Background on Today's Presidential Action

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps to engage Americans in volunteer service and to create a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America's communities. At the same time, he called on all Americans to dedicate at least two years of their lives - the equivalent of 4,000 hours - in service to their communities, our country, or the world.

• The challenge the President issued is significant - research shows that community involvement and volunteer service in the United States have been steadily declining over the past three decades.
• Research also shows that two of the main reasons individuals give for not volunteering are that they were never asked or didn't know where to start. The President has asked every American to get involved, and the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network offers Americans millions of places to start.