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President Barack Obama Issuing Proclamation for National Volunteer Week

Points of Light Institute will lead the nation in celebrating ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things during National Volunteer Week, April 10-16. This annual event honors the people and organizations dedicated to taking action and addressing problems in their communities.

"National Volunteer Week focuses attention on the impact and power of volunteerism and service as a vital part of civic leadership," said Michelle Nunn, CEO, Points of Light Institute, and co-founder, HandsOn Network. "It is also a time of celebration and inspiration as we honor volunteers who take action to strengthen their communities."

National Volunteer Week draws the support and endorsement of President Barack Obama, who is issuing a national proclamation, and members of Congress, governors, mayors and municipal leaders, as well as corporate and community groups. The weeklong celebration also marks the two-year anniversary of the landmark Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, the largest expansion of volunteer service since the 1930s.

Building on Points of Light Institute's recent Tribute event celebrating President George H. W. Bush's leadership in founding and advancing the modern day service movement, the organization will share stories of inspiration and impact, and honor achievements in service from across the nation. The public is encouraged to recognize a point of light in their community - someone who has made a meaningful difference - on Points of Light Institute's Tribute Wall. By joining this living online community, you can demonstrate the power of voluntary action.

During National Volunteer Week, Points of Light Institute and its volunteer arm, HandsOn Network, will host special events and recognize and mobilize thousands of volunteers across the nation. Highlights of the week include:

Make a Difference Day Awards luncheon on April 14 will honor the 2010 national Make a Difference Day honorees and the role volunteers play in helping us achieve our national priorities through voluntary action. The event is presented by USA WEEKEND Magazine, HandsOn Network and Newman's Own, Inc. Special guests include Emmy Award-winning journalist Cokie Roberts and Grammy Award-winning musician Darius Rucker. On behalf of Newman's Own, $100,000 in grant funds will be presented to nonprofit organizations selected by Make a Difference Day winners. Celebrated annually on the fourth Saturday in October, Make A Difference Day connects people with opportunities to serve, increases the strength of communities and promotes civic engagement.

L'Oreal Paris, in partnership with Points of Light Institute, will kick off the sixth annual call for nominations for Women of Worth on April 11. To date, 50 amazing women have been recognized for their commitment to service and helping others. This year, L'Oreal Paris is increasing its grant to $10,000 for each of the 10 honorees for her most-cherished cause.

In partnership with Scholastic, HandsOn Network is helping to bring 'Clifford's BE BIG In Your Community Contest' Winners' BIG Ideas to life in communities nationwide. Upcoming projects include supporting a mentoring program in Miami called "Strong Women, Strong Girls", incorporating service in schools through a new rain garden at West Geauga High School in Ohio and engaging teens in service through the St. Louis Youth and Family Volunteer Fair.

HandsOn Network will work with Starbucks to host service activities across the country in April as part of its Global Month of Service dedicated to engaging its partners (employees) and customers in meaningful service opportunities. Events will be held in Los Angeles on April 9, New York City on April 23 and Seattleon April 30.

In addition, local National Volunteer Week activities organized by some of HandsOn Network's 250 local affiliates include:

Hewlett Packard and UPS are teaming up with HandsOn Atlanta and HandsOn Bay Area on a joint skills-based volunteer project to help two deserving schools. At Emma Hutchison Elementary School inAtlanta, volunteers are making improvements to the Science Laboratory, Parent Center, the Global Ambassador Room and the Technology Center. At Ronald McNair Academy in East Palo Alto, Calif., volunteers are cleaning and organizing classrooms, landscaping and creating a new Parent Resource Center. Together, UPS and HP are contributing more than $70,000 in cash and technology towards ensuring success for students by making these improvements.

HandsOn Central Ohio will Keep Columbus Beautiful by mobilizing volunteers on April 10 to collect litter in the Discover District of downtown Columbus. Last year, thousands of volunteers collected more than 23 tons of litter.

Greater DC Cares is hosting its 20th annual Servathon and a signature Road to the Gulf project with sponsor University of Phoenix. At Living Wages, an adult education and workforce development organization, corporate and community volunteers will be painting, landscaping and rehabbing the training facility. Clifford the Big Red Dog will be in attendance to accept community book donations and match each one for kids in both D.C. and the Gulf coast.

HandsOn Greater Phoenix and HandsOn Network will host a Road to the Gulf project in partnership with sponsor University of Phoenix to leverage the power of volunteerism to help communities address their greatest challenges by training and activating leaders, building nonprofit capacity and mobilizing volunteers across the country.

Volunteer Center of Southwest Michigan, a HandsOn Action Center, will host a luncheon and comedy night to celebrate local volunteer heroes and the impact of volunteerism in their community.

About Points of Light Institute

Points of Light Institute inspires, equips and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world. The Institute has a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of community problem solving. We are organized to innovate, incubate and activate new ideas that help people act upon their power to make a difference. Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share our mission: HandsOn Network, MissionFish and the Civic Incubator. For more information, visit PointsofLight.org.

About HandsOn Network

HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes 250 HandsOn Action Centers in 16 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating meaningful change in their communities. Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at $626 million.

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