Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

Sacramento -- Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed April 27 – May 3 as “Volunteer Week” in California, CaliforniaVolunteers announced today.

“California depends on its volunteers who willingly work to improve the state we call home, and I deeply appreciate all those who selflessly commit themselves to bettering the lives of others,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

National Volunteer Week was designated in 1974 to call attention to the tremendous contribution of volunteers. This year’s theme, "Volunteer to Change the World" reflects the power volunteers have to make positive and lasting impacts in their communities.

During National Volunteer Week, the Governor’s new Secretary of Service and Volunteering, Karen Baker, will hold roundtable discussions with over 100 leaders in the nonprofit sector in Southern California to discuss barriers to volunteering and service and how the state can play a role in addressing them.

“I extend my deepest gratitude to every Californian who gives a small measure of themselves to improve the world around them,” remarked Karen Baker, secretary of Service and Volunteering. “I encourage more Californians to find ways they can make a difference at CaliforniaVolunteers.org.”

To view the full text of the proclamation, visit http://www.gov.ca.gov/proclamation/9431/

ABOUT CALIFORNIAVOLUNTEERS
CaliforniaVolunteers is the state office that manages programs and initiatives to increase the number of Californians involved with service and volunteering, including the state AmeriCorps program, California Citizen Corps and the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning. Through the innovative Web site, CaliforniaVolunteers.org, individuals and families can find more than 40,000 volunteer opportunities throughout the state involving the arts, education, animals, disaster preparedness, the environment and other areas of interest. Karen Baker, the nation’s first state cabinet secretary of service and volunteering leads the organization and First Lady Maria Shriver serves as the honorary chairperson. For more information, please visit www.CaliforniaVolunteers.org.