Colon Powell and Volunteerism

My research project is on General Colin L. Powell. Once a four star general, and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, he has a great background of military service. He had a leading role in planning the invasion of Panama in 1989 and the Persian Gulf war between 1990 and 1991. He gained much recognition as the first black officer to hold the highest military post in the United States. Following his retirement from military service in 1993, he later became the founding Chairman of America's Promise in 1997. This organization was created in order to help the young people in our country. General Powell is quoted as saying, "America's Promise is pulling together the might of this nation to strengthen the character and competence of youth. And it's working." It is also a volunteer organization, with many branches across America.

America's Promise was founded after the President's Summit for America's Future held on April 27-29, 1997 in Philadelphia. Many people came to the Summit in support. People there included Presidents Clinton, Bush, Carter, and Ford. Also there was Nancy Reagan (sitting in for her husband), and many senators, governors, mayors, and community leaders. What they wanted to do was fulfill the Five Promises which are:

1. Ongoing relationships with caring adults in their lives - parents, mentors, tutors, or coaches;

2. Safe places with structured activities during non school hours;

3. Healthy start and future;

4. Marketable skills through effective education; and

5. Opportunities to give back through community service.

The Summit was co-sponsored by the Points of Light Foundation and the Corporation for National Service. America's Promise is a non-profit volunteer organization that helps youth all over America. It has created over 500 branches, called Partners, to help with their goal. Each partner takes one or more of the Five Promises and tries to fulfill it. They also help in expanding or creating new youth programs. Of these Partners, many have gone above and beyond, by becoming allied with other groups across the nation, to fulfill all Five Promises. These groups are known as the Communities of Promise.

General Colin Powell was chairman