Service to others takes many forms. It can be an act of kindness to a friend or neighbor, volunteering at a soup kitchen or local hospital, standing up for civil rights and against poverty and discrimination or working with others on the countless challenges that face society. Each act expresses our morality, our commitment to the enduring values of peace, justice and truth. I know that the spirit of volunteerism is alive and well as Fairfield. You have staffed the Head Start program in Bridgeport, teaching basic skills to disadvantaged children.
Nursing students staff a health promotion center that also assists the poor.
Some of you are active in Project Children, which has made a tremendous impact on the children of Northern Ireland, by giving them opportunities to visit the United States. Other have worked in third world countries like Belize, Ecuador, Mexico and Jamaica. And I am particularly delighted that Fairfield will host 520 athletes next month for the Special Olympics International World Games. I commend you for the example you have set, and I hope you will continue to find such opportunities for service throughout your lives. Much of my own work has been with an organization called Very Special Arts, which tries to bring experience with the arts to people with disabilities.