U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
        Here’s how you know
    Goverment symbol**Official websites use .gov**
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
        Lock symbol**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            A lock (
              A locked padlock
                 ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive
              information only on official, secure websites.
 Skip to main content JoinDonate
    About
    About
          About
        
About menu block one
  

        
        What We Do
                Our Impact
                Agency FAQs
About menu block two
  

        
        Our Team
                Careers
About menu block three
  

        
        Agency Overview
                            Budget and Performance Plans
                Disability and Accessibility
                Federal Register Notices
                Open Government
                Plain Writing
                Privacy Policy
                Strategic Plan

  

  
Serve
    Serve
          Serve
        
Serve menu block one
  

        
        AmeriCorps
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                            AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion Program
Serve menu block two
  

        
        Volunteer
                            9/11 Day
                MLK Day
Serve menu block three
  

        
        Find Your Fit
                Serve FAQs

  

  
Partner
    Partner
          Partner
        
Partner menu block one
  

        
        How it Works
                            AmeriCorps NCCC
                AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent
                AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP
                AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Companion
                AmeriCorps State and National
                AmeriCorps VISTA
                Research and Evaluation
                Volunteer Generation Fund
Partner menu block two
  

        
        Partnerships
                Communities and Initiatives
                Funding Opportunities
Partner menu block three
  

        
        Partner FAQs

  

  
Members & Volunteers
    Members & Volunteers
          Members & Volunteers
        
Members & Volunteers menu block one
  

        
        Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Education Award FAQs
Members & Volunteers menu block two
  

        
        Alumni
                Members in VISTA
Members & Volunteers menu block three
  

        
        Member and Volunteer FAQs
                Safety and Security

  

  
Grantees & Sponsors
    Grantees & Sponsors
          Grantees & Sponsors
        
Grantee & Sponsors menu block one
  

        
        State Service Commissions
                State and National Direct Grantees
                State Subgrantees
                VISTA Sponsors
                Research and Evaluation Grantees
                Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of Service Grantees
Grantee & Sponsors menu block two
  

        
        RSVP Grantees
                Foster Grandparent Program Grantees
                Senior Companion Program Grantees
                Senior Demonstration Program Grantees
                NCCC Project Sponsors
Grantee & Sponsors menu block three
  

        
        Manage Your Grant
                Grantee and Sponsor FAQs

  

  
Newsroom
    Newsroom
          Newsroom
        
Newsroom menu block one
  

        
        News
                Blog
Newsroom menu block two
  

        
        Stories
                Events
Newsroom menu block three
  

        
        In the News
                Communication Resources



  
Contact
    Contact
    JoinDonate
search Breadcrumb
    Newsroom

              First Lady Thanks Corporation for National and Community Service Employees
      FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:May 12, 2009
  

                    Highlights Importance of Service to Her Life and Obama AgendaWashington DC -- Calling service “the reason that I breathe” and a cause “near and dear to my heart,” First Lady Michelle Obama gave an impassioned address about the central importance of service in her life and in the Obama Administration's vision for America's future to employees of the Corporation for National and Community Service this afternoon. (Read the First Lady's remarks)The First Lady was greeted with a lengthy standing ovation when she entered the auditorium after being introduced by Corporation Acting CEO Nicola Goren. Surrounded by members of the Corporation's Board of Directors, senior staff, and 22 of the longest-serving agency employees, the First Lady spoke to about 540 staff gathered at Reagan Building and listening by phone from state offices and AmeriCorps NCCC campuses across the country.The First Lady called the visit with Corporation employees “a special one for me, because national service helped to transform my career.” She spoke about her path to public service including founding Chicago Public Allies, an AmeriCorps program. “As you know, national and community service is near and dear to my heart. It is the reason that I breathe.”She went on to say that “It should be a part of everyone's life. From the moment someone can walk to the day they leave this planet, service should be a part of how we give back, how we say thank you, how we express our gratitude for the lives that we've been given. And I know you all understand that, and you can help to spread that message.”The First Lady thanked Corporation employees for their hard work over many years and lifted their sights to the journey ahead helping to usher in a new era of service and responsibility in America. “I know how hard you have all worked, how hard the people on this stage, many of whom have been here more than 15 years, have worked to get us where we are today. And I am personally grateful to all of you all for your belief in this possibility, for your dedication.”She noted the critical work that lies ahead in implementing the recently-signed Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. “Now that we've got this Act passed, we're going to need you now more than ever, because we've got a lot to do.... We're going to need you every step of the way feeling just as encouraged, just as excited, even more so, ready to roll up your sleeves, put in more time, and really push service to the point in this nation where it belongs.”The First Lady's call to action came hours before Acting CEO Nicola Goren, Chief of Program Operations Kristin McSwain, and General Counsel Frank Trinity departed for Springfield, Missouri, where the Corporation will hold the first of six Listening Sessions on implementing the Serve America Act tomorrow. The sessions, and a new web tool launched today, are aimed at getting input from the public as the agency gets ready to implement the legislation when it takes effect on October 1.In her introduction of the First Lady, Goren praised employees for their dedication and commitment and thanked them for putting extra hours over the past few months, noting that “what was supposed to be a quiet transition turned into the greatest expansion in volunteerism in a generation.”Goren also spoke of the First Lady’s deep commitment to service.  “First Lady Michelle Obama has made service and volunteering a life calling.  It’s not just part of what she does – it’s part of who she is.  It’s in her blood... Through her actions and words, she is encouraging Americans from all walks of life to serve the nation and help address the problems we face.  And she is helping to leverage a whole new generation of Americans who are making service a part of their daily lives.”Her visit also came during AmeriCorps Week, an annual recognition to salute the 574,000 individuals who have served in AmeriCorps, thank the community partners that make their service possible, and recruit more Americans into service. More than 350 AmeriCorps Week events are taking place across the country including service projects, recruitment fairs, and recognition events.The First Lady discussed her personal journey growing up in Chicago, rising to a high-paying legal job, and then shifting her career into public service – a journey that led to where she is today. Her experience founding and running the Chicago Public Allies AmeriCorps program had a transforming effect on her life.“For those of you who have committed your lives to careers in service, you probably know what I'm talking about. You probably understand that feeling that you get when you help somebody achieve their goals, when you help a group of young people learn more about themselves by working with others, when you hire young diverse people, and you see them grow and develop. There is nothing more fulfilling. It's an opportunity to put your faith into action in a way that regular jobs don't allow; to use your larger talents for the greater good.”The First Lady thanked Corporation Board Chair Alan Solomont and other Board members for their leadership and commitment to service. The Corporation's 15-member bipartisan board sets overall policy and direction for the agency and its programs and has played a key role in the transition and the passage of the Serve America Act. Board Chair Alan Solomont, Vice-Chair Stephen Goldsmith, and members Hyepin Im, Eric Tanenblatt, and Laysha Ward were on stage.President Obama's pledge to make service a central cause of his presidency has resulted in major achievements in the first four months of the Administration. The early victories include a a record turnout of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, the inclusion of $200 million in the Recovery Act to support up to 13,000 new AmeriCorps positions, a FY 2010 budget that proposes a 29% increase for the Corporation and its programs, and the passage of landmark Serve America Act, which will both expand existing programs and create new initiatives to engage more Americans in service and spur innovation in the nonprofit sector.In thanking the agency employees for their hard work on these and other efforts, she inspired them for the long climb ahead, noting the key role of the Corporation in bridging the sectors to engage Americans in solving problems through service.“We're at a critical time in our nation's history, and we need all the hands-on-deck kind of experience we can get to help solve these big problems. And as you know, government resources are scarce. As you know, philanthropic dollars are dwindling. So it's imperative that we all use our resources more effectively. And the Corporation for National Community Service is the link between the government, non-profits, foundations, community organizers, and social entrepreneurs. You play that important role of bringing them all together.”Additional Photos:spacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacerspacer
              AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov. Back to main content Sign up to hear about our latest news, events, and opportunities.
  Sign up for our newsletter
    Footer about
  

        
        About
                            What We Do
                Our Impact
                Our Team
                Careers
                Agency OverviewFooter serve
  

        
        Serve
                            AmeriCorps
                AmeriCorps Seniors
                Volunteer
                Find Your FitFooter partner
  

        
        Partner
                            How it Works
                Funding OpportunitiesFooter Members & Volunteers
  

        
        Members & Volunteers
                            Your Benefits
                Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
                Alumni
                Safety and SecurityFooter grantees & sponsors
  

        
        Grantees & Sponsors
                            eGrants
                History Checks
                LitmosFooter newsroom
  

        
        Newsroom
                            News
                Blog
                Stories
                Events
                In the News
                Communication Resources
      Bringing Americans together to serve communities

Follow us
  
  1-800-942-2677
            
    help@americorps.gov
    USA.gov / Office of Inspector General / FOIA and Privacy Act / Federal Register notices / No FEAR Act/ Employee Whistleblower Rights / Contractor and Grantee Whistleblower Rights / Office of Special Counsel / STOCK Act / Fraud Alert

Accessibility / Privacy policy / Site map / Donate / Join

**AmeriCorps.gov**
An official website of AmeriCorps. Produced and published at taxpayer expense. 
 You are leaving AmeriCorps.gov
 The website you’re going to is not part of the AmeriCorps domain and may not be under AmeriCorps’ control. Its privacy and security practices and policies may differ from AmeriCorps’. AmeriCorps is not responsible for the link, nor does it endorse the content of the third-party website. Click on the continue button to proceed to the external website; otherwise click cancel to stay on AmeriCorps.gov.
 Cancel Continue