President Obama issued a Presidential Proclamation yesterday, declaring April 19 – 25 National Volunteer Week. He called on Americans from all walks of life to dedicate time this week to volunteering. From the proclamation:

Volunteering provides the opportunity to join and better a community. Every American who volunteers can become an integral part of a school, a hospital, or a neighborhood. Those who give of their time also join our Nation’s proud history of service and help preserve this tradition for generations ahead. During National Volunteer Week, we express heartfelt thanks to all who have worked hard in this effort, and we urge more Americans to reach out and meet the manifold unmet needs of fellow Americans.

Service and innovation are the twin engines of transformative social change. National Volunteer Week builds on the incredible power of the American people to act as a force for positive change in their communities and throughout the nation. Let’s all get out there and volunteer!

Read President Obama’s Proclamation here.