, including those who are

15

homeless and hungry, elderly persons, at-risk youth and citizens

16

with disabilities; and

17

WHEREAS, The vulnerable and needy across this Commonwealth

18

rely on the actions of volunteers everyday to accomplish goals,

19

find solutions to real problems and overcome challenges; and

20

WHEREAS, Volunteers improve the quality of life for those in

21

need by building homes and handing out food and supplies; and

22

WHEREAS, Volunteers save lives by putting out fires,

23

searching for lost persons or supporting blood drives; and

24

WHEREAS, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the

25

volunteer rate in America rose from 26.4% in 2008 to 26.8% in

26

2009; and

27

WHEREAS, According to the Corporation for National and

28

Community Service, 2.8 million people contribute nearly 334

29

million hours of service each year in this Commonwealth; and

30

WHEREAS, The act of volunteering empowers both the giver and

- 2 -

 


1

the recipient and motivates others to serve; therefore be it

2

RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the week of April 10

3

through 16, 2011, as "National Volunteer Week" in Pennsylvania.

- 3 -