FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug 05, 2010

Washington, DC—Patrick A. Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, joined President Obama today as he awarded 13 Americans the 2010 Citizens Medal, the nation's second-highest civilian honor, for their exemplary acts of service.

“We salute these outstanding Americans for their selfless contributions toward addressing persistent national problems,” said Corvington. “They are proof that there is no limit to the impact of American generosity and exemplify the essence of the spirit that has driven change, innovation and progress in this nation for decades.”

This year's recipients are powerful reminders of the impact individuals can have on their community: a Chicago nurse and childcare professional who opened a live-in resource center to mentor hundreds of pregnant teenagers; a school bus driver who delivers hot meals and coffee to New York City's homeless daily; and a paralyzed woman who founded Kids' Food Basket, which provides meals to thousands of needy children in Grand Rapids, Michigan. These everyday heroes join more than 63 million Americans who commit their time and talents to transform lives and communities across the nation. Last year, Americans contributed more than 8.1 billion volunteer hours, worth an estimated $169 billion in services to address homelessness, illiteracy, skyrocketing dropout rates, and other pervasive problems facing local communities. Click here to learn more about the awardees and visit VolunteeringInAmerica.gov to find more information about the nation's volunteer rate.

President Obama has called on all Americans to make a difference in their communities and help move the needle on our toughest national challenges by volunteering. The Corporation, which leads the President's United We Service initiative, is working to expand opportunities for individuals to serve, generate innovative solutions that deliver greater measurable results and develop better strategies that leverage citizen service to tackle deeply entrenched social problems. To decrease the barriers to service and volunteering, the agency launched Serve.gov, which allows individuals to search for volunteer opportunities using their zip code, as well as create service projects and invite their friends to participate through social networking sites.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.