President Barack Obama greets volunteers at Food & Friends during a service project to commemorate the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance, in Washington, D.C. September 11, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, millions of people across the country will commemorate the anniversary of 9/11 through acts of service. To honor the memories of those we lost, we come together to make our communities better and our world a brighter place through acts of volunteerism.

The spirit of shared purpose that was prompted by the tragedy of 9/11 has led some to devote not just a day but an entire lifetime to service. Steve and Liz Alderman’s son Peter died on the 106th floor of the North Tower. Liz said that in the wake of her son’s death, they founded the Peter C. Alderman Foundation, which works across the world to heal those who suffer from terrorist acts and mass violence. The foundation has helped thousands of victims of violence in Uganda, Cambodia, Kenya, and Liberia.

Created by the widows and families of the Fire Department of New York, the September 11th Families’ Association works to ensure that the victims of terrorism find the support that they need. The Association runs the 9/11 Tribute Center, which connects survivors to each other and to those who are too young to have witnessed the events of 9/11. The center has trained more than 600 guides to lead tours of the memorial site; more than 250,000 visitors from around the world have taken part in tours to hear about the lives of those lost that Tuesday. 

Jay Winuk, who lost his brother on 9/11, and his friend David Paine launched MyGoodDeed, a nonprofit that encourages people to engage in service on 9/11 to honor the memory of those who were lost. They also successfully advocated for bipartisan legislation to establish the National Day of Service and Remembrance. David continues this work today, overseeing the daily operations of the 9/11 Day Observance, which has evolved into one of the largest annual days of service and volunteerism in the United States. 

Today, these organizations and millions of Americans honor those we lost by giving back to their communities. If you want to find ways to give back, please check out serve.gov to discover opportunities in your area.

Started by the United Nations Foundation and the 92d Street Y, #GivingTuesday builds on the American tradition of giving back but uses technology to give this greater impact. This commemoration does not seek to coordinate funds toward any particular nonprofit or to direct volunteers to support a specific cause. Instead, #GivingTuesday is intended to encourage Americans to reflect and give back. It’s a collective moment for individual and community action.

#GivingTuesday has significant momentum. More than 7000 partners across all 50 states are taking part. This includes large corporations and small businesses, faith-based organizations and secular nonprofits. This year, cities are stepping forward to galvanize the movement.  They are celebrating local causes through unique campaigns like BMoreGivesMore in Baltimore; #GivingTuesdayBucks in Bucks County, PA; and #GivingTuesdayPHL in Philadelphia. In all these communities, nonprofits, businesses and government are collaborating to raise awareness and drive funds for those in need.

#GivingTuesday provides a wonderful opportunity for a national conversation about the ability of all Americans to participate in positive action. Indeed, the American impulse to help our fellow neighbor transcends politics and exemplifies our national spirit.  Whether it’s a family at the dinner table talking about giving to a local school organizing a blood drive to a large company organizing its employees to volunteer to an entire city rallying its residents to drive change – people everywhere can find their own ways to celebrate their common bond of community.

How will you celebrate #GivingTuesday?

Jonathan Greenblatt is Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the Domestic Policy Council.

This week, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced  it will provide $5 billion in grant dollars to assist in the rebuilding and strengthening effort following Hurricane Sandy and encouraged the five states impacted by the storm to make use of evidence-based, Pay for Success strategies where appropriate. 

This funding will create new opportunities to rebuild damaged infrastructure, stronger than it was before the storm. Possible projects include management of increased storm water, reducing future flood damage, and protecting water treatment facilities.

This came on the heels of a recent grant announcement by the Department of Labor to provide almost $24 million in grants to pilot Pay for Success initiatives in New York and Massachusetts. These grants are designed to increase employment and reduce recidivism in ex-offender populations.  These projects will feature strong private sector support to amplify the public dollars. They also will use rigorous valuation methods to measure their outcomes, which also will be reviewed by independent validators.

Finally, the Department of the Treasury recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) that will help design a proposed $300 million Incentive Fund to further expand Pay for Success.  The Fund is intended to empower cities, states and nonprofits to test new Pay for Success models. This same Fund was also part of the President’s commitment of nearly $500 million in this year’s Budget to expand Pay for Success strategies.

The RFI is designed to solicit input from nonprofits, state and local leaders, and the public about how to design the fund in order to ensure it can support the most promising programs and drive the best outcomes. If you would like to add your thoughts, check out the RFI here.

These recent announcements are just the latest examples of how this Administration is using Pay for Success as a promising strategy to build a smarter, more innovative government.

For more information on Pay for Success, check out this July 2013 White House blog post on Administration initiatives to advance this strategy.

Jonathan Greenblatt is Special Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the Domestic Policy Council.

Each year, we take time to honor this American tradition of service as we mark AmeriCorps Week.

During this week, March 9^th – 17^th, we salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their service, thank AmeriCorps community partners, and communicate AmeriCorps’ impact on communities and on the lives of those who serve.

Since 1994, more than 800,000 AmeriCorps members have contributed more than 1 billion hours in service to others across America. Currently, more than 75,000 AmeriCorps members are touching the lives of millions as they tackle challenges that improve lives, strengthen communities, expand economic opportunity, and bolster civic and faith-based organizations. 

AmeriCorps may be one of America’s best assets, with members making an impact through organizations such as the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Public Allies, and Teach for America. In addition, AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and VISTA, the longtime anti-poverty program, are transforming communities every day.

Service is a proven solution for our nation whether national service members are providing disaster relief and recovery services in the AmeriCorps NCCC and its FEMA Corps unit; enhancing educational outcomes through teaching, tutoring, or mentoring efforts; or supporting veterans and military families with re-entry and employment services.

The following are just a few examples of how AmeriCorps members are “working for America”:

• In the past year, I met with and witnessed the work of the more than 2,400 AmeriCorps members who participated in relief and recovery efforts for Hurricane Sandy. Disasters require an immediate response to needs in the immediate aftermath of the storm as well as longer-term recovery efforts that benefit storm survivors.
• More than 17,000 veterans have served in AmeriCorps since its inception, helping other veterans and military families get benefits and services; obtain job training and conduct job searches; provide safe and affordable housing; and mentor and tutor children of service members.
• The Department of Education and the Corporation for National and Community Service recently announced the formation of the School Turnaround AmeriCorps, a new program that will support a dedicated unit of national service members who will provide additional support and resources in the nation’s persistently underachieving schools.

Service initiatives like AmeriCorps do more than move communities forward; they serve their members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity for young people entering the workforce. AmeriCorps places thousands of young adults into intensive service positions where they learn valuable work skills, earn money for education, and develop an appreciation for citizenship.

AmeriCorps is a program that’s right for the times in which we live and demonstrates what happens when our nation invests in “getting things done.”

This year, MLK Day commemorations will coincide with the Presidential Inauguration, so the President is asking all citizens to join him in participating in a National Day of Service on Saturday, January 19. Earlier today, the Presidential Inaugural Committee announced that it will host a wide range of volunteering events in Washington, DC and around the country.  Additionally, the Committee is encouraging people to pledge a commitment to serve after MLK Day throughout 2013. 

President Obama has been deeply committed to engaging more Americans in service since taking office four years ago. He expanded AmeriCorps through measures such as signing the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009 and creating the FEMA Corps program last year.  He launched the Serve.gov platform to make it easier for Americans to find and post local volunteer opportunities. 

President Barack Obama helps paint pictures of fruit during a service project in the cafeteria of Stuart Hobson Middle School in Washington, D.C., January 17, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

Today, Americans are volunteering in increasing numbers and interest in national service and civic participation continues to grow. Building on this momentum, we encourage all Americans to serve on MLK Day and long after the Inauguration.  As President Obama has said, “America’s never been about what can be done for us; it’s about what can be done by us together.” 

For more information about Presidential Inaugural Committee’s National Day of Service, go to http://action.2013pic.org/service. To learn more about MLK Day, visit MLKDay.gov.

In the latest version of the Volunteering and Civic Life in America (VCLA) report published today by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), we see a series of encouraging trends. 

According to the report, the national rate of volunteering has reached a five-year high. Other indicators all point toward rising levels of civic participation.

President Barack Obama, along with First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, and Craig Robinson, participates in a service project at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., Nov. 21, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

For example, the report shows that roughly one in four adults (26.8 percent or 64.3 million Americans) volunteered through an organization, marking the highest rate since 2006. Two out of three citizens (65.1 percent or 143.7 million Americans) engaged in informal volunteering by doing favors for and helping out their neighbors.  This represented a rise of nearly 10 percentage points from 2010.

The involvement of parents of school-aged children also stands out in the new report. They had a volunteer rate seven percentage points higher than the national average (33.7 percent compared to 26.8 percent). Of the parents who volunteer, 43.1 percent do so at schools or other youth service organizations, making schools a hub for volunteering and civic activity.

The author of today’s report, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), is an active partner in making a difference in our nation’s schools from cradle to career. Through the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs, its members and volunteers tutor, mentor, and educate more than three million disadvantaged youth, strengthening America’s future.  And national service members are on the front lines of other efforts, such as the national and local response to Hurricane Sandy. In countless ways, these individuals are making a positive impact in classrooms and communities across the country.

Altogether, Americans volunteered approximately 7.9 billion hours in 2011. According to the report, this labor contributed an estimated value of $171 billion to the economy.

As more people are volunteering and strengthening local communities, they are contributing to our national renewal and economic recovery. The VCLA report provides important insight as to how service strengthens the social, civic, and economic fabric of our nation.

To learn more:

• Discover how you can engage in your community at Serve.gov. 
• Explore the Volunteering and Civic Life in America data here.
• Check out this infographic illustrating the 5 year high in volunteering.

The organizers have named the Tuesday after Thanksgiving as an annual moment to support the most vulnerable and uplift our communities. 

Giving Tuesday is intended to encourage Americans to reflect and give back. This commemoration does not seek to coordinate funds toward a particular charity or to direct volunteers to support a specific cause. Instead, it attempts to encourage active citizenship. It seeks to open a national conversation about the ability of all Americans to participate in positive action.

We know that such charitable activities can bring multiple levels of benefit. First, they help the immediate beneficiaries that are affected by charity or service. Beyond this direct impact, we know that charitable activities yield indirect dividends in many ways. For example, we know that active volunteering has been linked to expanding opportunity and increasing employment. 

Giving Tuesday has gathered support from a cross-sector coalition of nonprofits, faith-based institutions, foundations, and corporations in all 50 states.

Whatever your favorite cause and preferred activity, Giving Tuesday is a day when everyone can make a difference.  When we come together, such collective action can create a lasting impact on our communities. And stronger communities are the gift that keeps on giving.