The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 09, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Little Rock Air Force Base on Let's Move! Tour -- Little Rock, AK

Hercules Dining Facility
Little Rock Air Force Base
Little Rock, Arkansas

2:53 P.M. CST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you all.  (Applause.)  It's great to be here in Arkansas.  And I have to say, you all look really good, really fit.  (Laughter.)  So thank you for eating your vegetables.  We need you strong.

I want to start by thanking Dr. Woodson for that very kind introduction, but also for his leadership on behalf of our men and women in uniform.  I also want to thank Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Robert Gordon, General Murrie, Colonel Brian "Smokey" Robinson.  Thank you all for your leadership and service to our country.

I am truly proud to be here today as the Department of Defense is making what is a groundbreaking commitment to the health of our troops and their families.

And this is a big day.  That's why we brought all these people.  It's huge.  As Dr. Woodson explained, for the first time in 20 years, the DOD is updating their nutritional standards to include more fresh fruits and vegetables, more whole grains, lean meats, low-fat dairy products with every single meal.  So that means more DOD installations will offer the kind of fresh, healthy food that the Air Force's Food Transformation Initiative helped bring here to Little Rock.

The DOD is also going to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of every single military base in America to make sure they're serving healthy food not just to those in uniform, but to their families.  They'll be looking to improve the food served in dining facilities, school cafeterias, vending machines, snack bars, and any other places where military families purchase food.

So this isn't just a drop in the bucket.  I mean, this is really a big splash.  This will affect more than 1,000 dining facilities and nearly 1.5 million troops.  Simply put, this is an example of America's entire military once again stepping forward to lead by example. 

And it's happening because our military leaders know that this is not just a diet issue; it's not just a health issue.  This is truly a national security issue.  According to a recent Army study, more than a quarter of our nation's 17- to 24-year-olds are too overweight to serve in our armed forces today.  And even those who make the cut often struggle in basic training.  One Army general told me that after years of inactivity and poor nutrition, many recruits are just out of shape and they're more likely to injure themselves in basic training.  As a result, the military is spending more and more money on obesity-related injuries, health problems -- and dental care, which was a surprise to me; the cost of dental care because of poor nutrition has gone up.

So that's why our armed forces are rolling out this very comprehensive strategy to give our troops and their families the healthy, nutritious food they need and, more importantly, they deserve.  And I want to emphasize that in doing so, you're not just sending a powerful message throughout the military community.  You're sending a message to our entire country.  And that's one of the reasons I wanted to be here, because whenever our men and women in uniform step forward, America takes notice.  We are all inspired by your courage.  We are all inspired by your service and your sacrifice.

So when you make healthy eating a priority in your lives, the rest of us are more likely to make it a priority in our lives.

And that's really what "Let's Move" is all about.  It's about mobilizing folks from every sector of our society to address our obesity epidemic.  Because there is no one program, there's no one policy that will solve such a huge challenge; no one business leader, no one general, not even a first lady.  None of us can wave a magic wand to help us all live healthier lives.

But if we do our part -- if we do our part as airmen, if we do our part as moms and dads, as community leaders and neighbors, we can put this country on a path to a stronger, healthier future.  The one thing I say is that our own health is the one thing that we can control.  Even in the midst of any kind of chaos, we control what we put in our bodies.  So if we have the information and we have the examples, we can teach our kids now how to do what's best for them for the rest of their lives.

And that's why days like today are really so important.  A lot of times people think when we talk about health and nutrition, that it's fun and games.  But this is a serious problem.

But days like this show me that everyone is willing to step up on behalf of our kids.  Because this is really about our kids.  They look to you all; they are going to model themselves after you.  You have young people in your lives -- your brothers, your sisters, your cousins, your neighbors.  When you come home from service, they are in awe.  And if you do the right thing, they're going to follow suit.

So we are just thrilled.  And this is why I am -- have never been more confident that if we keep coming together like this as a nation, if we keep working together, we can make a real difference for our children, but more importantly, for our entire country.  Because if we start kids off right, they will take these behaviors through the rest of their lives, and they'll teach their children something different.

So I want to thank you again for hosting this event here today.  I want to thank you all for your service and your sacrifice.  This is a model for what we will see throughout the armed forces, which is one of the reasons why we wanted to come to this base.  You all are 95 percent in compliance with what is going to be happening already.  So you're ahead of the curve.  So you should be proud about that; you should feel good that your commanders had the foresight to jump ahead, and they're doing the very best for you, and more importantly, for your families. 

So I want to make sure that you tell your families thank you, from me.  Tell them that we are proud of them all.  We are working hard for them as well, because you all know that as you sacrifice, they are sacrificing right alongside you.  So these benefits have to affect them as well.

So we are proud of you all.  I want you all to keep eating your vegetables -- (laughter) -- and working very hard.  You all are the best that this country has to offer, the very best.

So thank you all.  Good luck and God bless.  And God bless your families as well.  Take care.  (Applause.)

END
3:00 P.M CST

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 09, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at "Let's Move" Event -- Des Moines, IA

Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines, Iowa

11:17 A.M. CST
 
MRS. OBAMA:  This is so cool.  Hey!  (Applause.)  Well, hello, everybody!  It’s great to be here in Iowa!  (Applause.)  Happy birthday "Let’s Move!"  Happy "Let’s Move" Day!  This is terrific.  (Applause.)  Wow.  I hear you guys have been having some fun, is that right? 
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Good stuff.  You’ve got a lot of energy because you all are eating your vegetables and exercising.  This is terrific. 
 
Well, let me start by thanking the Governor for all that he’s done to make this day possible.  I also want to thank Secretary Vilsack.  I want to thank Mayor Cownie.  I want to thank Coach Hoiberg, who has also done a lot for this day.  And all the folks -- because there were so many people who helped make today possible.  I want to thank everyone.  But most of all, I want to thank all of you amazing, amazing young people for being here.  Wow!  (Applause.)
 
This is so cool, isn’t it?  (Applause.)  This is a huge day.  It is a huge day.  We are celebrating the second anniversary of "Let’s Move."  And we could have had this party anywhere in the country, right?  We could have gone anywhere, but there is a reason why we wanted to come here to Iowa to be with all of you.  (Applause.)  And that’s because I am so proud of what you all are doing to make Iowa the healthiest state in this country by 2016.
 
I am proud that you guys are starting community gardens, that you’re eating your fruits and vegetables.  I’m proud that you guys are walking to school instead of taking the bus.  I’m proud that you’re working hard to get that 60 minutes of activity a day, every day.  I’m also proud of your government, and businesses like Hy-Vee, and community leaders across the state who are all coming together to help you guys get healthy, to keep moving. 
 
This is exactly what "Let’s Move" is all about.  We want every single state in this country to do exactly what Iowa is doing.  (Applause.)  And so you guys are the model -- you are the model of what every state should be doing.  So we’re working to make that happen.  We’re working to get healthier food into your school breakfasts and lunches, as well as into restaurants and on grocery store shelves.
 
We’ve invited folks like LeBron James, and Drew Brees, and Carl Edwards.  (Applause.)  We had the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team -- all of them have come to the White House to inspire kids just like you to get up and get active.
 
And as you saw from that video, right, I’ve gotten active myself.  I have hula-hooped, I’ve played flag football, I got to dance to Beyoncé, do a little "Dougie" in a flash mob -- that was so cool.  I even joined kids across the country to help break the world record for people doing jumping jacks in a 24-hour period.
 
And we actually did it.  We blew the record out of the water.  It was so much fun.  So I have been having such a great time on this initiative, and it sounds like you all have been having a little fun, too, right?  (Applause.)  That is good.  Because getting healthy is about having fun.  And while we’re out there eating our good food and having a good time, it’s important to know that we’re not just making our bodies stronger, but we are making our minds sharper, too.  And that is really key.
 
I mean, you all probably already know that when you eat healthy foods instead of chips and candy, you feel better and you have more energy.  You can run faster, you can play longer, you can perform better out on the basketball court or the soccer field.
 
But did you know that exercises like running and hiking can actually help your brain work better, too?  Did you know that? 
 
AUDIENCE:  No!
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Well, believe it or not, if you eat healthy food, you’re actually more likely to pass your tests and to get good grades in school.  It is absolutely true.  Because being active and eating healthy are a big part of reaching all of your goals, both on the playing field and in the classroom.  That’s why this is so important.  This is so important for you all.
 
So just look at some of your role models -- basketball players like Grant Hill.  I mean, long before he was a seven-time NBA all-star or an Olympic gold medalist, he was just a kid like many of you, always outside playing soccer or basketball with his friends.  And as he says -- and this is his quote -- he says, "Instead of playing" -- "Instead of staying home alone on the couch," he wants you to be outside having fun.
 
Or take Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan -- you guys met Michelle earlier, right?  (Applause.)  She said that when she was a teenager, she stopped eating so much junk food, and as a result her skating improved immediately -- immediately.  And today, what she says is, "If you don’t eat right, you don’t perform well."  Plain and simple. 
 
And that’s true for me as well.  I mean, one thing I know is that when I exercise and I eat right, I always feel better, and I always have more energy.  And my husband is the same way, too.  You heard of my husband, right?  That guy, the President?  (Applause.)  Well, it’s important for you all to know that he works out at the gym almost every day before he heads to the Oval Office.  Every day.  That’s right -- the President of the United States exercises almost every day.  So if the President of the United States can do it, we can all do it.  And he plays basketball with his friends whenever he can.
 
But let’s be clear, you do not have to be the President of the United States, you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to make exercise a regular part of your life.  You don’t even have to play a sport.  I mean, this is important, because a lot of kids think they have to be athletes to keep moving, but you don’t.  You can just turn on the radio and dance until you sweat.  You can take a walk, you can ride a bike after school instead of sitting in front of the computer.  You can just get a bunch of friends together and do the "interlude dance" or throw a Frisbee or play capture the flag. 
 
When it comes to eating right and exercising, you guys, it’s important for you to know that all of you are old enough -- you’re at an age where you can make good choices for yourselves in your lives.  You guys are in the position to do that now.  You’re already starting to decide so much about your lives, right?  You don’t want your mother telling you what clothes to wear or who to hang out with, right?  You guys are making those decisions about what clubs and sports you’re going to join, right?  So you can also choose to eat healthier.  That’s your decision.  You can make the choice to be more active in your lives.
 
And in fact, that’s what young people just like you are doing every day all across this state.  For example, at Indianola Middle School -- (applause) -- there they are!  You know what they’re doing there?  Students have joined their school’s nutrition and wellness committee, so they’re helping to design and launch programs like healthy grab-and-go breakfasts, and they have open gym time at their school.  Way to go, you guys!  (Applause.)  And at South Winneshiek High School -- we have any South Winneshiek High School people here?  (Applause.)  They organized a 5K fun run.  And then, at Westridge Elementary School in West Des Moines -- (applause) -- Westridge, are you guys here?  (Applause.)  Students there are wearing pedometers to track how far they’ve walked.  And today, they’ve walked more than 33,000 miles.  Very cool.  (Applause.)
 
So today, I want to challenge all of you -- all of you here to be leaders just like that in your own schools, in your own communities.  I want you guys to take the lead.  I want you to think about ways that you can get your friends and your classes and your classmates involved.  You can do anything, from starting a school garden club; you can organize hikes or weekend basketball tournaments over the summer.  You can start a committee to make healthy recommendations for your school lunches or for your vending machines.
 
But the thing that is important to know:  If you all start doing this, if you make the decision to be healthier, you’re going to not just make your school and your community healthier, but you’re going to help to make the entire state healthy.
 
And all you have to do is get to work.  And you all are doing such a great job.  You’ve gotten off to such a great start.  But I know that we have a lot more work to do.  We have a lot more work ahead if we’re going to make Iowa -- and all our states -- the healthiest that they can be.  It’s going to take every one of us working together to achieve that goal, and we’re going to need all of you.  Again, that’s why we wanted you to come.  We’re going to need all of you to help lead the way. 
 
So my last question for you guys is, are you ready to do that? 
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Wait, I can’t hear you.  Are you ready to do that?
 
AUDIENCE:  Yes!  (Applause.)
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Well, all right!  Then "Let’s Move!"  (Applause.)

END                    
11:29 A.M. CST

Let's Move: Two Years of Healthy Changes for our Nation's Kids

Colleen Curtis
Colleen Curtis
February 08, 2012
12:45 PM EDT
Let’s Move! series kick-off on the South Lawn with First Lady Michelle Obama

First Lady Michelle Obama joins local students at the physical activity stations during the Let’s Move! series kick-off on the South Lawn of the White House. May 25, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Let’s Move! was launched on February 9, 2010, and in the past two years, significant progress has been made to solve the problem of childhood obesity. Parents, businesses, educators, elected officials, members of the military, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders and kids themselves have made substantial commitments to improve the health of our nation’s children. Through working together with Let’s Move!,  these groups have provided children with healthier food and greater opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities, helped get families the information they need to make healthier decisions, supported a healthy start in early childhood, and have worked to ensure more people have access to healthy, affordable food.

Tomorrow, First Lady Michelle Obama is starting a tour to celebrate the second anniversary of the initiative. On her trip she will meet with some of the many teachers, elected officials, faith and community leaders, parents and children who have embraced the principles of Let's Move! and are making a difference in the lives of our children.

Related Topics: Healthy Kids, Education, Health Care, Women, Working Families, California, District of Columbia

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release
February 06, 2012

President and First Lady Host Dinner Honoring Troops Who Served in Iraq

On Wednesday, February 29, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will host a dinner at the White House to honor our Armed Forces who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn and to honor their families. This dinner --- an expression of the nation's gratitude for the achievements and enormous sacrifices of the brave Americans who served in the Iraq War and of the families who supported them --- will include men and women in uniform from all ranks, services, states and backgrounds, representative of the many thousands of Americans who served in Iraq. The White House has been working with military and civilian leaders from the Department of Defense on this tribute, and will release more details regarding the dinner when they are available.

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 03, 2012

First Lady Michelle Obama to embark on three day national tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let's Move!

February 9th – 11th, First Lady to make stops in Des Moines, Iowa; Little Rock, Arkansas; Fort Worth, Texas; Dallas, Texas; Homestead, Florida; Longwood, Florida & Orlando, Florida

WASHINGTON – On February 9, 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off a three day, nation-wide tour celebrating the second anniversary of Let’s Move!, her initiative to solve the problem of childhood obesity within a generation. Since launching Let’s Move! on February 9, 2010, significant progress has been made to solve the problem of childhood obesity. Parents, businesses, educators, elected officials, members of the military, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders and kids themselves have made substantial commitments to improve the health of our nation’s children. Through working together with Let’s Move!,  these groups have provided children with healthier food and greater opportunities for physical activity in schools and communities, helped get families the information they need to make healthier decisions, supported a healthy start in early childhood, and have worked to ensure more people have access to healthy, affordable food.  The Let’s Move! tour will highlight examples of people making changes across the country, from a single family to an entire state.

A fact sheet on a few of the many accomplishments of Let’s Move! is attached and can be found HERE.

The First Lady’s Let’s Move! tour schedule is below:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

Des Moines, Iowa * 11:00 AM CT/ 12:00 PM ET * Let’s Move! Day in Iowa

First Lady Michelle Obama will kick off her three day national tour in Des Moines, Iowa, to highlight Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative, a private-public partnership launched in August by Governor Terry Branstad and other government and business leaders to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation by 2016. More than 10,000 children grades 6 - 9 from Iowa schools will fill Wells Fargo Arena in downtown Des Moines to participate in a high-energy, interactive celebration of the Let’s Move! anniversary, hosted by Iowa’s Healthiest State Initiative.

Mrs. Obama will be joined by former Iowa Governor and current Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Iowa Governor Branstad, as well as NASCAR racing champion and member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Carl Edwards, Olympic figure skating champion and member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Michelle Kwan (who was recently inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame), Olympic champion gymnast Shawn Johnson, 2011 WNBA MVP Tamika Catchings, Health and Fitness Expert Bob Harper, Iowa State University Basketball coach and former NBA player Fred Hoiberg – who are all committed to helping kids embrace good health, nutrition and physical fitness.  Governor Branstad will sign a proclamation establishing February 9 as “Let’s Move! Day in Iowa” to celebrate the second anniversary.

Little Rock, Arkansas * 2:15 PM CT / 3:15 PM ET * Military Improving Nutrition for Servicemembers

First Lady Michelle Obama will visit the Little Rock Air Force Base to make an announcement about the military’s efforts to improve the nutrition of food served throughout military bases. Little Rock Air Force Base is part of a special pilot program that has enhanced food service quality, variety and availability through new acquisition processes and redesign efforts.  Mrs. Obama will receive a briefing on the Air Force’s healthy eating efforts from leadership and then visit the dining facility with cooks and airmen to discuss the changes. Childhood obesity has become a national security issue - more than one-quarter of our nation’s 17-24 year- olds are too overweight to serve in the U.S. military. Additionally, the Department of Defense spends an estimated $1.1 billion per year on medical care associated with excess weight and obesity.

Fort Worth, Texas * 5:30 PM CT / 6:30 PM ET * Parents and Businesses Making a Difference

First Lady Michelle Obama will hold a roundtable dinner discussion at a local Olive Garden with parents who are changing habits in their homes and communities. Mrs. Obama will have a conversation with the parents about their efforts and get their ideas on how Let’s Move! can continue to support families across the country. In September 2011, Darden, the world’s largest full service restaurant company which owns Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Longhorn Steakhouse and others, made a commitment to improve their kids menus by offering a fruit or vegetable and low-fat milk with every meal, as well as reduce total calories and sodium across their menus.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012

Dallas, Texas * 9:00 AM CT / 10:00 AM ET * Schools and Chefs Working Together

First Lady Michelle Obama will join chef'testants from past seasons of Bravo’s hit series “Top Chef” and members of the Dallas Cowboys to highlight the work being done in schools across America to provide healthier food to students. The chefs will compete in a healthy cooking competition with students from Nancy Moseley Elementary School, a Gold school in the HealthierUS School Challenge program. The Dallas Independent School District is a leader in making healthy changes for its students – it has the most Gold schools of any district in the country. Chefs have played an important role in the Let’s Move! initiative, teaming up with schools all across the country to work with school chefs on healthy school meals and teach kids about the importance of a nutritious diet. Approximately 3,400 chefs and 3,350 schools have signed up for Chefs Move to Schools, and the First Lady will announce a coalition that is working together to expand the program.

Homestead, Florida * 3:30 PM * WebMD Town Hall: Simple Tips For Healthy Families

First Lady Michelle Obama will join experts from WebMD, a leading source of health information for consumers and professionals and a free source of trusted information on children’s health and wellness, to answer questions from a live local audience and a national online audience about how families can implement healthy changes in their daily lives.  The WebMD town hall style discussion will be held at a Miami-area YMCA. In November 2011, the YMCA, a leading nonprofit dedicated to youth development and healthy living and one of the nation’s largest child-care providers, announced that it is adopting a set of standards to ensure its programs offer children fruits, vegetables and water as snacks and adequate physical activity while children are in their care. The panel will include a WebMD pediatrician and nutritionist and a health and well-being expert from the YMCA. Parents can submit questions for the First Lady and the panel at www.webmd.com/townhall.

Orlando, Florida * 7:00 PM ET * Change Begins at Home

First Lady Michelle Obama will visit the home of an Orlando-area family who has made changes to become healthier. Mrs. Obama will have dinner with the family in their home and discuss the everyday changes families can make. This event will have a pool spray at the top.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2012

Longwood, Florida * 10:00 AM ET * Faith and Community Groups Leading the Way

First Lady Michelle Obama will speak to a gathering of 3,000 people from diverse faiths at Northland, A Church Distributed, about the work of faith and community organizations across America to support healthy lifestyles. Mrs. Obama launched Let’s Move! Faith and Communities in November 2010 and since then, these organizations have initiated a broad range of activities including logging over 1,500,000 miles walked and working to provide healthy food to their congregations.  Saturday’s program will include choirs, performers and speakers from local and national congregations. Tickets are being distributed by local faith and community organizations.

Orlando, Florida * Afternoon * Getting Active Is Fun!

Following the event at Northland, First Lady Michelle Obama will travel to ESPN Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort to participate in a physical activity event for hundreds of local kids and their families, including participants in the morning’s faith event. Disney Channel and Disney XD stars and professional athletes will be on hand as families participate in fun, physical activity stations. Tickets are being distributed by local faith and community organizations.

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 02, 2012

First Lady & Dr. Biden Announce “Joining Forces Community Challenge" finalists from across the country

From more than 300 submissions, 20 finalists recognized for displaying exemplary support to military families and veterans

Challenge winners to be announced this Spring, based on input from Tom Brokaw, J.R. Martinez, Sloan D. Gibson, Mayor Julian Castro and Deanie Dempsey

Public encouraged to vote for the “The People’s Choice Winner” at
http://joiningforces.challenge.gov/

WASHINGTON—First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden today announced 20 finalists as part of the Joining Forces Community Challenge, an effort to recognize and celebrate citizens, communities, and organizations who have demonstrated a deep commitment to service by improving the lives of military families and veterans.  Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden are inspired by the outstanding work of all the submissions and hope that celebrating them will encourage others to follow their lead and continue to raise awareness about the military family experience.

Since the launch of the Community Challenge last July, hundreds of submissions were received in three months, all of which captured innovative ways Americans have stepped up to show their gratitude and support for our military families. The 20 finalists are profiled at  http://joiningforces.challenge.gov/. The public is encouraged to participate in this Challenge by voting for their favorite submission to be the People’s Choice Winner, which will be announced on March 16, 2012. 

Five additional winners will be chosen with input from a panel of distinguished judges, including:

• Tom Brokaw, NBC News Special Correspondent and author of five bestsellers including The Greatest Generation;
• J.R. Martinez, Iraq war veteran, motivational speaker and winner of season 13 of Dancing with the Stars,
• Sloan D. Gibson, President and CEO, United Service Organizations (USO);
• Julian Castro – Mayor of San Antonio, one of the nation’s largest military communities; and
• Deanie Dempsey, military family advocate and wife of General Martin Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

This Spring, the First Lady and Dr. Biden will honor the 20 Joining Forces Community Challenge finalists at the White House where the five winners will be announced.

“Jill and I have asked organizations large and small to direct some of their efforts toward our troops and their families, and today we’re thrilled to congratulate 20 groups who are doing just that,” said First Lady Michelle Obama.  “These organizations are doing what they do best: providing financial assistance for scholarships and child care, working to build self-esteem in military teens, offering free photo sessions for military families, and so much more.  Creative ideas like these can be replicated in communities all across the country, and we can’t wait to see what Americans come up with next.”

“As Second Lady, I have had the tremendous honor of visiting with service members and military families and learning about the many acts of kindness taking place all across the country in their communities to support them,” said Dr. Jill Biden. “All of the submissions for the Joining Forces Community Challenge demonstrate exactly the spirit of service and dedication we see everywhere we go.  We hope that the great work of these organizations inspire more Americans to take on similar efforts to support military families in their own communities.”

The First Lady and Dr. Biden launched Joining Forces last year as a way to encourage all Americans to support our troops and serve our nation’s military families. For more information and to find opportunities to serve, go to www.joiningforces.gov.

The 20 Joining Forces Community Challenge finalists include:

ARIZONA
Pat Tillman Foundation, Tempe, AZ
The foundation invests in military veterans and spouses nationwide by granting scholarships through the Tillman Military Scholars program. The scholarship funds cover tuition, fees as well as other related costs, including housing and child care. In 2002, Pat Tillman put his NFL career with the Arizona Cardinals on hold in order to serve his country. Started by Pat Tillman’s friends and family after his death in 2004 while serving in Afghanistan, the foundation has provided more than $2.2 million in financial support.

CALIFORNIA
The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs, Clovis, CA
The Sisterhood of the Traveling BDUs (a “Battle Dress Uniform” worn by members of the armed forces) was founded by two California teenagers whose fathers had deployed to Afghanistan. Realizing how important that sisterly support was, the young girls created this organization to support military girls, particularly those 13 to 18 years of age, who experience the deployment of a parent. The project aims to create a network of social bonds between military girls to build self-esteem, encourage leadership and increase community support.

Rebuild Hope, Menlo Park, CA
Rebuild Hope provides services to veterans and caregivers to help with their transition back to civilian life. The organization provides financial assistance, counseling and referrals to organizations that offer pro bono care to veterans and caregivers in a variety of areas, including legal, mental health, and debt management.

New Directions, Los Angeles, CA
New Directions provides comprehensive services to homeless and disabled veterans, including substance abuse treatment, counseling and job training in Los Angeles County, home to the nation’s largest homeless military veterans population. The organization serves more than 600 veterans each year.

The Soldiers Project‐Sacramento, Sacramento, CA
The Soldiers Project-Sacramento provides free psychological services for active duty military, veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as their family members. The Soldiers Project-Sacramento is an all-volunteer group of about 40 licensed clinicians who have provided more than 500 hours of free, individual treatment since the beginning of 2011.


COLORADO
Project Sanctuary, Parker, CO
In an effort to decrease military veteran suicide rates and the effects of deployment on children, Project Sanctuary was created to provide recreational activities in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, to help military families reconnect following deployments. Follow-up support beyond the retreat is also provided and includes support to families with housing, job placement and veterans’ assistance.


FLORIDA
Birdies for the Brave, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 
Birdies for the Brave is a military outreach initiative supported by the PGA TOUR and corporate partners to raise funds for military homefront groups that provide programs and services for wounded warriors and military families. Birdies for the Brave was originally created by TOUR player Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, to support troops injured during combat.


GEORGIA
The Landings Military Family Relief Fund, Savannah, GA
The Landings Military Family Relief Fund was created by a group of Red Cross Volunteers living in The Landings to provide financial support to military families during every day emergencies when a family member is deployed. The financial assistance is administered through the Red Cross.


ILLINOIS
Operation Homelink, Chicago, IL
To connect deployed service members to their families, Operation Homelink provides refurbished computers to spouses or parents of deployed troops. The organization has provided more than 2,500 computers nationwide and is expanding to include laptop donations to wounded warriors.


MARYLAND
Give an Hour, Bethesda, MD
Give an Hour, founded by a Washington D.C.-based psychologist, aims to develop a national network of volunteer providers to respond to acute and chronic societal conditions. Their current focus is on mental health services for military service members, their families and people in communities affected by Iraq and Afghanistan.

Luke's Wings, Rockville, MD
Luke’s Wings supports the families of wounded warriors through airplane tickets and travel arrangements to the families of the service members. The nationwide organization may also partner with local hotels or other activities nearby for the family to access for the duration of the wounded warriors’ recovery. Co-founder Sarah Wingfield, a then-Washington Redskins football team ambassador, helped start the organization after meeting “Luke,” a wounded warrior who was recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.


MASSACHUSETTS
Brides Across America, Georgetown, MA
Brides Across America is a national charitable organization that provides wedding gowns to qualified military brides. Founder Heidi Janson wanted to ensure those serving our nation could have the wedding they deserve. Since its founding in 2007, more than 5,000 wedding gowns have been donated to support troops and their families.


MINNESOTA
Defending the Blue Line, Hastings, MN
Defending the Blue Line works to ensure that children of military members have access to participate in hockey, through free equipment, hockey camps, special events and financial assistance toward association and other hockey-related costs. Founded by two Minnesota National Guard members in 2009, more than $500,000 has benefited military families across the United States.

GreenCare for Troops, New Prague, MN
GreenCare for Troops was established by lawn and landscape entrepreneurs — members of the board of Project EverGreen — who were interested in helping families in their communities maintain their lawns and landscapes while a family member was deployed.  GreenCare for Troops volunteers provide these free lawn and landscape services so families have a well-maintained yard in addition to an outside area where families can unwind, play and enjoy outdoor time together.

Armed Forces Service Center, St. Paul, MN
The Armed Forces Service Center is a 24-7 “all free” lounge staffed by volunteers at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, for active-duty military personnel, their dependents, activated reservists and national guardsmen, and other members of the uniformed services. The Center was founded in 1970 by Maggie Purdum after her son was killed in action in Vietnam as appreciation for all who have served.


MISSOURI
Trees for Troops, Chesterfield, MO
Trees for Troops provides thousands of military families in the United States and overseas with Christmas trees. The Christmas SPIRIT Foundation, working with its partner FedEx, has delivered more than 100,000 trees through the Trees for Troops program since beginning in 2005.


NORTH CAROLINA
Canines for Veterans, Wilmington, NC
Through its program – Canines for Veterans – Canines for Service has provided highly-skilled service dogs for wounded warriors. Launched in 2008, the national program works with military prisoners at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston who train rescue dogs as service dogs for wounded and injured veterans.

Hearts Apart, Wilmington, NC
Hearts Apart provides soon-to-be deployed service members with a professional photo session with their spouses and children to keep families connected while military families are separated. Photographs are waterproof and printed on durable cards that fit in a uniform pocket.

RHODE ISLAND
Our Family for Families First Foundation, East Greenwich, RI Our Family for Families First Foundation supports military families pursuing higher education by supporting children of military service members through scholarships and military spouses through grants and assistance identifying educational opportunities.

UTAH
City of Richfield, Utah
The city of Richfield, Utah, has supported its local Army National Guard Unit through four deployments since Sept. 11, 2001. A resource guide provided to military families as family member’s deployed, a city utility abatement program for the duration of a deployment and a community covenant that details the commitment the city will make toward its service members and their families are some of the programs and services provided.


 

Michelle Obama Talks About Being a Mentor

Colleen Curtis
Colleen Curtis
February 02, 2012
10:00 AM EDT
First Lady Michelle Obama at Girls Mentoring event

First Lady Michelle Obama drops by the Girls Mentoring November activity in room 430 of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Nov. 29, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)

February is Black History Month, and his year's theme, "Black Women in American Culture and History," honors African American women and the many roles they’ve played in the shaping of our nation.  

And in an interview with More magazine, First Lady Michelle Obama talks candidly about one of the roles that matters most to her, one that has been a part of her life since she was in high school, one that can have a crucial influence in shaping the next generation of American women and one she urges others to embrace: Mentor.

Mrs. Obama discusses the impact mentors have had in her life, and also what being a mentor has meant to her (one of the first people she mentored as a lawyer in Chicago was a fellow graduate of Harvard Law School named Barack Obama: “I made sure that he met the partners that he was working with; I had to take him out to lunch a couple of times” she tells the magazine).

And for the first time, the First Lady discusses a program she launched shortly after moving into the White House, a mentoring program she designed “to open a secret door for others that hadn’t been opened for me,” by pairing disadvantaged girls with some of the powerful women in the land. She tells the magazine:

“I wanted [the students] to experience this notion that if you can walk [through] the doors of the White House once a month and sit down with the first lady and her chief of staff and some other senior officials, and they’re talking to you and you get used to hearing your voice in the space, then it becomes not a big deal.”

And so her program pairs teenage girls with “this wonderful array of women who come from different backgrounds,” she says. “They’re senior leaders in President Obama’s administration, and they all have a story, right? They all have a set of challenges and struggles.” Those stories, Obama believes, are best told in person, over time, creating the kind of enduring bond the social media generation sorely lacks. “Even though our children are connecting in ways we never imagined,” she told a national summit on mentoring not long ago, “you’ve got an entire generation of young people truly in desperate need of a friend. Someone they can trust, an example they can follow.”

Related Topics: Women

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 01, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Let's Move Food Access Event

Northgate Gonzalez Market Site
Inglewood, California

9:19 A.M. PST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  Good morning, Inglewood, yes!  (Applause.)  It’s good to say that, right?  It’s good to be here.  You all rest yourselves.

I am more than thrilled to be here with all of you today.  And thank you for having me, because I know having me in your neighborhood is a little disruptive.  (Laughter.)  So thank you for putting up with it.

I want to start by thanking Mayor Butts and Mayor Villaraigosa for their terrific work serving the people of L.A., and for their leadership and for their friendship and support.  I am so glad that they took the time out of their busy schedules to be here today.

I also have to recognize and thank Dr. Ross and the California Endowment for their outstanding leadership in building healthy communities and bringing fresh food to areas in need all across this state.  It’s been just truly a privilege and a joy to work with the endowment and to work with Dr. Ross.  He’s a smart guy.  He’s a funny guy.  And he does what he says he’s going to do.  And that’s always refreshing.  Yes, indeed.  (Laughter.)  They’ve really set the standard on this issue, and we’re just grateful for everything that they’ve done.

And finally, I want to thank Oscar for that kind introduction, but more importantly for what he and his family are doing here in this community and across the state of California.  The story is so inspiring on so many different levels.  But the story of Northgate and the new Northgate Gonzales Market that is being built here is the story that we want to tell in cities and towns across America.  This is the story.  This is what it’s all about.  It’s a story about bringing fresh, healthy, affordable food into communities that need it most.  It’s a story about creating jobs, about revitalizing neighborhoods.  And it’s a story -- the story, like the Northgate story -- that don’t just sell healthy food, but they also promote healthy lifestyles by helping their customers make the decisions that are right for their families.

And that’s more than just owning a store.  That’s being a responsible member of the community.  That’s like being family.  And that’s what you would hope for the institutions that come into our community.  Again, this is the story that we want to tell, and that’s why I’m here, and that’s why I’m glad so much of the country and the world will hear this story.

And that’s also why, last spring, as part of Let’s Move, we brought together nonprofit organizations and grocery stores large and small.  That was just a year ago that we pulled these folks together, and now we’re celebrating the second anniversary of Let’s Move in just a couple of weeks.  And when we brought these people together, we asked them one simple question.  We said, “What can we do together to get fresh food into every community in our country?”  Not just some of them, but every community.  What can we do if we put all our resources and energy to this task?  And within a couple of months -- it didn’t take that long -- we had our answer. 

Companies ranging from small local grocers to major national chains agreed to build or expand 1,500 stores in underserved areas in our country.

And the Fresh Works Fund -- which is, again, a coalition of companies and nonprofits including the California Endowment, but so many others -- they agreed to dedicate $200 million to support these efforts. 

And this all is on top of what the Healthy Food Financing Initiative that the Obama administration started back in 2010.  So there’s been a lot of coming together around this issue.

And with support from these programs, soon, this warehouse we sit in -- I mean, they dressed it up really nicely, it’s pretty impressive -- but this will be home to a brand new, fully stocked grocery store.  And thousands -- thousands of families will be able to buy fresh fruit right in their own community. 

And it sounds like a very simple thing, but there are too many communities that don’t have this kind of privilege.  And I’m here today because I believe that every family in our country should have access to healthy food, because we can’t solve this problem if they don’t.  You can’t look a parent in the face and tell them to feed their child better or healthier if they don’t have access to those resources.  It’s not fair.  If a parent wants to pack a piece of fruit in their child’s lunch, if they want to pick up a head of lettuce to make a salad, they shouldn’t have to get on a bus and go for hours into another community to make that happen.  They shouldn’t have to pay for an expensive taxicab ride to get to another neighborhood just to make that simple act happen, something that so many Americans take for granted.

Instead, they should have a retailer, like Northgate, right in their own community.  Again, it sounds so simple -- a place that sells healthy food at reasonable prices so that they can feed their families in the same way that so many people can and the way that they want to.

That’s how we solve this problem, one community, one household at a time, because when families have access to fresh food, that means that kids can get better nutrition.  It’s as simple as that.  And when kids have better nutrition, they grow up to be healthier.  Simple as that.  And when healthy kids become healthy adults, they’re less likely to suffer from conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer -- conditions that cost our economy billions of dollars every year.  All preventable.  All preventable.  And when those kids take those healthy eating habits that they learned at childhood and we think about what they do with that knowledge, that can affect not just what they eat today but what they feed their own children years from now.

So let’s not be mistaken at any level.  When we bring healthy food into our communities, we’re not just making this generation of kids healthier, but we’re working on the next and the next and the next.  We don’t want our kids to struggle in the ways that we do.  And they won’t if they have the information and if we as parents and communities, we have the information and we’re passing that on.

So I am so proud of what we’re all doing together.  This is that simple thing.  You take what appears to be a tough problem and you bring a little hope to it.  And then you bring people together and you come up with smart, common-sense solutions, and then you do the hard work.  And people respond.  And lo and behold, it benefits our children.  And that’s all that we want to do.  In the end, we are doing this for our children.

So this work is inspiring.  And I want to be traveling around the country and going to projects like these all over the country, just shining the light on what we can do together when we are focused on what matters most:  our children.

So I want to congratulate all of you, all of the employees.  You guys are making this happen.  Do not underestimate the power of the service that you provide, creating a home in so many ways for your neighbors and your families and your friends.  We are so incredibly proud of all of you.  And I look forward to working with you in the months and the years ahead.

Thank you so much.  Congratulations.  (Applause.)
    
END          
9:28 A.M. PST

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
February 01, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Campaign Event -- Beverly Hills, CA

Beverly Hills, California

6:56 P.M. PST
 
MRS. OBAMA:  Well, thank you so much.  (Applause.)  It's always a pleasure to be here, and it's an honor to be with all of you.
 
And I want to start by thanking my dear friend, Ambassador Avant -- love saying that.  And thank you for that kind introduction, but as I told her, she is a pretty phenomenal woman herself -- taking one for the team, awesome; just being there, so steadfast.  (Applause.)  And, Ted, what a smart man.  (Laughter.)  It's all I can say.  You all have a beautiful family.  You all have been just such terrific friends.  I can't thank you enough for your steadfast support and love.
 
And I also want to thank Joshua Radin for performing, and his crew.  (Applause.)  Thank you so much for being here. 
 
And I want to thank all of the host committee, everybody.  We have -- this is a fabulous crew.  Four years -- three years ago -- how long has it been?  (Laughter.)  You remember that first time?  You all did a great job.  (Laughter.)  Remember that?  We know you're going to do it again.  You all are just -- become true friends, and we wouldn't be able to do this without you.  We truly couldn't. 
 
And I want to thank everybody else, all of you, for taking the time to be here this evening.
 
And I know that there’s a reason why you're all here tonight, and it's not just to see me -- because it's a little chilly out here and I know you Californians aren't used to the cold air.  (Laughter.)
 
But you’re here because you know that we stand at a fundamental crossroads for our country.  You’re here because you know that in less than a year from now, we are going to make a choice that will impact our lives for decades to come.
 
And you’re here because you know that choice won’t just affect all of us; it will affect our children, it will affect our grandchildren, and it will affect the world that we leave for them long after we’re gone.
 
And that is why I am here tonight.  That’s why I'm here tonight, that's why I'm going to be out here for the next year, that's why we're ready for four more years.  (Applause.)
 
As First Lady, I have had the privilege of traveling across this country, meeting folks from all different backgrounds, and hearing what’s going on in their lives. 
 
And every day, I hear about how folks are struggling to keep it together -- how they're trying to pay the bills, how they’re trying to keep that business afloat.  I hear about how they're taking that extra shift, how they're working that extra job; how they’re saving and sacrificing, never spending a dime on themselves because they desperately want something better for their kids.
 
And make no mistake about it, these struggles are not new.  For decades now, middle-class folks have been squeezed from all sides.  The cost of things -- basic things:  gas, groceries, tuition -- have been continuously rising, but people’s paychecks just haven’t kept up.
 
So when the economic crisis hit, for far too many families the bottom just completely fell out.  Now, over the last few years, your President has worked very hard to dig us out of this mess.  And he has made -- we have made some magnificent progress.  (Applause.)  We have had 22 straight months of private sector job growth, and the unemployment rate is now the lowest it’s been in nearly three years.  (Applause.)
 
But we know that there are still a lot of people struggling, and we have a long way to go.  And we've been working hard to rebuild this economy based on a vision, your President's vision, a vision that we all share -– the belief that, as Barack says, that hard work should pay off; that responsibility should be rewarded; and that everyone -- everyone -- should get a fair shot, and do their fair share, and play by the same rules.  These are basic American values.  These are the values that so many of us were raised with, including myself.
 
And you know my story:  My father was a blue-collar worker, city water plant.  My family lived in a little-bitty apartment on the South Side of Chicago.  Neither of my parents went to college, but they worked, and they saved, and they sacrificed -- shoot, my mom is still sacrificing for us -- because they wanted something better for me and my brother.
 
And more than anything else, that is what’s at stake -- that fundamental promise that no matter who you are, or how you started out, if you work hard, you can build a decent life for yourself, and an even better life for your kids.  That's what's at stake.
 
And on just about every issue -– from health to education to the economy -– that is the choice we face.
 
For example, when we talk about tax cuts for the middle class, or unemployment insurance for folks out of work, we're talking about whether people can heat their homes.  We're talking about whether folks can put a meal on the table, put gas in their car so that they can go look for work.  I mean, these kind of cuts are about whether folks can afford to own a home, send their kids to college, retire with a little dignity and security.  It’s about whether people will have more money in their pockets, which means more money in our economy, which means more jobs.
 
That’s what’s at stake.  That's the choice we face.
 
And if we think for a minute about what this administration has done to stand up for the American consumer -- I’m talking about families getting hit with those hidden credit card fees; I’m talking about students -- our students, America's students -- drowning in debt; seniors -- our seniors, America's seniors -- losing their homes, losing their savings because they were tricked into loans they couldn’t afford, couldn't understand. 
 
And that’s why my husband created a new consumer watchdog with just one simple mission, and that is to protect folks from exactly these kind of abuses.  That's what it's about.  Because he believes that when you’ve worked, and you’ve saved, and you've followed the rules, you shouldn’t lose it all to someone looking to make some easy money.  That’s not fair.  That's not right.  And, believe me, your President is working hard to do something about just that.
 
And what about all that we have done together for our small businesses?  I mean, these are the companies that create two-thirds of all new jobs each year -- two-thirds of all new jobs.  I’m talking about the mom who opens the drycleaner on the corner to help provide for her kids, or the family that's been running the neighborhood diner for generations, or the veteran who launches a startup and pursues that American Dream that he fought so hard for.
 
See, these are the folks who work themselves to the bone during the day, then they head home and pore over the books into the night, determined to make the numbers add up.  And for these folks, the small business tax cuts that this President has passed mean the difference between hiring new employees or handing out pink slips; it's the difference between keeping their doors open, or closing up shop for good.
 
That's the choice that we're going to make in this election.
 
And then, of course, we can't forget the very first bill my husband signed into law -- the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to make sure that women get equal pay for equal work.  (Applause.)  The very first thing he did as President.
 
And he did this because he knows what it means when women aren’t treated fairly in the workplace.  And he watched his own grandmother -– a woman with a high school education –- work her way up to become vice president at a little community bank.  And she worked hard, and she was good at her job.  But he watched as she hit that glass ceiling that is so familiar to so many, and she watched men no more qualified than she was -– men she had actually trained -– be promoted up the ladder ahead of her.
 
So believe me, Barack, for him, this issue is not abstract.  This isn't hypothetical.  And he signed the bill because he knows that closing that pay gap, that can mean the difference between women losing $50, $100, $500 from each check, or having that money to buy gas, groceries, school clothes for their kids.
 
He did it because when nearly two-thirds of women are breadwinners or co-breadwinners, he knows that women’s success in this economy is the key to families’ success in this economy.  And he did it -- (applause) -- he did it because, as he put it, we believe that here in America, there are no second-class citizens in our workplace.
 
And that is what’s at stake.
 
And let’s talk for just a minute about health care.  Because last year, we all made history together by finally passing health reform.  (Applause.)  We all did that.  But now, there are folks who are actually talking about repealing that reform.  So today, we have to ask ourselves, are we going to stand by and let that happen?  Are we going to let insurance companies refuse to cover basic things like cancer screenings and prenatal care that don't just save money, but save lives?  Or will we stand up for our lives, and for the lives of the people we love? 
 
What are we going to do?  Are we going to go back to the days when insurance companies could deny our children coverage because they have a pre-existing condition like cancer, diabetes, even asthma?  Or will we stand up and say that in this country, no one should ever have to choose between going bankrupt or watching their child suffer because they can’t afford a doctor?
 
And when our kids get older and graduate from school, we know how hard it is for them to find jobs that provide insurance.  That’s why, as part of health reform, kids can now stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26 years old -- 26 years old.  (Applause.)  And today, that is how 2.5 million of our young people are getting their coverage.
    
So will we take that insurance away from our kids?  Or will we say that we don't want our sons and our daughters going without health care when they’re just starting out, when they’re just trying to build families and careers of their own?  But that is the choice we face. 
 
And think, for a moment, about what has been done for education.  I mean, think about all the investments made to raise standards and reform our public schools.  I mean, this is about improving the circumstances for millions of children in this country.  Kids that we know today are sitting in crumbling classrooms -- our kids, kids with so much promise, kids who could be anything they wanted if we just gave them a chance.
 
And think about how this President has tripled investments for job training at community colleges.  I mean, this is about hundreds of thousands of hard-working people who are determined to get the skills they need to get a better job and better wages.  I mean, these folks are doing everything right, everything they’re supposed to.  They’re working full-time.  They’re raising their kids.  But they still make it to class every evening, study late into the night because they desperately want something better for their families.
 
And make no mistake about it, these investments in our students, in our workers will determine nothing less than the future of our economy.  It will determine nothing less than whether we’re prepared to make the discoveries and to build the industries that will let us compete with any country, anywhere in the world.  That’s what’s at stake.
 
And let’s not forget what it meant when my husband appointed those two brilliant Supreme Court Justices, and for the first time in our history, our daughters and sons watched three women take their seat on our nation’s highest court.  (Applause.)  And we cannot forget the impact their decisions will have on our lives for decades to come -- on our privacy and security, on whether we can speak freely, worship openly and, yes, love whomever we choose.  That’s what’s at stake.  That’s the choice that we are facing in this election.  (Applause.)
 
And, finally, let’s not forget all that this administration has done to keep our country safe and to restore our standing in the world.  (Applause.)  And thanks to our brave men and women in uniform, we finally brought to justice the man behind the 9/11 attacks and so many other horrific acts of terror.  (Applause.)
 
My husband ended the war in Iraq and brought home our troops for the holidays.  (Applause.)  And we are working vehemently to give our veterans and their families the kind of education, employment, and benefits that they have earned.  
 
And because my husband ended "don’t ask, don’t tell," our troops will never again have to lie about who they are to serve the country they love.  (Applause.)  That is what’s at stake.  (Applause.)  That is what’s at stake.
 
So make no mistake about it -- I mean, whether it’s health care or the economy, whether it’s education or foreign policy, the choice we make will determine nothing less than who we are as a country and, more importantly, who do we want to be.  I mean, who are we?
 
Will we be a country where opportunity is limited to the few at the top?  Who are we?  Or will we be a place where if you work hard, you can get ahead no matter who you are or how you started?  Who are we?  Will we tell folks who’ve done everything right, but are still struggling to get by, are we going to tell them, tough luck, you’re on your own?  Who are we?
 
Or will we honor the fundamental American belief that this country is strongest when we’re all better off?  What’s it going to be?  Will we continue all the change we’ve begun and the progress we’ve made, or will we allow everything we’ve fought for to just slip away?  Because that’s the choice, and those are definitely the stakes.
 
And, believe me, Barack knows this better than anybody.  He understands these issues, because he’s lived them.  He was raised by a single mother he watched struggle to put herself through school and pay the bills.  This isn’t a joke.  When she needed help, his grandmother stepped in, waking up every morning to catch some bus before dawn to that job at the bank.  And even though she was passed over for those promotions, she didn’t complain.  She just kept on showing up and doing her best.
  
So Barack knows what it means when a family struggles.  He knows what it means when someone doesn’t have a chance to fulfill their potential, because those are the experiences that have made him the man and, more importantly, the President he is today.  And we are blessed to have him.  (Applause.) 
 
And that’s what I hear in his voice when he returns home after a long day traveling around the country and he tells me about the folks he’s met.  And I see that in those quiet moments when the girls have gone to bed and he’s up poring over letters and briefings, letters from people all over the country.  The letter from the woman dying of cancer whose insurance company won’t cover her care; the letter from the father still struggling to pay his family’s bills; the letter from too many young people with so much promise, but so few opportunities.
 
And I hear the passion and the determination in his voice.  He says, "You won’t believe what folks are still going through."  That’s what he tells me.  He says, "Michelle, this ain’t right, and we have to fix this.  We have so much more work to do."
 
And I tell this to everybody, but when it comes to the people he meets, Barack has a memory like a steel trap.  He might not remember your name, but if he's had a few minutes and a decent conversation with you, he will never forget your story.  It’s like it becomes imprinted on his heart.  And that's the things he carries with him every single day -- it’s our collection of struggles and hopes and dreams.
 
And that is where Barack gets his passion.  That’s where Barack gets his toughness and his fight.  And that’s why, even in the hardest moments when it seems like all is lost and we're sweating it, and we’re sweating him -- (laughter) -- Barack never loses sight of the end goal.  He sees it so clearly.  He never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise.  He just keeps moving forward.
 
Because he has a vision for this country.  A President has to have a vision.  He has a vision that we all share.  But I have said this before and I will say it again -- many of you has heard me before -- he cannot do this alone.  That was never the promise -- never.  I know I didn’t make it.  (Laughter.)  He needs your help.  (Applause.)
 
He needs your help.  We need your help.  He needs you to make those phone calls, write those checks, but register those voters.  He needs you to take the “I’m In” cards, sign them.  Get your friends and neighbors and colleagues to sign them.  Convince people what’s at stake, and ask them to give just a little part of their lives each week to this campaign.
 
Because we all know that this is not just about one extraordinary man.  It never was -- although I think he is fabulous, my husband.  (Laughter.)  He's very cute and he can sing, go figure.  (Laughter and applause.)  This is really about us.  This is about all of us.  It always has been.  It’s about us coming together for the values we believe in and for the country we want to be.
 
And I’m not going to kid you, this journey is going to be long and it is going to have many twists and turns along the way.  But the truth is that that’s how change always happens in this country, always.  The reality is that change is slow.  Real change -- real change never happens all at once.  But if we keep showing up -- if we keep fighting the good fight, if we keep believing in the country that we know is right -- then eventually we get there.  We always do.  We always get there in this country -- maybe not in our lifetimes, but maybe in our children’s lifetimes, maybe in our grandchildren’s lifetimes.
 
Because in the end, that’s what this is all about.  In the end, we’re not fighting these battles for ourselves.  We’re fighting them for the children in our lives, our sons and our daughters, our grandsons and our granddaughters.  We’re fighting for the world we want to leave for them.  It’s about them.
 
And I’m in this fight not just as a mother who wants to leave a legacy for my children.  I’m in this as a citizen who knows what we can do together to change this country for the better.  Because the truth is that no matter what happens, my girls will be okay.  My girls are blessed.  They will have plenty of advantages and opportunities.  And I know that’s probably true for many of your kids as well.
 
But I think that the last few years have shown us the truth of what Barack has always said:  that if any child in this country is left behind, then that matters to all of us, even if she is not our daughter, even if he is not our son.  If any family in this country struggles, then we cannot be fully content with our own family’s good fortune.
 
In the end, we cannot separate our individual stories from the broader American story, because we know that in this country we rise and we fall together.  That’s who we are.  (Applause.)  That’s who we are.  (Applause.)
 
And we know that if we make the right choices and have the right priorities, we can ensure that everyone in this country, everyone gets a fair shake and everyone has a chance to get ahead.  That’s what’s at stake.
 
So, folks, it is time for us to get moving.  It is time for us to get to work.  (Applause.)  So I have one last question:  Are you all in this?  Are you in this?  (Applause.)  Wait, wait, wait -- come on.  I need to -- I know it’s a little chilly, but I need to know:  Are we in this?  (Applause.)  Are you all ready to get fired up about this like me?  Because I am ready.  (Applause.)  I hope you all are ready to go, because I look forward to being out there.  I’m going to be out there hard, and we’re going to need you with us every single step of the way.
 
Thank you all so much.  God bless.  (Applause.)
                        
END                         
7:20 P.M. PST
 

The White House

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release
January 30, 2012

Remarks by the First Lady at Joining Forces Event -- Department of Labor

Department of Labor
Washington, D.C.

11:34 A.M. EST

MRS. OBAMA:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  Good morning, everyone.  Please -- thank you so much.  Please be seated.

Well, this is good stuff, right?  I want to start by thanking Secretary Solis for her outstanding leadership here at the Department of Labor.  I also want to thank all of the DOL employees here today for all of your hard work and all of your dedication.  I have had some wonderful visits here with all of you, and this is another great visit.

The fact is that without all of you, there wouldn’t be days like this.  And my husband and I are so grateful for every single thing that you do.  Congratulations on your work.

Today is a big day for our troops, our veterans, and for their families.  And we have quite a group assembled here today to help celebrate.  It just warms my heart, but it also shows just how important this issue is. 

We have the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric Shinseki, and his wife, Patty; the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter; the Secretaries of the Army, Navy and Air Force are here today.  We have Representative Gwen Moore, I believe, who is here today.  We have General Marty Dempsey, and all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff are here today.  We have my dear friends, their spouses, the women who keep me up -- and keep them up and keep them focused.  They are all here. 

And I’d like to give a special thanks to Deanie Dempsey for all of her leadership on behalf of military families.  But all of these women do a great job, and they have been terrific partners.

We’ve got some of the nation’s businesses and nonprofit leaders here today, and we also have many of our troops, our veterans and our military families.  And of course, we have brave, courageous caregivers like RyAnne, who is here today.

I want to thank you all for being here.  And I also want to thank RyAnne for sharing her story.  And although she was too modest to admit it, the degree she earned while caring for her husband was a PhD.  (Laughter.)  So that’s pretty amazing.  (Applause.)

Over the past few years, one of my greatest privileges as First Lady has been spending time with families just like RyAnne’s all across the country.  I’ve met wounded warriors who are facing challenges that none of us could even begin to imagine.  Their lives have been flipped upside down.  They’ve dealt with surgery after surgery, month after month of pain.  Yet their spirits are always up, and that’s something that I say -- I mean, if each of us could spend a moment with a wounded warrior, we would never complain about our own plight.
 
Their minds are always set on their goals for the months and years ahead.  That’s something very special about them.  Even in the toughest time, they're focused on what they're going to do next.  They tell me about how they can’t wait to get back home, how they’re determined to make it to a daughter’s piano recital, or how they’re not just going to walk again, but how they’re planning to run, and how they're going to run marathons.

This is what you see consistently.  It's the spirit that makes our military so unique.  And their families are just as inspiring.  These are men and women and children who will do anything for their loved ones, no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, no matter the consequences. 

They are spouses who put their lives and careers on hold.  They are moms and dads who spring into action the minute they get that phone call.  And of course, they are children who put on a brave face and do everything they need to do to make things better.  They are the reasons all of us are here today.

We're here because we want to recognize the extraordinary dedication, sacrifice and service of our nation's caregivers, not simply with words, but with deeds.  And that’s what today's announcement from Secretary Solis and the Department of Labor is all about.

The rules they’ve proposed under the Family Medical Leave Act will help more military family members take the time they need to care for their loved ones.  Now, this means that more caregivers can now provide support at a hospital for days or weeks at a time.  They can help their loved ones make that transition back home.  And they can do it all without worrying about whether they will lose their job.  And we all know the kind of difference that can make for our wounded warriors and for their families.

Another example:  Sandy Cuddihy.  She's a Marine mother from Bellevue, Illinois.  Last summer, her son lost his lower legs when he stepped on an IED in Afghanistan.  As he rehabilitated in both Bethesda and San Diego, Sandy, his mom, was there.  She did whatever was needed, like RyAnne -- feeding him meals, working with doctors and nurses to control his pain, sleeping by his bedside night after night.
 
And after it all, this is what she said; she said, "All I cared about was knowing that he's alive.  I knew we could figure the rest out."  And because she qualified for the Family and Medical Leave Act, Sandy had the flexibility to figure it out, without having to choose between keeping her job or caring for her son.

And that’s exactly why we're all so excited about today.  Because these new rules will give even more families the type of support and flexibility that Sandy had. 

You see, these new rules now also include veterans.  If you’ve served in the past five years and you’re still dealing with a serious injury, a qualifying member of your family can now take time off from work to care for you.  And as Secretary Solis mentioned, the protections don’t just benefit our wounded servicemembers and veterans.  They also help families of all our armed forces personnel deal with the unpredictability of military life.

 They allow folks who qualify to take time off to care for their kids when a spouse is deployed unexpectedly.  If a family member needs a few hours during the afternoon to talk to someone about finances, they can do that.  And if there's a spouse on a home break, you can take time off to be with them before they head back out.

So these new rules will make a real difference for our military families in so many ways.  And remember, these protections are simply a few of the many steps this administration has already taken on behalf of our caregivers.

My husband signed landmark legislation to help caregivers receive stipends, training, counseling, and other assistance that they’ve earned.  And under the direction of Secretaries Shinseki, Panetta, and Gates, the Department of Defense and the Department of Labor have strengthened their support for caregivers as well. 

Their teams have worked together to support caregivers whose loved ones are dealing with the signature wounds of our most recent conflicts, and that is traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress.

And the VA has helped caregivers receive health insurance to connect them with support coordinators who can direct them to the resources that they need.

So there has been a lot of really good and important progress made here.  But I also want to be clear that America's commitments to our troops and veterans don’t end with our government.

When our troops answer the call and take that oath, these men and women in uniform protect every last one of us in this country.  They keep every one of us safe.  So even if we're not part of a military family, we're all a part of the American family, and we all have an obligation to serve our troops and veterans as well as they've served us.

And that’s why Jill Biden and I started Joining Forces, a national campaign to rally all Americans to recognize, honor and support our men and women in uniform and their families.  And I have to tell you -- and I say this every time I am doing an event with military families -- the response to Joining Forces has been overwhelming.  It has been overwhelming.  And it's important for our troops and families to understand that.

People are stepping up.  People across the country have been finding ways to show their love and support for our wounded warriors and their families in all kinds of inspiring new ways.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the USO, and Hire Heroes USA have worked together on an exciting program called Career Opportunity Day.  Now, these events are small, comfortable gatherings just for wounded warriors and their spouses and caregivers where these folks can interact with employers, learn about job and career opportunities that suit their talents, and even sharpen their interviewing skills with mock interviews.

And today, we're announcing 14 new events like this at locations around the country.  And right here in D.C., the Chamber's Military Spouse Business Alliance is announcing that in May, they're hosting a hiring fair exclusively for wounded warriors and caregivers at Walter Reed.  And I’d like to give a special thanks to Mary Winnefeld, Admiral Sandy Winnefeld’s wife, for her leadership in creating this event.  She has been terrific to work with.

But you don’t have to be in the military or part of a nationwide coalition to make an impact on this issue.  Every single one of us can help in some way.  And here are just some of the few things people can think about doing.

There are two incredible organizations –- Operation Homefront and the Semper Fi Fund.  They've added volunteer opportunities to JoiningForces.gov so that more Americans can help support our military caregivers.  So people can go on to that website. 

It can be something as simple as providing childcare or lawn care for a wounded warrior's family.  People can think about volunteering at one of these many community events.  Or, if you have the skills, helping a veteran's organization update its website or apply for a grant. 

The thing is to be creative, and to find the thing that you can do best, and find out how to apply it on behalf of the many organizations around the country that are working on behalf of our troops, veterans, caregivers and families.  Whatever skills and time that you have to offer, there is any number of opportunities to serve.

So I hope that everyone in this country will ask themselves one simple question:  "What can I do to support these brave military families who have given us all so much?"  That’s the one question that we all need to ask. 

And that’s really what today is all about.  It’s about showing our respect.  It's about showing our gratitude for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for this country. 

So to all the troops and veterans here today and in communities across the country, I hope that you can feel the love and support of your country.  The one thing I ask when I talk to military leaders is, we want to make sure these efforts are felt on the ground.  It's one thing to talk about them here and to have wonderful press conferences, but the goal is that these men and women serving in bases and in regular communities across the country, that they feel this. 

And the message that I have to troops and their families and our veterans is that, if you haven't yet felt it, I promise you that it's coming.  That I promise you.  We are going to work every day until every last one of you feels the pride and the honor that this entire country feels.  Every day, people are stepping up.  Every day, people are doing their part to show their appreciation. 

So I have no doubt that as long as we keep working together, as long as we all just keep joining forces to support these amazing families, we will be able to serve all of you as well as you've served us.

So I want to again congratulate everyone here.  I want to thank our troops and their families.
 
God bless you all, and God bless the United States of America.  Thank you so much.  (Applause.)

END
11:48 A.M. EST