Serve America Act Aims to Aid Nonprofits

Obama signs service bill

Red Cross

President Barack Obama today signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The bill greatly expands the AmeriCorps service program over the next eight years. It also creates more ways for students to make money for college and opportunities for people to serve their communities.

Nonprofits get help

The Red Cross praised Obama for signing the Serve America Act and a press release from the organization said:

This bill provides a welcome shot in the arm for non-profits, which are confronting a rapidly rising demand for assistance at a time when the economic downturn is making it ever more difficult to raise resources.

The Serve America Act encourages people to volunteer through organizations like the Red Cross.

More praise

The AARP also released a statement of support for teh Serve America Act, which said:

We know boomers and older Americans stand ready to, as AARP’s founder said, ‘create the good.’ In a survey conducted for AARP last year, millions of boomers and older Americans said that in the next five years, they want to increase their volunteer service to improve their communities and our world.

AARP also said the service opportunities created in the bill will help tackle specific national challenges. The organization is pleased that Americans older than 50 will now have more opportunities to serve.

Why Kennedy?

Obama’s Serve America Act is reminiscent of John F. Kennedy’s call to service, issued while he was president. Obama said:

I had always been inspired by the stories of the civil rights movement, and President Kennedy's call to service, and I knew I wanted to do my part to advance the cause of justice and equality. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Serve America Act Aims to Aid Nonprofits"