Voices for National Service Capitol Hill Day
Thursday, September 15, 2011
9:00AM - 5:00PM
Washington, D.C.

In September, more than 170 staff, corporate sponsors, AmeriCorps alumni and board members from National Service programs came together to meet with nearly 200 Congressional offices to explain the importance of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the innovative, cost-effective programs the agency supports, including AmeriCorps, VISTA, Senior Corps, Learn & Serve America, and the Volunteer Generation Fund.

In addition to an action packed day of visiting members of Congress, the all-day program included a kick-off event featuring opening remarks from AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service, and an inspiring speech by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) in which she encouraged Hill Day attendees to share their personal stories, to challenge legislators to ensure that CNCS receives a minimum of level funding in FY12, and to make clear that national service programs should be a priority for all legislators. 

• Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Hill Day.

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8th Annual Friends of National Service Awards Reception
February 15, 2011
Washington, DC

On February 15th, supporters of service from all over the country travelled to Washington, DC for the 8th Annual Friends of National Service Awards Reception. The evening was an opportunity to honor the elected officials and private citizens who have gone to extraordinary lengths to support national service.

• Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) opened the evening with a rousing speech announcing her decision to serve as the Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus. The Senator has been a member of the caucus for many years and was integral in passing the Serve America Act in 2009.

• Actor Brandon Routh, Iowa native and star of Superman Returns, presented Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) with the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award.

• During the evening, Representative John Lewis (D-GA) arrived wearing the Presidential Medal of Freedom that he received earlier that day. Lewis received the Outstanding National Service Advocacy Award.

• Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and David Cicilline (D-RI) accepted their awards and delivered powerful messages about the value of volunteers and service to our nation.

• Governor Haley Barbour (R-MS) was not able to come to Washington, DC to accept the State and Local Leadership Award, but he accepted the honor via video and spoke of the enormous influence that service has in Mississippi and throughout the country. Click here to see the video.

• The evening closed with a moving tribute to Sargent Shriver presented by Saundra Wood, a member of Foster Grandparents.

• Nearly 600 guests attended, and the reception was one of the largest to date.

Click here to see a list of the 2010 honorees

Click here to see photos from the reception.

Click here to see photos from the event on the Voices for National Service Flickr

News stories covering the 2011 Friends of National Service Reception

• Friends of National Service Awards
  Christina Wilkie, The Hill

• Heard on the Hill: Flying Through the Chamber
  Elizabeth Brotherton and Alison McSherry, Roll Call

• U.S. Sen. Harkin: Receives Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award from Iowan Brandon Routh
  Kate Cyrul and Bergen Kenny, IowaPolitics.com, 2/16/2011