Washington, D.C. – In an effort to engage 1,000 U.S. businesses in new or additional service projects over the next three years, Business Strengthening America (“BSA”) today launched a multi-year campaign to encourage civic engagement and increase corporate volunteering. At a morning event held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, business leaders were joined by President George W. Bush, Commerce Secretary Don Evans and USA Freedom Corps Director John Bridgeland to announce the objectives of BSA’s campaign for service

BSA’s initiative is a response to the President’s State of the Union Call to Service – where he asked every American to give at least two years or 4,000 hours over the course of their lives in service to others – and the ongoing efforts of USA Freedom Corps to cultivate a culture of citizenship, service and responsibility in communities around the country.

BSA was created in June 2002 when a group of 18 corporate chief executives met with the President at the White House to outline their efforts to engage businesses and business leaders in effecting change to corporate practices and policies that will support expanded volunteer service. Executives representing BSA member companies, which employ nearly two million people, already have pledged over $1 million to launch BSA and are committed to growing it immediately from its initial 100 members to over 500 by June 2003.

AOL Time Warner Chairman Steve Case outlined BSA's mission, "Businesses can and should take a leadership role in strengthening communities through encouraging employee participation in volunteering," said Case. "We welcome the opportunity to serve, with other BSA member companies, as a catalyst for existing business, non-profit and government efforts to increase volunteering nationwide.”

As part of the three-year campaign, BSA is committed to several initiatives. In June 2003, BSA will host a conference to share best practices and findings on the business case for employee volunteer service. In addition, BSA will schedule Executive Service Events in major metropolitan areas including Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C.

Ken Thompson, CEO of Wachovia, addressed how BSA plans to foster a cooperative effort to share best practices in the field of corporate volunteerism and community service, and develop methods for combined reporting on corporate-sponsored service activities. “We remain fierce competitors in the marketplace,” said Thompson, “but we will be collaborators in developing a way to learn from what other companies are doing well and report on the work being done.”

Benefits for businesses engaged in corporate volunteer activities are well documented. According to findings issued by the Center for Corporate Citizenship at Boston College, corporate

community engagement can contribute to overall improvements in stakeholder relations including investors, customers, employees, suppliers and communities where the companies operate. For example, employees involved in employer-sponsored community events are 30 percent more likely to continue working for that company and contribute to its overall success.

To kick-off BSA’s Executive Service Event series, executives from member companies will volunteer with local social change agents through the Model Practice Collaborative (“MPC”) and national non-profit KaBOOM! to build a playground in Southeast Washington, D.C.

“The Congress Park playground build represents a unique opportunity for businesses to work alongside neighborhood residents and make a real impact in the community,” said Jeff Swartz, President and CEO, Timberland. “Part of our mission is to help non-profits use volunteers more effectively and expand their capacity to serve in the community. This playground build with KaBOOM! and MPC does just that.”

About Business Strengthening America

Business Strengthening America (“BSA”) was formed in June 2002 as a response to President Bush’s Call to Service and to serve as a catalyst to existing public and private efforts to increase service activities. As a peer-to-peer campaign, BSA looks to mobilize the business community to support effective service and civic engagement by every American. More information on BSA and a list of member companies can be found on the website at http://bsa.networkforgood.org.

About USA Freedom Corps

President Bush created the USA Freedom Corps office at the White House to foster an American culture of service, citizenship and responsibility. Through the USA Freedom Corps, President Bush wants to help every American answer the call to service by strengthening and expanding service opportunities to protect our homeland, support our communities and extend American compassion around the world. Interested volunteers can find information on the USA Freedom Corps at www.usafreedomcorps.gov or by calling 1-877-USA-Corps.

About KaBOOM!

Since 1995, KaBOOM! has worked to change the world one playground at a time by creating healthy play opportunities and environments for children. By partnering with individuals, civic groups, businesses and foundations, KaBOOM! leads playground projects, educates community leaders and advocates for the child’s right to play, Its has raised more than $20 million to build and improve 2,000 playgrounds and counting, and has published books and trained hundreds in community building. KaBOOM! was named one of America’s 100 Best Charities of 2002 by Worth, and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit www.kaboom.org or call 202-659-0215.

About MPC

The Model Practices Collaborative (MPC) is a multi-sectored social change project, bringing together model community revitalization efforts addressing the cyclical social ills that exist within America's isolated communities. MPC works hand in hand with building and bridging
key relationships between corporate leaders and the community's resident leadership to create new and innovative solutions to today's social ills. The Project is headquartered in Congress Park, a housing project located in Congress Heights, DC and is supported by the Points of Light Foundation and the Kimsey Foundation. To find out more about the initiative please visit www.thecatalystproject.net.

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