Presidents Obama and Bush honor the 5,000th Daily Point of Light

Five thousand people, each a point of light.  There are of course hundreds of thousands, or even millions more, of these amazing individuals, but these five thousand represent them all.  They take the “challenge of tackling a community need through volunteer service” in a selfless and determined way leading to positive results.  Yesterday I was honored and humbled to attend the presentation of the 5,000 Daily Point of Light in the East Room of the White House.  The award was presented by President Obama and former President George H. W. Bush.  The honorees, Floyd Hammer and Kathy Hamilton, a retired couple and farm owners from Union, Iowa, started a nonprofit organization that delivers free meals to children suffering from hunger in more than 15 countries, including the United States.  So inspiring and a great representative of the 4,9999 amazing volunteers preceding them.  President Obama said “Service is not a Democratic value or a Republican value. It’s a core part of being an American. Our country is a better and a stronger force for good in the world because—more & more—we are a people that serve.” Everybody can be a point of light.  And if you know someone deserving of this honor, you may nominate them.  Today, “points of light” is more than that famous line from a speech, or the daily award, but a movement.  Points of Light is the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteer service. It mobilizes millions of volunteers to take action that is changing the world and brings the power of volunteers to bear on a wide range of issues, including education, emergency preparedness and disaster relief, veteran support and hunger.  The goal, to dramatically increase the number of volunteers in the world and the impact of the work they do.  What are you doing to be a point of light?  http://www.pointsoflight.org/dailypointoflight