Last Friday, President Obama held a Presidential Forum on community service, hosted by former President George H.W. Bush and the Points of Light Institute at the George Bush Presidential Library Center on the campus of Texas A&M University.
“Howdy Aggies,” Obama said with an easy smile to a crowd of cheering students. “I was told that if the winds had been different today, President Bush would have parachuted in to kick things off here.”
The Forum celebrated the 20th anniversary of George H.W. Bush’s idea that individual contributions to a society constitute “a thousand points of light.” The idea helped catalyze the modern volunteer service movement, which Obama carries on in his “United We Serve” program aimed at motivating Americans to incorporate community service into their daily lives.
The event also recognized the inspiring actions of the more than 4,500 Daily Point of Light Award winners. The award was created by President Bush in 1989 to offer kudos to individuals and groups whose volunteer efforts fulfill critical community needs and create meaningful change.
“In the end, when it comes to the challenges we face, the need for action always exceeds the limits of government,” said President Obama. “While there’s plenty that government can do and must do to keep our families safe and our planet clean and our markets free and fair, there’s a lot that government can’t and shouldn’t do. And that’s where active engaged citizens come in. That’s the purpose of service in this nation.”
Check out Obama’s speech here:
Photo courtesy of Dave Bezaire & Susi Havens-Bezaire, via flickr