CAS3
04-25-06, 12:13 PM
VA Official Observes National Volunteer Week at Medical Center
Top VA Official Answers President's 'Call to Service'
WASHINGTON (April 24, 2006) - In observance of National Volunteer Week,
April 23-29, and to answer President Bush's Call to Service, William F.
Tuerk, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs within the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), spent this morning helping out at the Washington,
D.C., VA Medical Center's pharmacy window.
"National Volunteer Week provides a unique opportunity to recognize the
commitment of our Nation's volunteers and increase public awareness of
the importance of volunteering," Tuerk said. "VA is fortunate to have
thousands of dedicated and selfless volunteers helping fulfill our
important mission of caring for America's veterans.
"The individuals who give of their time to help those who have served us
all epitomize the spirit of volunteerism and are dutifully answering the
President's call to service," Tuerk added.
VA has a long history of volunteerism. Sixty years ago this month, the
Veterans Administration (VA) created an office to oversee the volunteers
assisting at the agency's facilities. In 2005, that office had more
than 140,000 volunteers on its rolls, with 94,000 contributing more than
13 million hours that year. VA would have needed more than 6,200
employees to replace the time donated by the volunteers, at a cost of
nearly $228 million.
For the last several years, President Bush has proclaimed National
Volunteer Week as a time to thank volunteers for their service and to
call the public's attention to all that volunteers do to improve our
communities. National Volunteer Week is sponsored by the Points of Light
Foundation and the 2006 theme is "Inspire by Example."
In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on every
man, woman, and child in the United States to commit to serving a cause
greater than self. To help Americans answer that call - and to build
upon the countless acts of service, sacrifice and generosity that
followed Sept. 11 - President Bush created USA Freedom Corps.
USAFC, an office at the White House, works to foster a culture of
service, citizenship and responsibility. There are nearly 6 million
more Americans volunteering today than in 2002.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates one of the largest
volunteer organizations in the country. Nationally, VA has more than
140,000 registered volunteers, and more than 94,000 of them contributed
a total of 13,016,548 hours during 2005. The total hours volunteered
equates to 6,264 full time employees, with an approximate value of $228
million. In addition, VA volunteers and their organizations contribute
an estimated $42 million in gifts and donations annually.
Top VA Official Answers President's 'Call to Service'
WASHINGTON (April 24, 2006) - In observance of National Volunteer Week,
April 23-29, and to answer President Bush's Call to Service, William F.
Tuerk, Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs within the Department of
Veterans Affairs (VA), spent this morning helping out at the Washington,
D.C., VA Medical Center's pharmacy window.
"National Volunteer Week provides a unique opportunity to recognize the
commitment of our Nation's volunteers and increase public awareness of
the importance of volunteering," Tuerk said. "VA is fortunate to have
thousands of dedicated and selfless volunteers helping fulfill our
important mission of caring for America's veterans.
"The individuals who give of their time to help those who have served us
all epitomize the spirit of volunteerism and are dutifully answering the
President's call to service," Tuerk added.
VA has a long history of volunteerism. Sixty years ago this month, the
Veterans Administration (VA) created an office to oversee the volunteers
assisting at the agency's facilities. In 2005, that office had more
than 140,000 volunteers on its rolls, with 94,000 contributing more than
13 million hours that year. VA would have needed more than 6,200
employees to replace the time donated by the volunteers, at a cost of
nearly $228 million.
For the last several years, President Bush has proclaimed National
Volunteer Week as a time to thank volunteers for their service and to
call the public's attention to all that volunteers do to improve our
communities. National Volunteer Week is sponsored by the Points of Light
Foundation and the 2006 theme is "Inspire by Example."
In his 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on every
man, woman, and child in the United States to commit to serving a cause
greater than self. To help Americans answer that call - and to build
upon the countless acts of service, sacrifice and generosity that
followed Sept. 11 - President Bush created USA Freedom Corps.
USAFC, an office at the White House, works to foster a culture of
service, citizenship and responsibility. There are nearly 6 million
more Americans volunteering today than in 2002.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates one of the largest
volunteer organizations in the country. Nationally, VA has more than
140,000 registered volunteers, and more than 94,000 of them contributed
a total of 13,016,548 hours during 2005. The total hours volunteered
equates to 6,264 full time employees, with an approximate value of $228
million. In addition, VA volunteers and their organizations contribute
an estimated $42 million in gifts and donations annually.