With Purpose Success, part 15

York Times wrote. With that currency Bono has helped convince the developed world to forgive Third World debts-where nations are now spending their windfall on medicine and education. He's almost singlehandedly steered the debate on how to help poverty-ravaged Africa. The
Times calls him "the most politically effective figure in the recent history of popular culture."
OK, that's Bono. He's a superstar on a global stage. But think of the impact you could have in your community if you gave a fraction of his effort. Those who get involved almost invariably say giving back provides genuine rewards. For example, it's a great way to stay engaged and relevant. "Retirement is a totally false concept," says Gerald Chertanian, a dot-com millionaire who quit his for-profit ways and started the Boston- based nonprofit Year Up, which counsels urban youth on business basics. "It's about finding the next challenge."
Speaking in the months after 9/11, President Bush called for a commitment of at least two years from every American "to the service of your neighbors and your nation." Five years later, the most stirring part of Bush's state of the union speech came near the end, when he noted that "the greatest strength we have is the heroic kindness, courage, and self-sacrifice of the American people." At that instant, the spotlight shone on three individuals who achieved inspirational significance by doing for others.
In the balcony that night were basketball star Dikembe Mutombo, who grew up in Africa and returned to build a hospital in his old hometown;
Julie Aigner-Clark, founder of Baby Einstein Co., who after selling her company to the Walt Disney Company began producing child safety videos for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and called it "the most important thing that I have ever done"; and Wesley
Autrey, who jumped onto the tracks at a Harlem train station and rescued a man who had fallen. Said Autrey: "We have to show each other some love."
There's nothing unusual about a president calling on citizens to serve.
But President Bush actually did it often and, building on initiatives begun by former President Clinton (Americorps.gov) and adding a few of his own, has helped set up a vast volunteer infrastructure through his
USA Freedom Corps.(www.usafreedomcorps.gov), a White House office that he organized in 2002 to promote service and volunteerism around the world. The office keeps an exhaustive database of some four million volunteer opportunities at www.volunteer.gov, promotes emergency preparedness volunteerism at www.citizencorps.gov and international volunteerism at volunteersforprosperity.gov.
Just months from the end of his administration, Bush reiterated his call for all Americans to spend at least 4,000 hours-two years-"to serve our nation through acts of compassion." Two years during a lifetime is a lot, he conceded. "But the truth of the matter is, citizens who do give realize that they become enriched just like those folks that they're helping."
We-Not Me