'The Obama effect:' Volunteerism rising

by Rebecca Cole

Intent on spurring volunteerism already on the rise, President Barack Obama will sign a bill today authorizing an expansion of national service programs, primarily AmeriCorps, the organization initiated by former President Bill Clinton in 1993.

"We know that people want to serve, as witnessed by the 'Obama effect' of people answering the president's call to service," Alan Solomont, chairman of the agency that oversees AmeriCorps, said in a conference call with reporters today. "In March, we received more than 17,000 online AmeriCorps applications, triple the number received in March of last year."

Clinton will be on hand to watch Obama sign the bill into law later today, as will Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, a leading proponent of the legislation named for him.

The bill, which sailed through Congress with broad bi-partisan support 22 days after the president introduced it in his speech to a joint session of Congress in February, will expand openings for volunteers from 75,000 to 250,000 positions. The measure will deliver $1.1 billion to AmeriCorps programs, a 25 percent increase from last year, in addition to $200 million funneled to the organization in the president's economic stimulus act.

Solomont, chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that administers AmeriCorps and several other service organizations, calls this a "pivotal moment" for the nation.

"A new generation, known as the millennial generation, is coming of age and looking to participate in something larger than themselves, by serving communities and their country," Solomont said. "And we have an earlier generation of baby boomers who want to give back."

The legislation ties service to education, raising an educational stipend paid to volunteers to $5,350, the same as that of a Pell Grant, and establishes Sept. 11 as a national day of service.

The bill also creates a $50-million "Social Innovation Fund" to provide matching grants to nonprofit organizations.

Melody Barnes, director of the White House Domestic Policy Council, says the fund is consistent with Obama's commitment to look outside of Washington for programs that have an impact on their communities.

"One of the things we are very focused on here is not just the number of people who participate, the number of hours that are committed, but impact and transformation," Barnes said. "That's the standard the corporation will be holding itself to make sure that what's happening here and the dollars that are being spent are put to good use."